Jungle Book Reimagined

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Image courtesy of Gran Teatre del Liceu

Akram Khan has always felt very close to The Jungle Book, not only because he played Mowgli in an Indian dance production in his youth but because of the three profound lessons it contains: all species on our planet share the same life; humans, animals and nature depend on one another; and the sense of family and our need to belong are of vital importance.

The period in which we live poses unprecedented threats to all the world's species, and we no longer remember how closely we are linked to the planet that is our home. We need to take a more respectful stance and remember all we have forgotten. Telling these tales on stage through the magic of dance and music is one of the most profound and time-honored ways of doing it.

This new production by the great choreographer Khan arises from his reading of the original stories by Rudyard Kipling, which carry a powerful message of relevance to the present-day world.

Khan goes beyond words, using gestures, movements and video projections to make us reflect on the effects of climate change on all living beings on our planet so that the dancers' body movements can unite with our voices and convictions to transform the world.

The very name of Akram Khan evokes a dance troupe that tells stories from a fresh perspective and uses ancient myths to create new productions about what it means to live in a globalized society. His is a courageous company that changes the rules of the game. It might not be the end of the world, but it could be the end of our species!

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