Thikra: Night of Remembering

Inspired by the oasis town of Al-Ula in the Saudi Arabian desert, with its vast sky and traces of ancient rituals, Khan developed his latest work. The dancers combine classical Indian Bharatanatyam traditions with contemporary dance on stage. The focus is not on the juxtaposition of styles or an East-West debate, but on the creation of a new movement language that brings both traditions together from an innovative perspective. The performance combines contemplative and dynamic, tension-filled passages and is accompanied by original music by Indian-American composer Aditya Prakash.


The visual design and costumes are by Saudi Arabian visual artist Manal AlDowayan, whose work often addresses the status and visibility of women, as well as themes such as memory and forgetting – central themes of "Thikra: Night of Remembering."


Akram Khan, himself trained in contemporary dance and traditional Indian Kathak, has been a fixture on the international dance scene for over 25 years. His work is characterized by artistic curiosity and diverse collaborations, including with Sylvie Guillem, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Florence and the Machine, Kylie Minogue, and composers such as Steve Reich, Nitin Sawhney, and Ben Frost.


For "Thikra: Night of Remembering," Khan brings together a top-class ensemble of international artists from eleven nations.