Akram Hossain Khan, MBE (born 29 July 1974) is an English dancer of Bangladeshi descent. His background is rooted in his classical kathak training and contemporary dance. Khan was born in Wimbledon, London, England into a family from Dhaka, Bangladesh. He began dancing and trained in the classical Indian dance form of Kathak at the age of seven. He studied with Sri Pratap Pawar, later becoming his disciple. He began his stage career at the age of 13, when he was cast in Peter Brook’s Shakespeare Company production of Mahabharata, touring the world between 1987 and 1989 and appearing in the televised version of the play broadcast in 1988.
Following later studies in Contemporary Dance at De Montfort University and Performing Arts at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance and a period working with Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker’s Brussels based X-Group project, he began presenting solo performances of his work in the 1990s. In August 2000, he launched Akram Khan Company. His first full-length work Kaash, a collaboration with Anish Kapoor and Nitin Sawhney, was performed at the Edinburgh Festival in 2002.
As choreographer-in-residence and later associate artist at the Southbank Centre,[4] he presented a recital with Pandit Birju Maharaj and Sri Pratap Pawar; and A God of Small Tales, a piece for mature women for which he collaborated with writer Hanif Kureishi. He remained an associate artist at the Southbank Centre until April 2005, the first non-musician to be afforded this status, and is currently an associate artist at Sadler's Wells Theatre.
In 2008, he co-starred with Juliette Binoche in a dance-drama piece called in-i at the Royal National Theatre, London. In summer 2006, Khan was invited by Kylie Minogue to choreograph a section of her Showgirl concert. Khan appeared as a huge projection behind the singer as she performed. The songs were set in an Indian temple scenario, inspired by a trip Minogue made to Sri Lanka.[7] He has made pieces for the Ballet Boyz and Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan. Khan and his dance company performed at the 2012 London Olympics opening ceremony. Live music was provided by Emile Sande singing 'Abide With Me.
Akram Khan Dance Company journeys across boundaries to create uncompromising artistic narratives. Akram Khan Company produces thoughtful, provocative and ambitious dance productions for the international stage. Akram Khan takes human themes and works with others to take them to new and unexpected places - embracing and working with other cultures and disciplines.
The dance language in each production is rooted in Akram Khan's classical Kathak and modern dance training, and continually evolves to communicate ideas that are intelligent, courageous and new, bringing with it international acclaim and recognition as well as artistic and commercial success.
A brief description about the Akram Khan Company:
Founded in August 2000 by the Choreographer Akram Khan and Producer Farooq Chaudhry, Akram Khan Company journeys across boundaries to create uncompromising artistic narratives. Having established itself as one of the foremost innovative dance companies in the world, the company is renowned for its intercultural, interdisciplinary collaborations and for challenging conventional ideas of traditional dance forms. The dance language in each production is rooted in Akram Khan’s classical Kathak and modern dance training, and continually evolves to communicate ideas that are intelligent, courageous and new.
Akram Khan Company tours extensively both within the United Kingdom and internationally at leading international festival and venues, performing a diverse range of programmes including classical kathak solos, ensemble productions and artist-to-artist collaborations.
Vision and Mission of the Company:
- Akram Khan Dance Company journeys across boundaries to create uncompromising artistic narratives.
- Akram Khan Company produces thoughtful, provocative and ambitious dance productions for the international stage.
- 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.
- The dance language in each production is rooted in Akram Khan’s classical Kathak and modern dance training and his fascination with storytelling. The work continually evolves to communicate ideas that are intelligent, courageous and new, bringing with it international acclaim and recognition as well as artistic and commercial success.
Awards achieved:
- 2013: The Critics' Circle National Dance Award 2012 for Best Male Dancer (Akram Khan)
- 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: The 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)
Nominations achieved:
- 2012: 13th Critics' Circle National Dance Awards for Best Modern Choreography (DESH)
- 2012: 13th Critics' Circle National Dance Awards - Dancing Times Awards for Best Male Dancer (Akram Khan)
- 2012: 33rd Annual Dora Mavor Moore Awards for Outstanding Dance Production (Confluence)
- 2012: British Inspiration Awards Arts Category (Akram Khan)
- 2012: South Bank Sky Arts Awards 2012 Dance Category (DESH)
- 2012: London Dance Award 2012 (Akram Khan)
- 2011: Les Globes de Cristal Art et Culture Awards: “Opera or Dance Performance” (In-I)
- 2010: 11th Critics' Circle National Dance Awards for Outstanding Female Performance (Modern) - dancers Eulalia Ayguade Farro (Vertical Road, bahok) & Yoshie Sunahata (Gnosis)
- 2010: Olivier Award for Outstanding Contribution to Dance - Yoshie Sunahata (Gnosis)
- 2010: Manchester Evening News Theatre Dance Award (bahok)
- 2006: Time Out Award (zero degrees)
- 2006: Olivier Award for Best New Dance Production (zero degrees)
- 2005: The Critics' Circle National Dance Award for Company Prize for Best Choreography (Modern) (zero degrees)
- 2005: The Critics' Circle National Dance Award for Company Prize for Outstanding Repertoire (Modern) (Akram Khan Company)
- 2002: Best Dance Show by French Magazine Le Inrockuptibles (Kaash)
- 2002: Nijinsky Award for Best New Comer, Monaco Dances Forum (Akram Khan)
- 2001: South Bank Show Award (Rush)
The web portal provides lot’s of information’s about dancing and other related topics, please visit the web portal Akram Khan Company for further details.
Thanks a lot.
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