Akram Khan: Vertical Road

Multi award-winning choreographer and dancer Akram Khan has toured his contemporary ensemble work, Vertical Road, with our support, to various countries including Lebanon, Palestine and China since April 2011. Inspired by his previous work in the Middle East, Khan has assembled a multicultural cast of exciting performers from across Asia, Europe and the Arab World – including Algeria and Egypt.

  • Akram Kahn - Vertical Road. Photos by Richard Haughton
  • Akram Kahn - Vertical Road. Photos by Richard Haughton
  • Akram Kahn - Vertical Road. Photos by Richard Haughton
  • Akram Kahn - Vertical Road. Photos by Richard Haughton

With a specially commissioned score by long-term collaborator composer Nitin Sawhney, Vertical Road draws inspiration from the Sufi tradition and the Persian poet and philosopher Rumi. Exploring man’s earthly nature, his rituals and the consequences of human actions, Vertical Road becomes a meditation on the journey from gravity to grace.

"Akram and I have always been fascinated by the Arab culture. It feels close to what we do."
Farooq Chaudhry, Producer, Akram Khan Company.

Following on from its highly successful world tour, we supported the presentation of Vertical Road in Lebanon, Palestine, Qatar, Tunisia and China between April 2011 and May 2012. 

The tour included performances of Vertical Road, post-show discussions and talks inspired by the content and artistic process of the work, as well as workshops in collaboration with theatre professionals and artists from the various regions.

Founded in August 2000 by Choreographer Akram Khan and Producer Farooq Chaudhry, Akram Khan Company has 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.

Akram Khan was trained in contemporary dance as well as in classical dance style called Kathak and brought an experimental approach to his choreography that quickly marked him out as a highly distinctive choreographer with an international appeal.

Locations

  • Beirut, Lebanon

    26th Apr 2011 - 27th Apr 2011

    Al-Madina Theatre
    Beirut
    Lebanon

     

  • Ramallah, Palestine

    5th May 2011 - 5th May 2011

    Ramallah Cultural Palace
    Ramallah
    Palestine 

  • Doha, Qatar

    27th Feb 2012 - 28th Feb 2012

    Katara Drama Theatre
    Doha
    Qatar

  • Tunis, Tunisia

    3rd May 2012 - 4th May 2012

     

    Théâtre Municipal de la Ville de Tunis
    Tunis
    Tunisia 

     

     

  • Shanghai, China

    9th May 2012 - 9th May 2012

    Shanghai Oriental Art Center
    Shanghai
    China 

  • Beijing, China

    12th May 2012 - 13th May 2012

    Beijing National Centre for the Performing Arts
    Beijing
    China 

  • Hangzhou, China

    16th May 2012 - 16th May 2012

    Hangzhou Grand Theatre
    Hangzhou
    China

  • Wuhan, China

    18th May 2012 - 18th May 2012

    Hu Bei Theatre
    Wuhan
    China 

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