Akram Khan

Akram Khan is one of the most original and celebrated choreographers on the international dance scene. Acclaimed for his physicality and hybrid dance language rooted in the ancient Indian dance of kathak, and evolving constantly to embrace new art forms and collaborations.

In August 2000 he launched his own company which has since produced a series of highly acclaimed works in collaboration with artists including Anish Kapoor, Nitin Sawhney, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Anthony Gormley and Sylvie Guillem. In 2005 Akram became an associated artist of Sadler’s Wells Theatre and was awarded an MBE for his services to the UK dance community.

Works touring internationally in 2009 include bahok, a work choreographed by Akram Khan in collaboration with the National Ballet of China and In-I with Oscar-winning actress Juliette Binoche.

bahok is a unique collaboration for both Akram Khan Company and China's classical ballet flagship company. Khan drew on the two companies' differing cultural perspectives and diverse dance styles to create a new and original dance vocabulary and ensure that bahok was one of the most exciting cultural events of 2008. bahok premiered in Beijing in January 2008 followed by a UK premiere in March 2008 at the Liverpool Playhouse as part of the Liverpool Capital of Culture season.

In-I is a major new dance theatre collaboration. Juliette Binoche and Akram Khan co-direct and perform and Anish Kapoor has designed the set. In-I takes both artists in new directions: Juliette Binoche is learning to dance having never danced on stage before and Akram Khan will act for the first time since is childhood role in Peter Brook’s Mahabharata. In-I premiered at the National Theatre, London on 18 September 2008.


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