Akram Khan, the internationally acclaimed dancer and choreographer, opens the autumn season at Curve with the World Premiere of his new dance production, Desh (Tuesday 13th – Saturday 17th September 2011).

Desh follows the success of Khan’s previous co-productions with Curve; IN-I, a duet with Juliette Binoche, and Vertical Road, which received their World Premieres at Curve in 2008 and 2010 respectively. In this production, Khan is returning to his roots to create his first full-length contemporary dance solo Desh, inspired by his home country of Bangladesh.

Desh, meaning homeland in Bengali, will explore the idea of transformation – of body, land, identity and memory, while examining the contradictions of Khan’s British-Asian identity. Created after a year of research both in the UK and Bangladesh and performed during the year Bangladesh celebrates the 40th anniversary of its independence from Pakistan, Desh draws together multiple tales of land, nation and resistance.

Leicester holds special significance for the award-winning choreographer. Khan is an alumnus of Dance at De Montfort University and relishes returning to the city to create his work at Curve.

The production will be devised during a six-week residency, in which Khan will use the theatre’s exceptional stage and rehearsal spaces to develop this new piece.

For more information visit Curve’s website.