|
The production, "Xenos", is Khan's tribute to
the Indian soldiers of the British Empire who fought in World
War One. It focuses on the story of a shell-shocked Indian
soldier, but also tackles contemporary political issues.
"Xenos means a foreigner or alien or stranger in Greek, i.e.
xenophobia, and it just seems apt and relevant to my reflection
of the world today and how xenophobia is growing," he told
Reuters.
Khan, 43, will dance a segment from "Xenos" at the opening night
of the Darbar Festival, an annual festival of classical Indian
music, on Thursday in London.
Following its full premiere next year in Athens, Xenos will tour
Australia, North America, and Europe, with a staging at Sadler's
Wells theater in London in 2018.
Born in London to Bangladeshi parents, Khan was awarded an MBE
in 2005 for services to dance. His style is a hybrid of Indian
classical, traditional Indian kathak and contemporary dance.
Khan says he is going to step down from dancing in full-length
productions as a lead, but will still dance smaller roles.
Besides wanting a respite from physical demands of dancing, he
wants to focus on other areas.
"I want to focus more on choreography. I'm working a lot on
film. I'm fascinated by film and that medium and what movement,
how you can tell stories through the camera," he says.
"There just came a time where I felt: 'OK, enough is enough'.
You know, I'll keep training but not to the severity or the
intensity that I do to prepare myself for a full-length solo."
(Writing by Vera Afdjei; Editing by Mark Hanrahan and Alison
Williams)
[© 2017 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2017 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
|
