Giving Indian classical dance a bigger stage

British choreographer Akram Khan, 50, internationally renowned for his invigorating blend of the classical Kathak tradition and contemporary dance, considers the Esplanade his Asian home.

- Shawn Hoo

"I have so many Singaporean friends, there are so many Singaporeans who used to work in my company - and I love the Esplanade," says Khan, who has nurtured close ties with the performing arts centre since Sacred Monsters in 2007.

With Gigenis - The Generation Of The Earth, Khan comes out of dance retirement and returns to the Esplanade for the fifth time.

It plays at the Esplanade Theatre on Nov 15 and 16 as one of the tentpole productions of Kalaa Utsavam - Indian Festival of Arts 2024.

"I wasn't planning to be in it - and the piece wasn't meant to be the piece that we made," says Khan on a video call from Kosice in Slovakia, where the Ballet of the National Theatre Kosice is staging two of his works.

Khan's initial idea was a touring festival that would bring a distinguished ensemble of classical Indian dance artists to the world. He was responding to a feeling that the gatekeepers of contemporary dance were relegating Indian classical dance forms "into the corners of places rather than the main stage".