Contemporary ballet (McGregor - it speeds and energetic, dynamic, angular, sinuous, hyperextended movements)
Choreographic approach
SHOW a phrase to the cast, MAKE a phrase on a target dance/s, TASK set a task for dancers to complete or pose choreographic problem to solve.
Stimulus
Latin word 'below', presents a portrait of life beneath the surface of the city. Delves deep beneath the surface to present a moving meditation on human interactions.
Choreographic intention
Seeing below the surface of things. About people and the choreography has found a pedestrian language which is recognizably human. The piece is about inferences. It infers particular types of relationships and therefore the emotional content implies itself. One aim is to help the audience's eye in watching a complex structure. But has purposefully left open the full visual field to let the audience make their own selections.
Dancers
12 dancers (6 male/ 6 female)
Duration
28 minutes
Structure
Comprises of solos, duets and ensembles with many arresting moments. For instance dance duets in six squares of light and a crowd surges across the stage (unaware of on woman's private grief).
Aural setting
Music by Max Richter, Sound design by Chris Ekers. Score mixes melancholy string melodies with electronic sounds and everyday sounds. (trains)
Costume
Designed by Moritz Junge. Shorts, vests, t-shirts in flesh, black, white, grey colours for the dancers. Street clothes for crowd.
Lighting
Designed by Lucy Carter. Relates closely to the structure, lights the width of the the stage and often focuses downstage. Shafts of light and 6 rectangles. Colours used to highlight different sections.
Performance environment
Proscenium arch/ theatrical setting
Staging/ set
Set design by Julian Opie. 18m LED screen, high on a black wall. Width of the stage. Electronic walking figures.