Travel Pick: Dance in England
Performing Arts: Leap 08

This two-week contemporary dance programme is part of Liverpool's annual performing arts festival. The 2008 edition features a range of local, national and international dance artists and companies, including Akram Khan Company, Le fils d'Adrien danse, Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company, Decadancetheatre, Jennifer Weber’s Brooklyn-based all female troupe who aim to bridge the gap in hip hop culture between male and female, street and stage.

Of particular interest is Akram Khan's recent collaboration with the National Ballet of China. Entitled Bahok and having received its premiere in Beijing on 25 January 2008, Bahok combines the dynamics of modern China, elements of Chinese folk dancing and Kathak, one of the major Indian dance styles, as well as western/modern and classical dance influences. Khan’s long time collaborator multi-award winning composer Nitin Sawhney has created the music especially for Bahok.

Travellers with an interest in the performming arts or the work of Akram Khan should note that after the UK premiere at Liverpool Playhouse on 7 March 2008 as part of Liverpool’s Year as European Capital of Culture, Bahok embarks on a global tour with performances in several other cities in the UK, Syria, Colombia, Spain, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, New York, Canada, Portugal, France, Abu Dhabi, Croatia, The Netherlands, Scandinavia and Mexico.