Akram Khan's Giselle

1. Akram Khan's Giselle fuses a variety of dance styles. Identify one section of the dance that fuses ballet with another style of dance. How does this fusion contribute to the narrative of the performance?
2. Khan relocates the story of Giselle from its traditional pastoral setting to a bleak industrial landscape. Analyse how the set design and costuming of this performance help reimagine the story of Giselle to speak to the modern day.
3. How can dance be a tool of social commentary? Discuss in reference to Akram Khan’s Giselle and at least one other ballet performance.

New York City Ballet In Paris

1. Using specific examples from these performances, explore three key characteristics of Balanchine’s choreographic style.
2. Balanchine is quoted as saying, ‘See the music, hear the dance.’ Using this statement as a starting point, discuss the interplay between music and movement in these performances by the New York City Ballet.
3. In his works, Balanchine famously prioritised choreography over narrative. Comparing these performances to a classical ballet production of your choice, explore how a decreased focus on narrative affects audience experience.

The Golden Age

1. Making specific reference to this performance of The Golden Age, discuss how the medium of dance can be used to explore themes of class struggle and identity.
2. In its original 1930 incarnation, The Golden Age centred on a Soviet football team fighting against Western capitalists. This 2016 performance stages Yuri Grigorovich’s 1982 revival, which shifts the narrative focus to a love story in a 1920s Soviet seaside town. Using The Golden Age as a case study, discuss how ballet performances are shaped by and respond to the historical moment of their production.
3. Identify two moments in this performance that implement different styles of dance other than ballet. How are the dance styles played off each other within the performance, and what is achieved by encouraging the audience to make these comparisons?