Mavin Khoo, Man to Monk: Part 1, Man Preview

Mavin Khoo may not be exactly a household name, but he is a fascinating artist with number of strings to his bow. He trained in Bharatanatyam dance in India, Merce Cunningham contemporary technique in New York, and classical ballet in the UK. He has worked with cutting edge contemporary choreographers like Wayne McGregor, and works as Rehearsal Director for the Akram Khan Company.

All this means that he represents an extraordinary fusion of styles, techniques and philosophies, that should come together in his exciting new project, Man to Monk, of which Part 1, Man has its world premiere at the Lilian Baylis studio this autumn.

To make it all even more interesting, the work is choreographed by Carlos Pons Guerra, a truly original and talented choreographer and Artistic Director of DeNada Dance Theatre.

In Man to Monk: Part 1, Man Khoo will be joined by dancer Victor Callens in a duet that attempts to subvert the classical pas de deux, while exploring the human impact of lust, possession and rejection. It’s inspired by concepts of Hindu and Sufi philosophy that echo Pons Guerra’s exploration of identity and gender fluidity.

Man to Monk is a four year, two-part project charting Khoo’s own performative experience and the crossover between Eastern and Western ideas and methods of creation.

Post-show talk: Thursday, 29 November