Akram Khan Company - iTMOi

As a complete contrast to a hip hop show I saw at the beginning of the month (Some Like it Hip Hop), at the end of May my Mum and I were lucky enough to go and see Akram Khan's iTMOi. For those of you who don't know, Akram Khan is an artistic director, choreographer and dancer. You might recognise his work from the London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony - in my opinion, the best part of the it! See here. 

However, I have only just discovered that American broadcasters chose not to show his sequence as it was not commercial enough. See here. I am extremely shocked and disappointed to hear this as I really really love his work. 

Akram Khan's sequence in the London 2012 Olymic Opening Ceremony

After reading a few reviews for iTMOi I didn't feel as guilty for admitting that I didn't really understand it! But in my opinion, that is the beauty of dance. I really think that dance is an art so even if the audience don't fully understand it, it can be interpreted in many different ways allowing the mind to wonder and get lost in the performance.

A report of Stravinsky's Rite of Spring in 1913

The piece is inspired by Igor Stravinsky's Rite of Spring (iTMOi : In the mind of Igor) celebrating it's 100th anniversary. Now if my understandings are correct when the Rite of Spring premiered on 29th May 1913 it caused an outrage to the point that Stravinsky's dissonant chords and energetic rhythm caused a riot amongst the audience. 

So is it really a bad thing that some (according to reviews) were unimpressed by Khan's iTMOi? The Rite of Spring remains one of the most famous and inspirational ballets over the past century didn't exactly receive a good reception! 

Although I found it hard to follow I still personally thought the piece was absolutely fantastic! I particularly loved how the creative team had clearly worked so well together and every aspect of the production: the minimalistic set, costume (Kimie Nakano), choreography (Akram Khan), lighting (Fabiana Piccioli) and composition (Nitin Sawhney, Jocelyn Pook, and Ben Frost) blended so effortlessly together. It was very impressive to watch.

Something I really loved about this performance is the innovative way the dancers interacted with the costumes and props. For example, the dancer (I think Denis 'Koone' Kuhnert) would use the structure of the crinoline combined with the choreography to create different shapes and movements. Very clever! Also, the use of chalk in the performance I though felt very dream-like and mystical which was a very interesting way to create a mood and atmosphere.

I really admire Akram Khan and his team. The work they produce is exactly the kind of thing I love. Although people (including myself sometimes!) struggle to understand it I can only describe it as a good thing because it means I'm still thinking about it and I saw it a week ago! Overall, a really powerful, intense and mesmerising performance that I simply couldn't take my eyes off.

ZooNation: Some Like it Hip Hop

Sadler's Wells is definitely one of my absolute favourite theatres. I first went there to see Matthew Bourne's Edward Scissorhands in 2007 and have been going back ever since and have never been disappointed by any production I've seen! I would recommend this theatre to anyone. There's always a variety of productions on ranging from ballet to hip hop to bollywood and more. It's fantastic!

At the beginning of May 2013 I went to Peacock Theatre to see the company Zoonation's dance show 'Some Like it Hip Hop' (directed, written and choreographed by Kate Prince) which was massively entertaining. It is a story of 'love, mistaken identity and revolution and where women are kept subservient to men.' It was full of extremely talented dancers, musicians and singers who all portrayed their character's personality through their choreography - this in particular was very enjoyable to watch.

I loved the aspect of having infectious live music (written by DJ Walde, Josh Cohen and Kate Prince) incorporated into the performance and choreography. It really brought the show to life and had us all up, dancing and singing along at the end of the show. All in all a really fantastic and fun show suitable for a wide age range that hit many emotional levels making us laugh, cry, be amazed and left us singing and dancing into the night - a real feel-good show!

Book tickets here. If you go on a Tuesday or Thursday you can go to a post show 30 minute dance class teaching basic street dance steps with the cast!

Hermes Exhibtion - Saatchi Gallery

A few days ago I was lucky enough to get to go to the Hermes exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery (part of the Festival des Metiers) with my friend Xiwen which was just fantastic.

That's something I absolutely love about living in London - just being able to pop over and see and exhibition. When living on the Isle of Wight my Mum was very good at organising days out in London involving some sort of gallery/museum and/or theatre. Although this was great, we'd have to plan weeks or months in advance so living in London means I have such a privilege of being able to wake up and think: I think I'll go to the Saatchi Gallery today! It's great!

Anyway, the exhibition was free (I still can't believe it!) but was unfortunately only on for a week so I can't urge you to go and see it but I took lots of photos!
It was a very interactive exhibition that gave the opportunity to witness the Hermes artisans crafting their famous masterpieces including the Hermes silk scarf, handbags, watches etc. They even talked through the process of what they were doing via a French-English translator which felt very authentic! It really gave me the chance to really appreciate the amount of time, precision, talent and patience that goes into each and every piece. I began to understand why they're so expensive.

Watch making

Holes are made in the gold then
the Diamonds are place on and
then wrapped in gold using
tweezers. No glue is used.

Diamonds - we were allowed to look through the telescope
and see how tiny and fiddly it looks!

Hand knitted jersey t-shirts

Hermes bags -
Demonstrating how to sew leather.

Hand sewing Hermes ties

Hermes Silk Scarves

The printing process -
Up to 46 (I think?) different printing screens
per colour can be used

Silk Screen Printing

Breaking down

The silk is scratched at with small tools to create a more
textured effect.

Modifying the Form

Last term at London College of fashion we were taught how to Modify the Form and then use this knowledge to help inform our design work. See here for my design project for the story Animal Farm by George Orwell adapted by Peter Hall.

We used body padding to modify the form. I decided to make a simple pregnancy belly. I'm still dying to go out walking around London with it on! It would hopefully guarantee me seat on the tube in the mornings!

We then made an 18th Century Pannier from the Jean Hunnisett Book: Period Costume for Stage and Screen (1500-1800). All of her books are great and these ones in particular are a must have for Costume students!

I wanted to make a second pannier but didn't have enough money to buy more steel so I used polyester boning instead... As you can see it didn't quite have the same effect as (the right one) is a bit flat! When I have a bit more money I will buy some and remake the right pannier.

The majority of our workshops were spent making a late Victorian corset to fit ourselves. It was made from a beautiful white courtil with white satin binding and silk embroidered flossing. Working with white was a bit of a nightmare as I'm not the tidiest of people so I had to be extra careful with washing my hands all the time etc. I can't imagine what it must be like to make a wedding dress!

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

I recently went to see the live screening of the Royal Ballet’s production of Christopher Wheeldon’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland at the Royal Opera House and I absolutely loved it! My boyfriend actually turned his nose up at the idea of going to the cinema to watch ballet but I think it’s a really great idea that’s affordable. Although you don’t get the same experience as dressing up and going to the magnificent Royal Opera House, you still get the exciting atmosphere off of the audience which you wouldn’t get from watching it on the television at home. I would very much recommend it!

The wonderland was brilliantly imagined by Christopher Wheeldon (choreographer) Joby Talbot (composer) and Bob Crowley (set and costume designer). There is something very fashionable at the moment about Alice in Wonderland, particularly tea parties, whether it be cupcake merchandise, teapot jewellery, baking television shows such as The Great British Bake Off, fashionable pottery such as Emma Bridgewater or just hosting your own Mad Hatter tea party. I thought the ballet was very “on trend” if you like so I’m just going to share with you just a few of my favourite moments because there are just too many to write about!

Set Design by Bob Crowley

Alice in wonderland visual world was created by Bob Crowley who ingeniously designed the inventive costumes and sets. Whilst still keeping the traditional Alice in Wonderland basic themes Crowley upgrades the basic designs in a 21^st century manner as well as using set to solve seemingly impossible design problems for a live ballet such as the shrinking and growing of Alice in act 1.



The belly dancing sensual Caterpillar



Performed by Eric Underwood

365 crystals encrusted onto the Caterpillar's ballet shoes

In the ballet the different character’s personalities are reflected through their dance style, which are then further complimented with costume and set. For example the Caterpillar, played by Eric Underwood, is cleverly portrayed through sensual belly dance and (to use the hip hop term) ‘the worm’ where he almost seduces and hypnotises Alice. He is one of the eight dancers who has custom-made shoes encrusted with 365 crystals. Read about it here.

The energetic and quirky Mad Tapper
played by Steven McRae

The Red Queen
played by Zenaida Yanowsky

The Red Queen, played by Zenaida Yanowsky, wore a hard, dominant costume on wheels where she rolled around the stage. This was complimented with strong, aggressive choreography and un-elegant movements in her arms which was a complete contrast to Alice’s delicate traditional and contemporary ballet dance.

The ingenious flamingo costumes were easily my favourite from the entire production

The Royal Ballet’s production of Christopher Wheeldon’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is truly magical, visually and technically excellent, and suitable for all ages. If you have never been a fan of ballet I would really recommend this one as it is modern, entertaining and exciting to watch – one that is hard to beat!

To find out more about the Royal Opera House's live screenings at your nearest cinema click here.

Les Miserables Costume and Props Exhibition

 Today my Mother was lovely enough to take us over to Portsmouth to see the Les Miserable Exhibition  at the Mary Rose in Portsmouth. The beginning scenes from Les Mis were filmed in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard with HMS Victory and Portsmouth Naval Base both being used as locations in the film.

Costumes designed by Paco Delgado and worn by the main actors and actresses as well as the extras were on display in the exhibition. Seeing the costumes in the film is great but there is something special about seeing the costumes in the flesh that encourages you to really appreciate the fabrics, colours and amount of detail that goes into every costume. Well worth a visit!