Mavin Khoo

🪔 About

Mavin Khoo, born on April 30, 1976, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, is an internationally recognized Malaysian dancer, teacher, choreographer, and artist scholar specializing in the Indian classical dance form of Bharatanatyam. He commenced his early Bharatanatyam training at the Temple of Fine Arts in Kuala Lumpur under Vatsala Sivadas and Vasuki Sivanesan. Khoo furthered his studies in Odissi and Bharatanatyam with Ramli Ibrahim and classical ballet with Lee Yu Pin. His foundational and intensive Bharatanatyam education was under the tutelage of the legendary dance maestro Padma Shri Adyar K. Lakshman in Chennai, India, where he trained for seven years. Beyond Indian classical dance, Khoo also trained in Cunningham technique at the Cunningham Studios in New York City and pursued classical ballet with notable figures such as Michael Beare, Marian St. Claire, Nancy Kilgour, and Ayumi Hikasa in London. Khoo is celebrated as one of the few male Bharatanatyam soloists to achieve international acclaim, regularly performing at major venues across India and worldwide. His career is marked by imaginative choreography and significant collaborations with leading contemporary choreographers, including Akram Khan, Wayne McGregor, Shobana Jeyasingh, and Christopher Bannerman. He has performed as a guest artist with companies such as Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company and Ballet de Zaragoza. Khoo holds an MA in Choreography from Middlesex University, London, and has integrated academia with his performance practice. He previously served as a lecturer in Dance Studies at the University of Malta and was the artistic director of ŻfinMalta Dance Ensemble from 2014 to 2017. Currently, he is the Associate Artistic Director at Akram Khan Company, where he acts as principal coach, lead rehearsal director, and stager for Akram Khan's repertory, including productions like 'XENOS', 'Giselle', and 'Creature'. He also travels globally, teaching company ballet classes to prestigious organizations. Khoo continues to tour as a mature artist, focusing on solo Bharatanatyam concert performances. Awards & Honours: Outstanding Achievement in Dance for 'XENOS' (on behalf of Akram Khan) (2019).