A global superstar in town
One of the most celebrated dance troupes in the world, the Akram Khan Company, is currently in Dhaka, news that will excite connoisseurs of performing arts greatly. The British Council, with help of the Bengal Foundation, is facilitating the 'homecoming' of world-renowned dancer-choreographer Akram Khan -- whose roots lie in Bangladesh.
Akram will be performing his award-winning production “DESH” -- an 80-minute solo -- on September 18 and 19 at the Shilpakala Academy's National Theatre Hall, and his troupe is taking part in a host of other activities. The first of which, a workshop on the 'Back Stage', was conducted at the Shilpakala Academy yesterday, conducted by Sander Loonen, the technical director for “DESH”. A Dance Master Class-- with selective participants -- will be conducted on September 16 at the same venue by Jose Agudo -- rehearsal director for “DESH”. A panel discussion will be held on the same day at the British Council with participation of Akram himself; Stephan Roman, Regional Director, South Asia, British Council; Luva Nahid Chowdhury, DG, Bengal Foundation and Asaduzzaman Noor, Cultural Affairs Minister. A roundtable on Creative Economy will be held at The Daily Star Centre on September 17.
Of the performances, the first day will be an invite-only show with dignitaries and British Council's contest winners, while the second day's show will be broadcast on the Art Gallery Plaza of the Shilpakala Academy, as well as TSC of Dhaka University.
“DESH”, a contemporary solo is termed the most personal work to date from Akram Khan. It draws multiple tales of land, nation, resistance and convergence into the body and voice of one man, trying to find his balance in an unstable world. Moving between Britain and Bangladesh, Akram weaves threads of memory, experience and myth into a surreal world of surprising connection. Intimate and epic at the same time, “DESH” explores fragility in the face of natural forces, and celebrates the resilience of the human spirit in the rhythms of labour, in dream and story, and in transformation and survival. He has teamed up with Oscar-winning visual artist Tim Yip (Production Designer for “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”), lighting designer Michael Hulls, writer and poet Karthika Nair and Olivier award-winning composer Jocelyn Pook.
The Daily Star, The Daily Prothom Alo and Channel i are media partners of the event.
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