Akram Khan on his role in the 2012 Olympic opening ceremony

Renowned British artist Akram Khan choreographed a prominent section of Danny Boyle’s Isles of Wonder Olympic Games Opening Ceremony. The brief from Boyle to Khan was one word – ‘Mortality’.

The section featured 50 specially selected professional dancers, a 9-year-old boy and Khan himself. Set to the voice of Emeli Sandé singing Abide With Me, the piece was a moment of reflection and contemplation following the vibrant and astonishing, high tempo proceedings.

Khan’s work brought an infectious stillness to the London 2012 Ceremony, a reminder of our own mortality and the transfer of possibilities and hopes between generations. Danny Boyle invited Khan to choreograph the section after watching a performance of his piece Vertical Road – which explores similar themes.

Throughout his career Akram Khan has captivated audiences all over the world with his unique way of storytelling that cross cultural boundaries.

Following his performance in Isles of Wonder Akram Khan said: “Working with Danny and his team on the Opening Ceremony of the London Olympic Games has been an exciting and humbling experience. I was daunted but always felt honoured and proud.

“I have tried to reconnect our intimacy and creativity to this gigantic world, to all our roots and to our hopes for the future. It seems almost natural for arts and sports to sit side by side: in both we desire to test the very limits of what we’re capable of doing. In sports human endurance, in arts human imagination.”

Following the Opening Ceremony, Akram Khan Company will resume a global tour. Akram’s Olivier award winning solo production DESH will go to Rome, Amsterdam, Luxembourg, Athens and Paris before returning to London’s Sadler’s Wells in October. His other multi-award winning works Gnosis and Vertical Road will be touring Germany, India, Taiwan, USA and France.

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Opening ceremony with TV commentary

Isles of Wonder: Opening ceremony for London 2012 Olympic Games

Just got wind of an exciting collaboration, that of internationally acclaimed dancer and choreographer Akram Khan and of Oscar winning filmmaker and producer Danny Boyle.

Khan is going to be part of team making “Isles of Wonder” opening ceremony for the London 2012 Olympic Games, which will be directed by Boyle.

Check out what Boyle had to say below:

Khan, who’s work Vertical Road won “Best Modern Choreography” at the Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards last week, is recovering well from a tendon injury sustained earlier this month. His performance at the London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony will be his first public performance in 2012.

Khan said: “It is a thrill and an honour to be collaborating with Danny Boyle on the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

“The eyes of the world will be on London, in what will be one of the most watched performance events of all time. To be able to contribute is one of the most rewarding and exciting moments of my career.”

“My work has always been about courageous and ambitious experiences, that take audiences on a unique journey that crosses cultural boundaries and I look forward to bringing all these qualities to my Opening Ceremony performance.

“I am recovering well from my recent injury and am looking forward to getting back to preparing for this incredible event,” he added.

Related links:
– Find out more about Akram Khan Company
– Read more about Danny Boyle
– Follow London 2012 on Twitter
– Akram on Twitter
– Danny on Twitter