Review: Akram Khan & Nitin Sawhney's Confluence
On Saturday, we found ourselves without plans (due to a technology failure), so decided on a whim to get tickets to Confluence at Sadler's Wells. Akram Khan is one of my favourite contemporary choreographers, and I was really excited to learn more about his creative process and see how he works in a more collaborative context. I didn't know anything about Nitin Sawhney going in.
Turns out this was originally performed as a part of the big Svapnagata festival Sadler's Wells held last autumn and which I missed completely (and am still kicking myself for); so, when I found out this was one of those pieces I got even *more* excited. The production was more a series of vignettes rather than a "story" (although they tried), which once you let go of that pretence, it was a fantastic ride. There was the usual excessive use of projection, but again letting go of that (and it was hard as my eyes kept being drawn to it) it was a very delightful performance. I'm not entirely sure how to go about describing it, except that these are two artists who are obviously in their prime and willing to explore and push the boundaries of their respective arts together while conveniently ignoring any label that individuals might try to pin on them. The dance I knew I would enjoy, but I was really impressed with the sensitivity and delicate complexity of Nitin's music, which was also performed live. I don't really have the vocabulary to try to describe, but this video provides a flavour. I also really liked that it had both men obviously stepping outside of their comfort zones at times - Akram in a drum speak inspired "conversation" and Nitin in improvising to physical movements. The most subtle and brilliant interplay of both dance and music that combine to create something surreal and transcendental.
Fabulous, fabulous stuff. I'm particularly looking forward to exploring more of Nitin's music in future.
Turns out this was originally performed as a part of the big Svapnagata festival Sadler's Wells held last autumn and which I missed completely (and am still kicking myself for); so, when I found out this was one of those pieces I got even *more* excited. The production was more a series of vignettes rather than a "story" (although they tried), which once you let go of that pretence, it was a fantastic ride. There was the usual excessive use of projection, but again letting go of that (and it was hard as my eyes kept being drawn to it) it was a very delightful performance. I'm not entirely sure how to go about describing it, except that these are two artists who are obviously in their prime and willing to explore and push the boundaries of their respective arts together while conveniently ignoring any label that individuals might try to pin on them. The dance I knew I would enjoy, but I was really impressed with the sensitivity and delicate complexity of Nitin's music, which was also performed live. I don't really have the vocabulary to try to describe, but this video provides a flavour. I also really liked that it had both men obviously stepping outside of their comfort zones at times - Akram in a drum speak inspired "conversation" and Nitin in improvising to physical movements. The most subtle and brilliant interplay of both dance and music that combine to create something surreal and transcendental.
Fabulous, fabulous stuff. I'm particularly looking forward to exploring more of Nitin's music in future.