‘Thikra: Night of Remembering’ – All female Akram Khan & Manal AlDowayan production reflect myth and feminine energy
Bharatanatyam dancer Shreema Upadhyaya tells us what makes this ‘Sisterhood’ work special…
ROOTED in the power of history, tradition and ritual, Akram Khan’s latest work ‘Thikra: Night of Remembering’ is a unique work.
It is also told with a female protagonist and all women cast and features women exploring Arab culture in a show that blends myth, ritual, and personal history and recalling.
Khan, associate artist at Sadler’s Wells, Britain’s foremost dance institution, joins hands with award-winning female visual artist Manal AlDowayan and the two produce a work that transcends boundaries.
AlDowayan’s work features in the British Museum, Centre Pompidou and the Guggenheim;she represented Saudi Arabia at the 60th (2024) Venice Biennale.
The main inspiration for this work is AlUla (in modern day Saudi Arabia), an ancient Arab city that connected Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
This work premiered in that City earlier this year under the stars of AlUla.
AlDowayan developed the visual style of ‘Thikra’ and worked with local artisans to produce the costumes and banners,; using natural dyes and pigments to reflect the “tonalities of the region’s landscape”, says the artist on her website (see link below).
What makes Khan’s new work radical is that this is articulated with an all female international cast of both contemporary dance and Bharatanatyam – an Indian classical dance most popular in the South of India and different to Khan’s own celebrated classical dance reference – Kathak, a principally North Indian style.
Shreema Upadhyaya, one of the Bharatanatyam dancers in the production tells www.asianculturevulture.com what strikes her most about this production.
“It is the idea of ritual rooted in sisterhood.
“Over the years, and even today, the concept of ritual is closely tied to the patriarchal hierarchy in many cultures,” Upadhyaya told acv.
She described the female perspective embedded in ‘Thikra’ as “refreshing”.
“To explore ritual with such feminine energy, its strength and intensity which is so vastly different, oftentimes contrasting, is refreshing.
“With dancers from all over the world, and from different cultures, it was beautiful to observe how many things feminine strength can mean and look like.”
The production mixes styles – featuring original music by Aditya Prakash and with sound design by Gareth Fury.
Prakash worked with pioneering Saudi (jazz) singer Loulwa Al Sharif and local players from the AlUla Music Hub.
Upadhyaya enjoyed the challenge of the production, combining styles not normally seen together.
“As a classical artist, learning and understanding a different style of movement has been an entirely fulfilling challenge.
“While it takes years to fully embody any art, having the privilege of studying with, even just being in a space with such inspiring artists definitely accelerates the process.”
The interplay between different traditions and styles is constant theme in all of Khan’s work. He himself says of this work: “Without a past, there is no future.”
Upadhyaya reflected: “That the ritual of remembering and celebrating what was before us is not limited to any region or culture, and how seamlessly all of the styles come together because of that shared intention; sometimes it is simply one thread that connects us all.”
Lighting production is by Zeynep Kepekii, with dramaturgy by Blue Pieta.
The work was commissioned by Wadi ALFann, Valley of the Arts, AlUla.
Top picture: ‘Thikra: Night of Remebering’
Listing
Thikra from today (October 28) to Saturday, November 1at Sadler’s Wells, Roseberry Avenue, London EC1R 4TN
More info/tickets: https://www.sadlerswells.com/whats-on/akram-khan-company-akram-khan-manal-aldowayan-thikra-night-of-remembering/
‘Thikra: A Night of Remembering’ is on a world tour…
Akram Khan Company – Thikra – Akram Khan Company
Manal AlDowayan website – https://www.manaldowayan.com/exhibitions/138-thikra-is-touring-the-world
