Akram Khan
Akram Khan “Abide With Me”
In the opening ceremony of London’s 2012 Olympic Games, Akram Khan had been asked by artistic director, Danny Boyle, to devise choreography constructed on the theme of mortality, accompanied by the hymn “Abide With Me” sung by Emile Sande.
The inspiration for the concept being “mortality” derives from the victims who suffered the July 7th, 2005 bombings in London, hence the video tributes that appear in a short period of the performance (the appearance of the victims shown). During the political piece, we appreciate that the dancers symbolise “spirits” and Akram Khan portrays the role of a father passing away, transferring his life onto his son (the 10 year old boy) who embodies this sense of faith and legacy. The relation between the dance and the 7/7 bombings explains the battle between life and death, which is conveyed through the stage scenery of the setting sun and the dust.
As the performance commences, an immense yellow sun captures the audience, whilst the rest of the stage remains unlit, revealing the silhouettes of the still dancers, together in the formation of a V shape. As the performance gradually unravels, the dancers rapidly shoot up directly into space, standing with straight arms reaching above their heads, whilst dust is thrown and released into the air. The bodies begin to move in a dramatic however sudden and sharp manner across the stage. They have separated into two groups dancing in opposition and are somewhat symmetrical to each other. Assembled again, the dancers perform direct and strong hand and arm gestures to assist them across the stage, whilst the continuity of what sounds like a ‘pulsating heartbeat’ flows in the background. The movement becomes in more intensity, angular and linear suggesting that this is a dramatic, contemporary/lyrical styled piece. We can potentially recognise a few of Laban’s effort actions throughout the performance, as there are several slashing, gliding and thrusting body
In the opening ceremony of London’s 2012 Olympic Games, Akram Khan had been asked by artistic director, Danny Boyle, to devise choreography constructed on the theme of mortality, accompanied by the hymn “Abide With Me” sung by Emile Sande.
The inspiration for the concept being “mortality” derives from the victims who suffered the July 7th, 2005 bombings in London, hence the video tributes that appear in a short period of the performance (the appearance of the victims shown). During the political piece, we appreciate that the dancers symbolise “spirits” and Akram Khan portrays the role of a father passing away, transferring his life onto his son (the 10 year old boy) who embodies this sense of faith and legacy. The relation between the dance and the 7/7 bombings explains the battle between life and death, which is conveyed through the stage scenery of the setting sun and the dust.
As the performance commences, an immense yellow sun captures the audience, whilst the rest of the stage remains unlit, revealing the silhouettes of the still dancers, together in the formation of a V shape. As the performance gradually unravels, the dancers rapidly shoot up directly into space, standing with straight arms reaching above their heads, whilst dust is thrown and released into the air. The bodies begin to move in a dramatic however sudden and sharp manner across the stage. They have separated into two groups dancing in opposition and are somewhat symmetrical to each other. Assembled again, the dancers perform direct and strong hand and arm gestures to assist them across the stage, whilst the continuity of what sounds like a ‘pulsating heartbeat’ flows in the background. The movement becomes in more intensity, angular and linear suggesting that this is a dramatic, contemporary/lyrical styled piece. We can potentially recognise a few of Laban’s effort actions throughout the performance, as there are several slashing, gliding and thrusting body