Akram Khan Company
Various
World Premiere Season
VERTICAL
ROAD
Original Score by Nitin Sawhney
“Akram Khan is an extraordinarily
talented choreographer, one who
can conjure near-miracles from
the human form.” The Independent (UK)
Internationally acclaimed choreographer Akram
Khan is celebrated for the vitality and innovation
he brings to cross-cultural, cross-disciplinary
expression. His latest creation Vertical Road
draws inspiration from universal myths of angels
that symbolise ‘ascension’: the road between the
earthly and the spiritual, the ‘vertical road’.
Since 2000 Akram Khan Company has provided
the intriguing, enigmatic Khan with a platform
for his increasingly diverse range of work through
collaboration with artists from theatre, film, visual
arts, music and literature. The exciting new
dance theatre creation Vertical Road continues
his ambition to explore the interface between
different cultures and creative disciplines and
sees this charismatic performer impart what
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has been described as his distinctive mercurial
movement, whimsy and wisdom into his
multicultural mix of dancers.
For his long awaited Melbourne debut, Khan
has assembled a cast of extraordinarily talented
performers from across Asia, Europe and the
Middle East and has worked with long-term
collaborator composer, Nitin Sawhney, who
has created a specially commissioned score
for this thought-provoking piece. Balancing a
carefully crafted structure and innovative lighting,
Vertical Road has a richly diverse quality, played
out through each performer's different cultural
interpretation of the human odyssey.
This exhilarating world premiere production
promises a visually inspiring and spiritually
profound experience, and is the perfect
celebration of the 2010 Festival’s thread
of spirituality, angels and our relationship
with mortality.
Choreographer Akram Khan
Music Nitin Sawhney
Dancers Eulalia Ayguade Farro,
Konstandina Efthymiadou, Salah El Brogy,
Ahmed Khemis, Young Jin Kim, Yen-Ching Lin,
Andrej Petrovic, Paul Zivkovich
Lighting Jesper Konshaug
Costumes Kimie Nakano
Dramaturge Ruth Little
Research Jess Gormley
Technical Director Fabiana Piccioli
Rehearsal Director Su-Man Hsu
“Khan makes you
shiver with pleasure.”
The Daily Telegraph (UK)
“His choreography is
flawless, gutsy and a joy
to behold.” Time Out, Sydney
Event Information
The CUB Malthouse, Merlyn Theatre
Tue 19 – Sat 23 Oct at 8pm
1hr 15min no interval
Full............................................................. $55
Groups (8+)............................................$49.50
Concession............................................. $41.25
Student........................................................$25
Save up to 20%. See page 72 for details.
Ticketmaster 1300 723 038
www.melbournefestival.com.au
M-Tix (03) 9685 5111
www.malthousetheatre.com.au
Sponsored by COLAS
Co-produced by ADACH (Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage),
Sadler’s Wells London, Curve Theatre Leicester, Theatre de la Ville Paris,
National Arts Centre Ottawa, Mercat de les Flors Barcelona
Supported by Arts Council England
Produced during residencies at Curve, Leicester and DanceEast, Ipswich
Producer Farooq Chaudhry
Images: Rachel Cherry (main image),
Liu Yang (image opposite from bahok)
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