CityLife

The Lowry presents Dance gem Bahok

Bahok

DANCE styles from around the world combine at The Lowry next week as they present Bahok by acclaimed British choreographer Akram Kh­an, whose high-profile international collaborations to date have included major artists such as Juliette Binoche, Sylvie Guillem, Steve Reich as well as choreography for Kylie Minogue.

Bahok, named after the Bengali word meaning ‘carrier’, explores the ways in which the body carries national identity and a sense of belonging.

It’s inspired by personal stories of crossing borders and a thought-provoking quote from John Berger’s Hold Everything Dear: “For nomads, home is not an address, home is what they carry with them.”

Featuring a score by award-winning composer Nitin Sawhney, the show features eight performers (pictured) who come from the varied cultures, traditions and dance backgrounds of China, Korea, India, South-Africa, Slovakia, Taiwan and Spain. 

“The dancers are the writers of the show,” claims Akram modestly. “That’s what fascinates me, to explore these personal stories of these individuals on stage, in order to discover and reveal a more universal one.

“The way I like to work is very collaborative. This is, for instance, the fourth time I’ve worked with Nitin because we love working together.

“That’s the only way you can do it really, to work with people you trust and who trust you.”

The show started its performing life in Liverpool during their Capital of Culture year but “it has changed a lot,” says Akram.

“It’s evolved in a good way. Anyone who saw it in Liverpool would recognise it, as its structure has remained essentially the same.

“But the dancers have managed to get so much deeper into their characters and it’s so theatrical now that I honestly feel like it’s a different piece.”

Akram Khan’s Bahok is at The Lowry on February 4, 2010.