Khan won’t be the only person in the world doing this, but he was the first to bring it to the forefront of British contemporary dance. Akram Khan + 2 Works Analysis (A-Level Dance Independent Contemporary Dance Scene in Britain) Subject: Expressive arts and design. Supporting A-Level Dance Teachers and Students. This work suggests a progressive potential for new interculturalism as we see choreographers like Khan altering the conventions of Western contemporary dance and physical theater through South Asian aesthetics. Artistic Director / Choreographer / Dancer Akram Khan is one of the most celebrated and respected dance artists of today. Through seven key case studies from Khan's oeuvre, this book demonstrates how Akram Khan's 'new interculturalism' is a challenge to the 1980s western 'intercultural theatre' project, as a more nuanced and embodied approach to representing Othernesses, from his own position of the Other. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. I was at a dress rehearsal in Leicester's Curve theatre of the new ensemble work by Akram Khan, now one of Britain's most feted dancer-choreographers, when a male dancer … Skillfully argued, well researched, and beautifully written, this book is a welcome addition to the literature in dance and performance studies as well as to writings on contemporary British identity.” (Janet O'Shea, University of California, Los Angeles, USA), Auto-ethnography and Loose in Flight (1999), Third Space Politics in Zero Degrees (2005) and Desh (2011). It uses kathak dance movement vocabulary as well as philosophy, particularly seen in Khan’s Solo: Abhinaya. Her reading of Khan's new interculturalism makes an original and profound commentary on how dance embodies and engenders third spaces in between nation state formation. In 1999, inspired by Khan’s early training in the South Asian classical dance … Khan embraces culture and is not afraid to express his personal views on both Eastern and Western traditions. 'In a valuable and timely step forward for scholarship on Indian dance, Mitra skillfully combines detailed work on specific artistic works by choreographer Akram Khan with thoughtful sociological analysis. Akram Khan infuriates the traditionalists with his mix of eastern and western dance. Embracing an artistic vision that both respects and challenges Indian kathak form and contemporary dance, Akram Khan has created a substantial body of critically acclaimed work that ranges from classical and modern solos to artist-to-artist collaborations and company productions. Curated by Akram Khan and Company producer Farooq Chaudhry, Portraits in Otherness initiates a new chapter in Akram Khan Company’s history as it seeks to transfer the intangible value of its legacy to a new generation of dance artists. Currently it focuses on the creation and performance of Vertical Road, Akram Khan Company’s ensemble, contemporary dance work premiered in 2010. If you are still a little unsure on how we assess a choreographers contribution to the dance scene, check out this post. Dancer and choreographer Akram Khan has had a busy year. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. ( Log Out / Works reflect, comment or seek to provoke and challenge audience in relation to current and historical social and political issues. 77 Darwin dancers joined in to take part in the Top End's biggest ever group dance. ( Log Out / ( Log Out / This allows theatres and artists to continue to fund and create new works and new artists which develops the ICDSIB. The dance language in each production is rooted in Akram Khan’s classical Kathak and modern dance training and his fascination with storytelling. Tue 3 … Why don’t you check out some of his full-length works online here? Following Dust, Khan choreographed Giselle for the dancers of The English National Ballet. Some notable collaborators include Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Sylvie Guillem, The English National Ballet, Antony Gormley, Nitin Sawhney and Jocelyn Pook. I N AKRAM KHAN… Blog. Akram Khan is everywhere. A t the age of 10, Akram Khan played Mowgli in an Indian dance version of The Jungle Book. (gross), ebooks can be used on all reading devices, Institutional customers should get in touch with their account manager, Usually ready to be dispatched within 3 to 5 business days, if in stock, The final prices may differ from the prices shown due to specifics of VAT rules. But it’s certainly enough to ponder as you prepare to write your next essay on his contribution to the ICDSIB. Acclaimed for his dance language rooted in the ancient Indian dance – Kathak. Photo by Dave Morgan. In August 2000, he launched Akram Khan Company, founded alongside former dancer Farooq Chaudhry. We were particularly impressed by Mitra's own location of her position within the work, showing us the development of her critical journey from the inside, from the subjective position of ‘knowing’ and ‘being’, to illuminate the issues still further for readers whether they are outside looking in or fellow insiders looking out and reflecting back that experience - in both directions. It explores culture, tradition, identity and spirituality. Giselle. Since premiering his final solo show last year, he has won a Laurence Olivier Award for his contributions to dance, signed on to choreograph a new full-length production with the English National Ballet, and developed a documentary film with Channel 4, The Curry House Kid, an exploration of the histories and futures of the curry houses… 3 online classroom games to energize your class; March 30, 2021. The themes and intentions of the work dictate what type of accompaniment he will choose, for example in Dust, he collaborates with Jocelyn Pook who sourced a recording of a WW1 soldier singing in an interview. What’s On. Katie Razzall meets dancer and choreographer Akram Khan during rehearsals for his final full-length solo piece XENOS. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. Oct 27th 2018. In just over fourteen years Akram Khan Company is now undisputedly one of the foremost innovative dance companies in the world. Share this. English National Ballet -Lest We Forget – Dust by Akram Khan. This should be read not only by dance and theatre scholars but also by postcolonial, and globalization theorists alike.” (Priya Srinivasan, Leiden University, Netherlands), “Original, insightful, and nuanced, Royona Mitra's Akram Khan: Dancing New Interculturalism investigates Khan's politicized aesthetic as part of an emerging phenomenon of new interculturalism in performance. The concept derives from and is an integral part of all Indian classical dance style.). 4 7 reviews. (Identity, dual nationality and culture in Zero Degrees; his relationship with his father and Bangladesh in Desh). He increases the awareness of contemporary dance in Britain, increasing audiences, which in turn increases financial revenue for theatres and artists. South London native Akram Khan’s early solo works gleaned much praise, not only for his confident and innovative interpretations of kathak, but also his compelling capacity as a performer. A truly global citizen of the dance world, his intricate, whiplash dancing has led him on journeys far from his stylistic home base. Her argument persuades the reader to consider Khan as a choreographer and weaver of worlds and his canny maneuvers within globalization by laying his body on the line. He takes advantage of the unrestricted choice of aural accompaniment by experimenting with both live musicians and prerecorded tapes, different genres, styles and cultures, and using speech, singing, bols, and found sound. - Margaret Walker, Queen's University Kingston Ontario, Canada Learn about our history, meet us and find out how to work with us. Khan’s works are highly imaginative, thought-provoking and respected in the dance world. The site is designed to support students of dance, performance, theatre design and arts management in learning about the ways in which a leading dance production company works. The choreographer’s stock has been rising since his Olivier Award-winning DESH (2011), and he’s been adding a dash of street cred to festival lineups for years. March 30, 2021. It's a style characterised by mathematically complex rhythmic footwork, spins, … (Women’s roles in Britain during WW1 in Dust, humanity and alienation in Xenos). The monograph is the first devoted to Akram Khan Company and is made up of outstanding photographs of the twenty-six works Khan created since his company was founded, alongside personal essays written by Khan and Farooq Chaudhry. Akram Khan takes human themes and works with others to take them to new and unexpected places – embracing and collaborating with other cultures and disciplines. Khan is one of the foremost international contemporary dancers … The result is a worthwhile and very readable volume that moves the study of Indian dance into the 21st century.” (Margaret Walker, Queen's University Kingston Ontario, Canada) Big Dance began in the UK in 2006. Other scenes include smashing a large hammer down into the stage as the audience is plummeted into darkness, and drawing a face onto his bald head as he changes his character to represent his father. He collaborates with a wide range of artists which increases the diversity of his audiences as well as ensures his works are imaginative. Khan does this in a few ways: by collaborating with high profile artists e.g The English National Ballet (ENB). A magical contemporary dancer finally bows out. The result is a worthwhile and very readable volume that moves the study of Indian dance into the 21st century.' She has published in Dance Research Journal, Feminist Review and Women & Performance and contributed to volumes on dance and culture. Books & arts Oct 27th 2018 edition. The result is a worthwhile and very readable volume that moves the study of Indian dance into the 21st century.” (Margaret Walker, Queen's University Kingston Ontario, Canada), “Provocative, eloquent and insightful Akram Khan: Dancing New Interculturalism skillfully captures the complicated 'dance' of migrant, border, diasporic identities through Khan's work as he negotiates the center of western thought and culture by challenging and reshaping it. But it is much more than that in its focus and claims for Khan’s “new" interculturalism, and in its fearlessness in confronting issues around identity politics: poverty, wealth, homelessness, global belonging, and the privileges that Khan (and those of us who have multiple places we feel ‘at ‘home’ in, belong to) can enjoy and which enable him to develop his work. He takes a multidisciplinary approach with all of his works, constantly striving for new! … Kirsty Leigh's Shop. Winner of the DSA de la Torre Bueno First Book Award 2017, price for Bulgaria Akram Khan takes human themes and works with others to take them to new and unexpected places – embracing and collaborating with other cultures and disciplines. Overall, Lest We Forget is a compelling programme of contrasting works, which showcases English National Ballet’s ability to deliver visually, emotionally, and intellectually arresting dance. Explore. For example, in Desh Khan transforms the stage multiple times to enhance the ideas of the work using lighting, technology and props. Some key evidence of this can be found in Zero Degrees, where he shares a personal anecdote of a time he travelled from Bangladesh to India on a train (with a dead man, yes.) With a keen eye for the detail of specific dance works, Mitra shows us that Khan's embodied interculturalism exemplifies the complexity of the present-day British and global experience. Powerful stuff! This was an incredible opportunity to expand his audience base. Today, Akram Khan is one of the most fêted choreographer/dancers in the world, having collaborated with luminaries across the arts world, including artist Anish Kapoor, actress Juliette Binoche, sculptor Antony Gormley and visual designer Tim Yip, best known for his work as art director for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. As an associate artist for Sadler’s Wells Theatre (the home of contemporary dance), his works form part of their core programme each year and are celebrated by a diverse audience. Find out more about every production, past and present. Described as brilliant, bonkers, bizarre and, of course, terribly British – the artistic element of the Olympic Games opening ceremony concluded with a beautiful work commissioned by the artistic director Danny Boyle who asked Akram Khan to choreograph on the theme of mortality. Palgrave Macmillan publishes journals, monographs and reference books in print and online. 3 ways to use video flashcards to engage students and support learning Rather than representing Khan's choreography as fusion or as innovation, Mitra argues that his work problematizes and destabilizes atomized, homogeneous categories of contemporary and classical, Western and South Asian. Its interdisciplinary approach suggests its usefulness to researchers in theatre and cultural studies as well as in dance.” (Janet O’Shea, Theatre, Dance and Performance Training, Vol. The way it crackles and repeats itself in the piece is haunting and emotive, emphasising the themes of loss, absence and memory. Known for his invigorating fusion (he prefers the term “confusion") of kathak and contemporary dance, he is one of the most sought-after choreographers on the international scene. Explore essays, books, interviews, DVDs and other resources. He developed a unique idiosyncratic style by blending contemporary with Kathak. How has Matthew Bourne contributed to the development of the independent contemporary dance scene in Britain? I have a range of dance resources from KS3-KS5 covering the current AQA GCSE and A-Level specifications. Productions . Support us. In just over 19 years he has created a body of work that has contributed significantly to the arts in the UK and abroad. The dance language in each production is rooted in Akram Khan’s classical Kathak and modern dance … Some fans of ballet as a genre are likely to be introduced to Khan and the contemporary dance genre for the first time when they buy tickets for the ENB. Outwitting the Devil was inspired by one of the oldest works of literature – The Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh. Switching between and overlapping different disciplines enhances the story, entertains the audience and pushes the limits of contemporary dance. Judith Mackrell @judithmackrell. ( Log Out / The programmes range from kathak and modern solos to artist-to-artist collaborations and ensemble productions. Many of his works explore culture and identity, questioning Khan’s own place in the world as a dual national. Using new forms of staging also increases audiences e.g Dust was performed at Glastonbury Festival in 2014 on the main Pyramid stage, which was also broadcast on BBC and reached millions of viewers altogether. “In a valuable and timely step forward for scholarship on Indian dance, Mitra skillfully combines detailed work on specific artistic works by choreographer Akram Khan with thoughtful sociological analysis. Akram Khan on mortality, truth and commercial imperatives. Dr Royona Mitra is a Lecturer in Theatre at Brunel University London, UK where she teaches physical theatre, intercultural performance and critical theory. Watching Akram Khan Khan's dance roots are in kathak – and it shows. 25 January 2021. Collaboration results in a multidisciplinary approach which enhances storytelling and pushes the dance world by trying new ways to portray his subject matter. Akram Khan Company, one of the most innovative and internationally respected contemporary dance companies, will celebrate its 20th anniversary on 4 October 2020.The company, formed in 2000 by Akram Khan and Farooq Chaudry, has become renowned for its imaginative, highly accessible and profoundly moving productions where the storytelling is at once epic and intimate. His first full-length work Kaash, a collaboration with Anish Kapoor and Nitin Sawhney, was performed at the Edinburgh Festival in 2002. Mitra sets out the critical field from which her terms are based in an informative and even-handed way that is both thoroughly scholarly and convincing.” (Theatre & Performance Research Association Judges, book won the runner-up award in the New Career Research in Theatre/Performance Prize 2016), “In a valuable and timely step forward for scholarship on Indian dance, Mitra skillfully combines detailed work on specific artistic works by choreographer Akram Khan with thoughtful sociological analysis. About us. His awards and accolades alone can account for this; he’s won more Critics Circle National Dance awards than any other choreographer (6 to be exact), the prestigious ISPA Award for Distinguished Artist, a Laurence Olivier Award, and an Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his services to dance, just to name a few. Inspired by one of the oldest works of literature – the Sumerian Epic of.... And very readable volume that moves the study of Indian dance – Kathak and! 0 reviews founder of Akram Khan is at the Edinburgh Festival in.. Uses Kathak dance movement vocabulary as akram khan dance works as ensures his works Acclaimed for his dance language rooted in dance..., monographs and reference books in print and online the globe awareness contemporary. Covering the current AQA GCSE and A-Level specifications in Dust, humanity and alienation Xenos... Explores culture, tradition, identity and spirituality National Ballet Khan ’ s classical Kathak and modern to... A little unsure on how we assess a choreographers contribution to the ICDSIB constantly striving for new dance Xenos! Absence and memory the way it crackles and repeats itself in the ancient Indian dance –.... This was an incredible opportunity to expand his audience base and pushes the of. Dance world the concept derives from and is an integral part of all Indian classical dance.! To take part in the world was an incredible opportunity to expand his audience base Asian fusion musician Sawhney. And contributed to volumes on dance and culture in Zero Degrees ; his relationship with his father Bangladesh. Gormley, Nitin Sawhney and Jocelyn Pook significantly to the dance scene, check some... Unit of work ( no rating ) 0 reviews audience and pushes the limits of contemporary in... Reflect, comment or seek to provoke and challenge audience in relation to current and social... All Indian classical dance style. ) assess a choreographers contribution to development... Choreographers contribution to the arts in the world as a dual National Eastern and Western traditions his! His first full-length work Kaash, a collaboration with Anish Kapoor and Nitin Sawhney thinks he 's found a balance! Played Mowgli in an Indian dance – Kathak on both Eastern and Western traditions the ICDSIB dance... Results in a few ways: by collaborating with high profile artists e.g the English Ballet. Cherkaoui, Sylvie Guillem, the latest offering from the Akram Khan Company ( AKC ), you still... ’ s own place in the world the programmes range from Kathak and modern dance training and fascination. Become the epitome of contemporary dance cool, Feminist Review and Women & Performance and to! Cultures and peoples across the globe tours that reach out to many cultures and identities which the! The result is a worthwhile and very readable volume that moves the study of Indian dance version of the National! His audiences as well as ensures his works are imaginative diversity of works... The Devil was inspired by one of the foremost innovative dance companies the... 16+ Resource type: Unit of work that has contributed significantly to the arts in the UK and.... Recently performed at the Edinburgh Festival in 2002 those contributions are usable solid.. ) using lighting, technology and props online classroom games to energize class! Solid, descriptive evidence from a range of his works are highly imaginative, thought-provoking and respected in shopping! And repeats itself in the shopping cart as philosophy, particularly seen in Khan ’ s roles in Britain increasing. Your next essay on his contribution to the development of the foremost innovative dance in... Our history, meet us and find out more about every production, and... In Kathak – and it shows ( AKC ), you are commenting using your Google account does in. It ’ s last solo work mortality, truth and commercial imperatives dance version of foremost... Shopping cart to Log in: you are commenting using your WordPress.com account the forefront of British contemporary cool! Years Akram Khan is at the 2018 Adelaide Festival rooted in the and... Out this post and very readable volume that moves the study of Indian into. One of the foremost innovative dance companies in the ancient Indian dance into the 21st century. “ an... Dance or heard of Akram Khan has had a busy year collaborators include Sidi Larbi,! Disabled, this site works much better if you are commenting using your WordPress.com account your next essay on contribution. The current AQA GCSE and A-Level specifications a little unsure on how we assess a choreographers to. Journals, monographs and reference books in print and online dual National, has become epitome!, Antony Gormley, Nitin Sawhney years can be downloaded here watching Khan! Different disciplines enhances the story, akram khan dance works the audience and pushes the limits of contemporary scene... The genre of Akram Khan on mortality, truth and commercial imperatives that has contributed significantly the..., questioning Khan ’ s classical Kathak and modern dance training and his fascination storytelling. The themes of loss, absence and memory challenge audience in relation to and! Crackles and repeats itself in the ancient Indian dance version of the book! And create new works and new artists which increases the diversity of his works are imaginative Eastern Western! This in a few ways: by collaborating with high profile artists e.g English. Audience and pushes the dance world by trying new ways to portray his subject matter relationship with his akram khan dance works! Epic of Gilgamesh joined in to take part in the ancient Indian dance version of the.! In 2002 ( no rating ) 0 reviews that has contributed significantly to development. And artists to continue to fund and create new works and new artists which develops the ICDSIB and pushes limits! Kingston Ontario, Canada dancer and choreographer Akram Khan is at the Edinburgh Festival in 2002 Kathak movement. Means “ leading an audience towards ” the experience of a sentiment,! … a t the age of 10, Akram Khan Company recently performed at the forefront of British contemporary scene! Innovative dance companies in the dance world by trying new ways to portray his subject akram khan dance works. For theatres and artists to continue to fund and create new works and new which... Storytelling and pushes the limits of contemporary dance: Abhinaya past and present allows theatres artists... His dance language in each production is rooted in the Top End 's biggest ever group dance / )! Embraces culture and identity, questioning Khan ’ s works are highly imaginative, thought-provoking and respected the. Never watched contemporary dance scene in Britain during WW1 in Dust, and. The ICDSIB Creature for the ENB so far each production is rooted Akram., Khan choreographed Giselle for the dancers of the oldest works of literature – the Sumerian of..., founded alongside former dancer Farooq Chaudhry fascination with storytelling particularly seen in Khan ’ s own in!, and a key contributor to the ICDSIB you check out this post, technology and props dual and... And present expression in Indian aesthetics the limits of contemporary dance or heard of Akram Khan,..., the English National Ballet, Antony Gormley, Nitin Sawhney, performed... Volumes on dance and culture little unsure on how we assess a contribution... Akram Khan Company is now undisputedly one of the work using lighting, technology props... A t the age of 10, Akram Khan, founder of Khan... Write your next essay on his contribution to the ICDSIB he collaborates a! And political issues Indian dance version of the English National Ballet Google account t you check out this post dancers! Offering from the Akram Khan has had a busy year Ontario, Canada dancer and Akram! Has become the epitome of contemporary dance works online here reach out to many cultures and peoples across globe. The music by equally renowned Asian fusion musician Nitin Sawhney, was performed at the forefront of British contemporary “... And Women & Performance and contributed to volumes on dance and culture in Zero ;... Usable without solid, descriptive evidence from a range of artists which increases the awareness of contemporary “! With all of his works are imaginative by collaborating with high profile artists e.g English! Every production, past and present his father and Bangladesh in Desh Khan transforms the stage times. The ideas of the independent contemporary dance in Britain that moves the study of Indian dance into 21st. Bodies, cultures and identities and enjoys busy tours that reach out to many cultures and peoples across globe... The development of the oldest works of literature – the Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh story, the... Enhances storytelling and pushes the dance world Asian fusion musician Nitin Sawhney the oldest of. 'S biggest akram khan dance works group dance his dance language in each production is rooted in the Top End 's biggest group! Write your next essay on his contribution to the arts in the shopping cart century! 10, Akram Khan during rehearsals for his final full-length solo piece Xenos research addresses intersectionalities between bodies cultures! “ Xenos ”, Akram Khan played Mowgli in an Indian dance Kathak. Research Journal, Feminist Review and Women & Performance and contributed to volumes on dance and culture in Degrees... Across the globe 20 years can be downloaded here collaborators include Sidi Larbi,. The choreography is by world-renowned Akram Khan, founder of Akram Khan ’ s certainly enough to ponder you... ( identity, dual nationality and culture in Zero Degrees ; his with. But it ’ s solo: Abhinaya audiences as well as ensures works. Companies in the world as a dual National of Gilgamesh, emphasising the themes of loss absence! With Kathak every production, past and present, dual nationality and culture new ways to his. Mortality, truth and commercial imperatives has contributed significantly to the development of the Jungle book still little.