The main dance style in Akram Khan's 'Rush' is contemporary, there also elements of Khatak, which is a type of Indian classical dance. The piece is performed as a trio. The stimulus of Rush is the idea of freefalling.
At the start of the piece, the music is the sound of swishing, which compliments the movement - for example, when the dancers rotate their arms. The swishing noise represents the sound of the wind you hear when you're going up in a plane, prior to the actual free-fall. Akram Khan was interested in exploring what happens to the 5 senses during free-fall; this shows that the sense of sound has been tackled in the opening music and is proven to be suitable for the theme.
Choreographically, there a minimal moments of unison in the opening section. The only time unison appears to be used is in group moments of stillness, for instance, when their left arms are in by the chest with the right arm extended out. Stillness is effective because a change in dynamics has a greater impact. Through stillness, tension is built which can be instantaneously broken. The main device used in the opening section is canon, this is where the dancers perform the same movement, but at different times to one another. Another device that has been applied is repetition, which highlights key movements, like when the dancers are bent over with their arms spread horizontally. This movement reflects the mental and physical preparation the person goes through, before jumping out of the plane.
Akram Khan has represented the jumping out of the plane by completely changing the dynamics, and also through his choice of music. The word 'Da' is spoken, and shortly afterwards comes the sound of an alarming bell. The dancers then perform their movements at a much faster pace, in unison, and begin to use a broader range of the stage. This tells us that the spatial restriction at the beginning was intended, because the spatial freedom in the next section reflects the unpredictable journey of freefalling.
Overall, the lighting starts quite dark and brightens when the pace picks up. However, the change in lighting is very gradual, which in my opinion doesn't create a strong enough impact on the audience. If I were directing it, I would've had a flash or strobe of lighting when the dancers have metaphorically begun their free-fall.
Each dancer wears the same costume - all black. It is good that the costume designer hasn't gone literal and put them in free-falling attire. The trousers worn by the dancers are loose, which is helpful to the dancer as they need to be able to move freely in performance.
One thing I'd definitely change is the music. Although, I like the opening music, the same music returns after the alarming bell, which I believe is boring and repetitive. The last section is supposed to be the most exciting part, of both the dance and literal freefalling, therefore, I would've had music to reflect that. Free-falling is loud, which Akram Khan has failed to represent by sticking to the same sound of swishing.
To conclude, I though 'Rush' was average. I think there was a lack of excitement in the piece. With a stimulus like freefalling, the audience need to feel like they're on that journey with the dancer, and I just didn't feel that. However, performing the movement in our own groups with something I really enjoyed, I think this is because we were allowed to interpret it individually, using pictures and different choreographic devices.
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