Akram Khan

🪔 About

Akram Hossain Khan, MBE, born on July 29, 1974, in Lambeth, London, England, is an acclaimed English dancer and choreographer of Bangladeshi descent. His artistic foundation is deeply rooted in classical Kathak, which he began studying at the age of seven under the tutelage of renowned dancer Sri Pratap Pawar, later becoming his disciple. Khan's early career saw him performing in the Academy of Indian Dance's "Adventures of Mowgli" (1984–1985) and, significantly, in Peter Brook's Shakespeare Company production of "Mahabharata," touring internationally from 1987 to 1989. He furthered his training in contemporary dance, studying at De Montfort University in Leicester and the Northern School of Contemporary Dance, where he graduated with the highest marks ever awarded. In August 2000, Khan co-founded the Akram Khan Company with former dancer Farooq Chaudhry, establishing it as a leading innovative dance company globally. The company's work seamlessly blends Kathak and contemporary dance, exploring diverse narratives through artist-to-artist collaborations and ensemble productions. Khan's choreographic repertoire includes critically acclaimed works such as "Kaash" (2002), "zero degrees" (2005), "Sacred Monsters" (2006), "in-i" (2008), "Vertical Road" (2010), "DESH" (2011), "Dust" (2014), "XENOS" (2018), and "Jungle Book reimagined" (2022). He has collaborated with world-class artists including Juliette Binoche, Sylvie Guillem, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Kylie Minogue, Anish Kapoor, Antony Gormley, and Nitin Sawhney. A significant highlight of his career was choreographing a section of the London 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, which received unanimous acclaim. He was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2005 for his services to dance. Khan is an Associate Artist at Sadler's Wells Theatre, London, Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, and Curve in Leicester. In 2022, he was announced as the Chancellor of De Montfort University. His work is recognized for its profound storytelling, blending intimacy with epic scope, and has garnered numerous international awards. Awards & Honours: Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) (2005), Laurence Olivier Award for DESH (2012), Laurence Olivier Award for XENOS (Outstanding Achievement in Dance) (2019), Bessie Award (New York Dance and Performance Award), ISPA (International Society for the Performing Arts) Distinguished Artist Award, South Bank Sky Arts Award, Critics' Circle National Dance Award, The Age Critics' Award (Australia), Fred and Adele Astaire Award, Herald Archangel Award at the Edinburgh International Festival.