Akram
Khan Company was founded in 2000 by choreographer Akram Khan and his producer
Farooq Chaudhry. The company has since
won a plethora of awards and has produced 19 productions of both contemporary
and Kathak. What truly makes this
company fascinating is Akram Khan’s vision of creating a company of dancers
with diverse cultural backgrounds dancing together to merge cultural
perceptions while challenging the ideas of the traditional dance forms that go
along with each culture. In addition to the company’s unique interaction with each other, they also interact with the stage and with the musicians. Each company member brings his or her own cultural
background and training, and so the interaction between artists becomes almost
as interesting as the myth and the story behind each performance. All works are
created by Akram Khan, the artistic visionary of Akram Khan Company.
About Akram Khan
Akram was born in London in 1974. His mother introduced him
to Bengali folk dancing and when he was seven, and he studied with the
celebrated Kathak teacher, Sri Pratap Pawar until the age of 18. He also gained experience in theater, touring
in a production supported by the British Arts Council, The Adventures of
Mowgli and in Sir Peter Brooks’ play The Mahabharata in 1984 and
1988 respectively. In between these commitments he attended Rutlish High School
in Merton Park and studied Bengali and mathematics. Akram received an Aditi
Scholarship for Higher Training in Kathak and in 1994 was awarded the Senior
Diploma, Prayag Sangeet Samati, by the Dance Board of India. Additionally, he attended Northern School of
Contemporary Dance in Leeds, where he gained experience in classical ballet and
contemporary dance.
Upon graduation, Akram completed
several solo dances and became involved in dance groups. In 1999, he attended Choreolab and then in
2000, Akram was awarded a Lisa Ullmann Travelling Scholarship and studied at
the Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker’s Parforming Arts Research and Trainig Studio in
Brussels where he participated in the X-Group Project. It was after that that he created Akram Khan
Company with producer and friend Farooq Chaudrey. While he is still committed to creating
ensemble work with dancers from Akram Khan Company, he has moved towards
choreographing solos and dances with one other person.
About the Company
All of the work produced by Akram Kahn Company deals with
storytelling and incorporating myths and human themes. The company is renowned for its
intercultural, interdisciplinary collaborations and for challenging the
conventional ideas of traditional dance forms.
Instead, they are much more interested in storytelling and in
interacting with the other dancers on stage.
The Company consists of 32 dancers from different cultures and nations
and 18 musicians trained in either classical music or traditional Indian music. Interestingly, the Akram Khan Company is
registered as a 501(c)(3) due to the educational and charitable component of
the company, AKCT. AKCT was created in
March 2005 as a way for dancers to receive training, research and development
in Kathak.
Awards
2012: TMA Theatre Awards UK 2012 for Achievement in Dance
(Akram Khan for DESH)
2012: Olivier Awards 2012 for Best New Dance Production
(DESH)
2012: 12th Critics' Circle National Dance Award 2011 for
Best Modern Choreography (Vertical Road)
2011: Distinguished Artist Award, International Society for
the Performing Arts (ISPA), New York (Akram Khan)
2011: South Bank Sky Arts Award in Dance, UK (Gnosis)
2010: Danza & Danza Award for Best Performance in 2010,
Bolzano, Italy (Vertical Road)
2010: The Age Critics Award for Best New Work, Melbourne
Arts Festival (Vertical Road)
2010: Honorary Fellowship from Trinity Laban Conservatoire
of Music and Dance in recognition of outstanding efforts and unique
contributions to the arts (Akram Khan)
2010: Honorary Doctorate of Letters, Roehampton University
(Akram Khan)
2007: Helpmann Award for Best Choreography, Sydney Arts
Festival (zero degrees)
2007: Helpmann Award for Best Male Dancer, Sydney Arts
Festival (zero degrees)
2007: Excellence in International Dance Award by
International Theatre Institute (Akram Khan)
2005: The Critics' Circle National Dance Award for
Outstanding Male or Female Artist (modern) (Akram Khan)
2005: South Bank Show Award (ma)
2005: MBE for services to dance (Akram Khan)
2004: Honorary Doctorate of Arts for his contribution to the
UK arts community, De Montfort University (Akram Khan)
2004: The International Movimetos Tanzpreis for Most
Promising Newcomer in Dance (Akram Khan)
2002: The Critics' Circle National Dance Award for Best
Modern Choreography (Kaash)
2000: The Critics' Circle National Dance Award for
Outstanding Newcomer to Dance (Rush)
2000: Time Out Live Award for Outstanding Newcomer to Dance
(Akram Khan in Rush)
2000: Jerwood Foundation Choreography Award (Loose in
Flight)
Current Productions
Desh (2011)- This is a full length contemporary solo about the cultural heritage and memories of Akram Khan and his Bengali background. In fact, DESH translates to 'homeland' in Bengali. It draws multiple tales of land, nation, resistance and convergence while weaving through threads of memory, experiences and myth. This very much a surreal world that Akram interacts with on stage, due to its interactive art background. Akram states that he wants to represent human fragility in the face of natural forces while still celebrating the resilience of the human spirit in the rhythms of labor, in dreams, and in transformation and in survival. Khan teams up with Oscar-winning visual artist Tim Yip (Production Designer for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), fellow Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist lighting designer Michael Hulls, writer and poet Karthika Nair and Olivier award-winning composer Jocelyn Pook.
Sacred Monsters (premiered 2006)- The title of this work comes from term used in 19th century France as a nickname for the big stars of the theatre, Monstres Sacres. It marks the birth of contemporary stardom in which the icons of the arts and sports world are given divine status by their audience and the media. Yet, at the same time big stars of the sports and the arts world are also faced with intense pressure as well as audience expectations and even familial expectations. This divine status makes the stars become inhuman and monstrous. The choreography is mean to be an exchange of two stars Sylvie Guillem and Akram Khan.
Gnosis (2009)- Kathak. Pursuing the idea of the 'knowledge within', this performance is an exploration of the inner and outer battles of characters, human nature and the gods.
Vertical Road (2009)- While not considered part of Akram Khan Company’s current productions, it toured in the fall and is the latest ensemble work choreographed by Akram Khan. This entire piece consists of performers from across Asia, Europe and the Middle East interacting with each other and the stage. They are exploring man's earthly nature, his rituals and the consequences of human actions.
References
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