Akram Khan Company and Dance United Yorkshire join forces in a groundbreaking collaboration to present Memories of the Future

The internationally acclaimed Akram Khan Company (AKC) announces an exciting collaboration with Dance United Yorkshire (DUY) for the creation of a groundbreaking new work titled Memories of the Future, premiering at the Alhambra Theatre, Bradford on 5 July 2025. Launching today, Memories of the Future is a highlight of Bradford's tenure as the UK City of Culture 2025, reflecting the city’s vibrant cultural diversity and rich history.

This project combines Akram Khan’s artistic vision with the mission and participants of Dance United Yorkshire, an organisation led by Helen Linsell, renowned for using dance to inspire and transform the lives of marginalised and hard-to-reach communities in Yorkshire’s lowest arts engagement priority areas. The experience will culminate in a special one-off performance at the Alhambra Theatre.

Retaining Akram Khan Company’s production values, the performance will feature an original score by acclaimed composer Vincenzo Lamagna, a long-time AKC collaborator known for his work for Khan’s Giselle for English National Ballet, Outwitting the Devil and XENOS, among others. The project is committed to nurturing local talent and showcasing the area's cultural landscape. Two Yorkshire-based emerging choreographers have been invited to choreograph and oversee the creative process: Tallulah Shannon, a graduate of the Northern School of Contemporary Dance, from Sheffield and John William-Watson, a graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp, from Leeds.

Akram Khan, Artistic Director of Akram Khan Company, said: "Collaborating with Dance United Yorkshire feels particularly special to me as Helen Linsell and I both share a deep conviction in the transformative power of dance. Our mutual respect and shared vision will empower Tallulah and John to create a profound piece of dance that will resonate with the lived experiences of those who call Bradford home. We also look forward to supporting and mentoring them, and watching their choreographic skills develop on such an ambitious project.”

Helen Linsell, Artistic Director of Dance United Yorkshire, said: "Partnering with the Akram Khan Company on this innovative community project marks a significant milestone for Dance United Yorkshire. Through the prestigious platform of Bradford 2025, we have a unique opportunity to empower some of Bradford's most vulnerable individuals. It is an immense honour to do so under the visionary leadership of Akram Khan, whose passion for dance as a force for social change aligns deeply with our own."

Memories of the Future will attract audiences from across the UK and beyond to leave a legacy in the city, further highlighting Bradford’s role as a cultural beacon and its ability to inspire through dance. The creative process commences on 23 September 2024 at Kala Sangam in Bradford.