Sutra - Sidi Larbi & Antony Gormley with the Shaolin Monks

Celebrated Flemish/Moroccan choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui presents a brand new dance work inspired by the skill, strength and spirituality of Buddhist Shaolin monks. He has collaborated closely with Turner Prize-winning artist Antony Gormley, who has created a design consisting of 21 wooden boxes which are repositioned to create a striking, ever changing on-stage environment. Polish composer Szymon Brzóska has created a beautiful brand new score for piano, percussion and strings which is played live.

The 17 Monks performing in Sutra are directly from the original Shaolin Temple, situated near Dengfeng City in the Henan Province of China and established in 495AD by monks originating from India. In 1983 the State Council defined the Shaolin Temple as the key national Buddhist Temple. The monks follow a strict Buddhist doctrine, of which Kung fu & Tai Chi martial arts are an integral part of their daily regime. By visiting the Shaolin Temple in China, and working with the Shaolin Monks over several months, Sidi Larbi follows a life-long interest of exploring the philosophy and faith behind the Shaolin tradition, its relationship with Kung-Fu, and its position within a contemporary context.

Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui / Sadler's Wells London

Sutra
Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui / Antony Gormley
Szymon Brzóska
with monks from the Shaolin Temple

Direction & Choreography: Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui
Visual creation and Design*: Antony Gormley
Music: Szymon Brzóska

A Sadler's Wells Production

Co-produced with Athens Festival, Festival de Barcelona Grec, Grand Théâtre de Luxembourg, La Monnaie Brussels, Festival d'Avignon, Fondazione Musica per Roma and Shaolin Cultural Communications Company.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• sutra
• sidi
• larbi
• antony
• gormley
• shaolin
• monks
• dance
• contemporary
• kung
• fu
• sadler's
• wells
• martial
• arts

[Starmandala]

Absolutely brilliant. My faith in the power of the performing arts has just been renewed! :-)

[seanmckeen]

Apparently you didn't quite get what I was trying to say. Anyway, I don't like the "of course" bit, as if any other opinion would be ridiculous. But I don't really care if you call this dance or not, terminology always being a very tricky thing to deal with. This is just a wonderful video and I can't wait to see this choreography (hope you don't mind me using this term) in its entirety

[Shiiro108]

though he's got a really flexible body, he definitely doesn't have the presence the monks have...which makes the movements really sucking! energy is the key!

[mariaVTCgirl]

I saw them in NC when they came to my college campus. They were absolutely amazing!

[TimHailand]

Saw this piece last night in NYC and it and Sidi are BRILLIANT - truly INSPIRING

[harebellish]

@Cultureboy this is architectural anthropology

[Cultureboy]

I am still taking in the live performance at the Brisbane Festival.The imagery, energy and movement left me in awe. This is what spirituality is all about. How do we translate this discipline into our culture and community?

[92kersti]

Just saw u live AMAZING !!!

[ChantalHarvey]

Totally breathtaking. As a Gormley fan, I wondered where he will go next...

[SuperTutorialKing]

Awesome!

[AboDa7mUK]

they'll preform in birmingham in the international Dance Festival next week