Akram Khan, MBE in conversation with Marcus Bell (UCL)

Akram Khan is an internationally celebrated choreographer and dancer. As Artistic Director of Akram Khan Company, he has created groundbreaking works that push the boundaries of form and technique to tell urgent stories about a world in flux. His acclaimed productions—such as Thikra, Jungle Book reimagined, Outwitting the Devil, XENOS, Until the Lions, Kaash, iTMOi (in the mind of igor), DESH, Vertical Road, Gnosis, and zero degrees—articulate an artistic vision that both respects and challenges the Indian classical dance tradition while engaging deeply with contemporary dance.Beyond his own company, Khan has made a significant mark on the wider dance ecosystem through his celebrated collaborations with English National Ballet, creating works such as Dust and Giselle, which redefined narrative ballet for the 21st century. Across all his projects, Khan brings ancient myth and centuries of tradition into dialogue with some of the most pressing political and ethical questions of our time.