Akram Khan and National Ballet of China’s major collaboration.
bahok is the long awaited new group choreography by Akram Khan.
February 2008: Akram Khan, the award-winning dancer and choreographer, and the prestigious National Ballet of China’s major new international collaboration, bahok, premiered with great success in Beijing on 25 January 2008 at Beijing’s leading theatre Tianqiao. After the UK premiere at Liverpool Playhouse on 7 March 2008 as part of Liverpool’s Year as European Capital of Culture, bahok embarks on a global tour with performances in several other cities in the UK, Syria, Colombia, Spain, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, New York, Canada, Portugal, France, Abu Dhabi, Croatia, The Netherlands, Scandinavia and Mexico.
This is a unique collaboration for both Akram Khan Company and China’s classical ballet flagship company. Khan has drawn together the two companies’ differing cultural perspectives and diverse dance styles making bahok one of the most exciting cultural events of 2008 anywhere in the world.
The collaboration with the National Ballet of China represents a continuation of Khan’s interest in combining different dance traditions to create new and original dance vocabulary.
bahok, a Bengali word meaning ‘carrier’, includes three dancers from the National Ballet of China and five dancers from Akram Khan Company. Together they come from many different cultures, dance backgrounds and traditions: Chinese, Korean, Indian, South African, Slovakian and Spanish. bahok was directed and choreographed by Khan and this is the first time he will not be appearing in one of his own productions. bahok combines the dynamics of modern China, elements of Chinese folk dancing and Kathak, as well as western/modern and classical dance influences. Khan’s long time collaborator multi-award winning composer Nitin Sawhney has created the music especially for bahok.
Akram Khan is one of the most acclaimed choreographers working on the international stage today. He is also one of the most outstanding male dancers of his generation, renowned for his inter-cultural, inter-disciplinary collaborations and for challenging conventional ideas of traditional dance forms. He is the recipient of numerous awards and honours including an MBE for services to dance and in 2007 he was awarded ‘Excellence in International Dance’ by the International Theatre Institute. He has been an Associate Artist of Sadler’s Wells since March 2005.
At only 33 years of age he has already created a substantial body of critically acclaimed work crossing different cultures, dance disciplines and traditions. His international collaborations to date have included major artists: Sylvie Guillem, the French prima ballerina; Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Flemish Moroccan contemporary dancer; and choreography for Kylie Minogue. A collaboration with Oscar-winning actress Juliette Binoche is also planned for 2008. Khan is celebrated for the originality of his vision, which has been informed by his training in the north Indian classical dance form Kathak and contemporary dance.
Akram Khan said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to explore how different cultures express themselves through dance. Working in China has long been an aspiration of mine – it’s one of the most dynamic and exciting countries in the world. It’s so far been a fascinating exploration of dance language amongst a range of highly versatile and talented dancers.”
Zhao Ruheng, Head of the National Ballet of China, said: “The National Ballet of China has always worked towards developing performing arts forms, but this is the first time our company have collaborated with a contemporary dance company on a thoroughly original creation. We were also honoured to work with the acclaimed Mr. Khan, a brilliant choreographer who uses dance to unite people and share experiences, without regard to national boundaries.”
Alistair Spalding, Artistic Director, Sadler’s Wells, said: “I’m delighted that Sadler’s Wells is furthering its relationship with both Akram Khan as an Associate Artist, and National Ballet of China who saw great success at their last visit with us in 2003.”
bahok (2008) Akram Khan Company/National Ballet of China
Premiere: 25 January 2008, Tianqiao Theatre, Beijing, China Artistic director - Choreographer: Akram Khan
Material devised and performed by Eulalia Ayguade Farro- Saju - Young Jin Kim - Meng Ning Ning - Andrej Petrovic - Wang Yitong - Shanell Winlock - Zhang Zhenxin
Composer: Nitin Sawhney
Lighting Designer: Fabiana Piccioli
Set Conceived by: Fabiana Piccioli, Sander Loonen & Akram Khan
Dramaturge: Guy Cools - Rehearsal Director: Shanell Winlock
Chinese Music Advisor: Gisele Edwards - Producer: Farooq Chaudhry Associate Producer: Bia Oliveira - Production Manager: Fabiana Piccioli Technical Coordinator: Sander Loonen - Technician: Roman Streuselberger Assistant Tour Manager - Christina Paul
Co-producers: Sadlers Wells Theatre, London - British Council - The Liverpool Culture Company with Merseyside Dance Initiative - DanceXchange, Birmingham - Theatre de La Ville, Paris - Tanzhaus NRW Dusseldorf - National Arts Centre, Ottawa - China Now, London.
