Celebrated choreographer Akram Khan’s much-anticipated solo will mark his last performance as a dancer in a full-length production
by Suman Gupta
May 2023, Mumbai: XENOS is an emphatic and expressive production that probes the untold tale of a colonial soldier in World War I. Akram Khan showcases a distinctive and thought-provoking stance on the often-overlooked plight of soldiers from the Indian subcontinent who fought for Britain in the war, through dance, music and stage design. The National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) is pleased to reveal that it will host Akram Khan’s final performances of “XENOS,” an award-winning dance theatre production by Akram Khan Company, on 24th and 25th June 2023 at the NCPA’s Jamshed Bhabha Theatre in Mumbai.
XENOS reveals the beauty and horror of the human condition in its portrait of an Indian dancer whose body becomes an instrument of war. Along with dramaturg Ruth Little and acclaimed Canadian playwright Jordan Tannahill, Akram has teamed up with German designer Mirella Weingarten, award-winning lighting designer Michael Hulls, costume designer Kimie Nakano, and composer Vincenzo Lamagna. He will also associate with five international musicians: percussionist B C Manjunath, vocalist Aditya Prakash, bass player Nina Harries, violinist Fra Rustumji, and saxophonist Tamar Osborn.
Mr. Khushroo Suntook, Chairman, NCPA, says,“It is wonderful to have Mr. Akram Khan back at the NCPA, this time for his final performance as a dancer in a full-length piece. His choice of theme for this momentous occasion marks an important link between the First World War and South Asia, one that the young generation needs to be acquainted with. We congratulate Mr. Khan on his illustrious career in solo dance and look forward to seeing him continue his thought-provoking work in the world of dance.”
Mr.Akram Khan, Director, Choreographer, Dancer, AKC says, “XENOS is a work that I find to be in line with my personal journey as an artist.It was and still remains a reflection of how I feel about our world today. It is about our loss of humanity, and how, through past and present wars, we are yet again confronted by the burning question of what it is to be human. To conclude my final performances of XENOS in India has always felt an essential part of my own journey as an artist, that I hope will feel a poignant tribute to all of the Indian soldiers that fought a war that didn’t belong to them. I am honoured to be marking this turning point in my career with the NCPA in Mumbai.”
Akram Khan is an internationally recognised and esteemed dancer and choreographer. In the last 22 years, he has developed a career that has contributed powerfully to the arts in the UK and abroad. His prominence has been built on the triumph of creative, admiringly accessible, and pertinent productions such as Gnosis, Jungle Book reimagined, Outwitting the Devil, XENOS, iTMOi (in the mind of Igor), Until the Lions, Kaash, DESH, Vertical Road, and zero degrees.
Akram Khan’s masterful choreography, XENOS, promises to be a gripping and unforgettable experience. Hence, we invite all dance, theatre, and history lovers to join us for this exceptional event. It’s an opportunity to witness an indeed remarkable and moving production.
