Background information

Question 1

Explain how modern dance was one of Akram Khan’s choreographic influences.

Answer 1

• After A levels he felt under pressure to get a degree and so went to do a contemporary dance course at De Montfort University
• His first contempory class left him perplexed and he went on to do more research, watching DV8’s Strange Fish
• He then went on to study at Northern School of Contemporary dance and graduated with the highest marks ever awarded
• Khan fused this with his own style

Question 2

Explain how theatre and film was one of Akram Khan’s choreographic influences.

Answer 2

• Khan was inspired by lots of white characters such as superheros. He wanted to see a greater representation of black characters.
• He had his first professional role at age 10 when he toured in the adventures of Mowgli
• As a teenager he spent two years in Peter Brook’s play Manabharata
• He liked Michael Jackson especially the thriller video

Question 3

Explain how Kathak was one of Akram Khan’s choreographic influences.

Answer 3

• He had a teacher called Pratap Pawer who was Khan’s guruji
• Whilst performing with the Academy of Indian Dance in 1984 Khan was spotted by Peter Brook

Question 4

Define Kathak.

Answer 4

Kathak is a classical form of Northern Indian dance with Hindu and Islamic roots. It traditionally tells stories through a gestural system of mudras and involves complex sounds and rhythms made by the feet in response to a musician. Often the movements are improvised but are based on a codified language of steps.

Question 5

Explain five different musical instruments often seen in Kathak dance.

Answer 5

1. Tabla- a percussion instrument similar to a drum
2. Shruti box- a percussion instrument
3. Water cymbals
4. Ankle bells- to emphasise the tatkar
5. Vocals- improvised vocal rhythms on top of the main melodic line.

Question 6

Define sufi turns

Answer 6

Fast paced continuous turns on the heel of the foot that can be performed on the spot or traveling

Question 7

Define chin mudra

Answer 7

One of the key gestures of kathak. The index finger touches the thumb creating a circle and the remaining fingers are splayed. It means wholeness or the feeling of being complete

Question 8

Define tatkar

Answer 8

Rhythmic footwork performed using different parts of the foot to create different sounds

Question 9

Define boles

Answer 9

Rhythmic spoken syllables to help the dancer to maintain a rhythm whilst dancing

Question 10

Define abhinaya

Answer 10

The expressive abstract form of movement used to convey a theme, mood or idea

Question 11

Define nritya

Answer 11

A classic storytelling system

Question 12

Define lucknow

Answer 12

One of the two independent schools of Kathak known for delicacy, beauty and having a lyrical quality

Question 13

What are the features of Akram Khan’s style?

Answer 13

• Codified language of kathak steps
• Abstract contemporary movement
• Use of a gestural system
• Dynamic contrast between fluidity and sharpness
• Attention to detail
• Use of eurocrash
• Complex mathematical rhythms/phrasing
• Use of collaborators
• Story telling/acting
• Autobiographical
• Interaction with the musician

Question 14

What are the features of Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui’s style?

Answer 14

• Use of song and text
• A naturalistic gestural system
• Theme of communication
• Pushes himself to explore new things
• Enjoys the collaborative process
• Attention to detail
• Use of a huge range of dance styles
• Use of yoga
• Projecting a character
• Contortionism
• Use of anamalistic movements

Question 15

Who provided the design for Zero Degrees? What is he most interested in?

Answer 15

Antony Gormley was the set designer. He is interested in witnessing human existance and the idea of spirituality.

Question 16

How did the designer use his personal experiences to influence the physical set of zero degrees?

Answer 16

• “I’ve never been interested in making statues but I have been interested in asking what is the nature of the space a human being inhibits”
• His father was an artist and his childhood Sundays consisted of going to church in the morning and then visiting the National Gallery or British Museum
• He went to India for almost three years where he practiced medication and learnt how to focus on the space a person fills
• This can be seen in the casts, how they’re an empty shell of the person that was there
• Only three grey gauzes round the sides and back of the stage, an empty shell of a stage inspired by the Japanese theatre

Question 17

Who provided the music for Zero Degrees? What is his link to the themes of the work?

Answer 17

Nithin Sawhney composed the music for the work.

He believes that music has its own language- for him it is a place without barriers and boundaries. The most important thing is how you connect with it.

Question 18

How does the composers experiences inspire, inform andresonate in his work?

Answer 18

• From an early age he blended his musical passions, from Bach and Debussy to jazz, flamenco and classical Indian ragas
• He was brought up in many different cultures which helped him to blend his musical tastes together.
• Racism made him more aware of his own identity

Question 19

What are the main themes of the work?

Answer 19

• Duality- an instance of opposition or contrast between two concepts or two aspects of something
• Identity- individual characteristics that make a person unique
• Zero- the absolute beginning where everything starts and ends, the space between or when one thing becomes another
• Conflict- an active disagreement between people with opposing opinions
• Communication- the imparting or exchanging of imformation or sharing of ideas. Explore successful community as well as an inability to communicate.

Question 20

When did they begin the collaborative process?

Answer 20

After Khan and Larbi first met they knew that they wanted to work together. In 2002 they began the collaborative process for Zero Degrees

Question 21

In relation to the collaborative process, Khan says “We called this playtime”. What is he referring to?

Answer 21

He is referring to the experimental time where they got to know eachother. They explored arts, culture, shared ideas and opinions. They watched TV and films, went to the cinema, read books and studied arts. It wasn’t the actual event that they were interested in but their opinions and views.

Question 22

What is Larbi’s system of synchronisation?

Answer 22

Taking the narrative and the use of any body language and putting it together like a musical and physical store. Extracting the details and making an exact copy. Details of rhythm, pitch and toe are all important. Khan found this really strenuous as every line took over two hours to perfect.

Question 23

How did they explore martial arts together?

Answer 23

They shared their existing knowledge, exploring similarities and differences before then creating their own way of moving together. They played around with the movements of chopping and blocking.

Question 24

What is the name of the vocalist?

Answer 24

Faheem Mazhar