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East and West meet in the body of: Akram Khan.

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One of the most intriguing d ance artists on the international scene today, Akram Khan is known for his fusion of the classical Indian form of Kathak with contemporary dance. As a performer, Khan is a riveting mixture of power, speed, and intricacy. As a choreographer, he stages stark visual landscapes populated by witty or mysterious figures. He embodies the kind of cultural intersection that is the focus of this issue.

Born to a Bangladeshi family in London, Khan became a Kathak prodigy as a child and toured with Peter Brook's Mahabharata as a teenager. After attending De Montfort University in Leicester, he switched to the Northern School of Contemporary Dance in Leeds and later studied at Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker's school in Brussels. His first performance at London's Dance Umbrella heralded a new talent. In 2002, Dance Magazine named him a "25 to Watch." Many awards and critical raves later, he is now, at 34, an associate artist at Sadler's Wells Theatre and travels the world. His most recent U.S. appearance was at New York City Center, where he performed the acclaimed Zero Degrees, a duet with European choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui. He also presented his funny, magical Bahok, which mixed his own company with three dancers from National Ballet of China. He has collaborated with superstar ballerina Sylvie Guillem (see "Vital Signs," May 2007), and is currently working with French actress Juliette...

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