Akram Khan

I was always very energetic and lively as a child and was actively encouraged to dance by my mother who took me to kathak (classical Indian dance) lessons and got me involved in theatre productions when I was quite young. As a teenager I was inspired by Michael Jackson - the first person I saw who could not only sing but dance impressively, too - but I did not get the chance to develop my own dancing in school. I really enjoyed Drama and Theatre class but often felt frustrated because I found it very text-based and I was more interested in the performing side of things. It could be difficult sometimes because I was the only one amongst my friends who danced and they were more interested in football, so I didn't really have anyone my own age I could talk to about my dancing.  When I saw other men dancing I felt that I could really relate to them.  I thought that if they could do it then so could I, which made me more determined.

I come from an Asian community and there was quite a pressure on me to follow a very academic career route (doctor or engineer) but the more I was told that I shouldn't follow a career in dance the more it made me want to do it. I am like that about a lot of things; if someone tells me I can't do something it makes me more determined to do it anyway! Dancing is the only time that I feel truly myself and honest with myself. Anything else just doesn't feel honest. I think this is a real key to success - you have to really believe that you can do it and that gives you the drive and determination to get on despite the challenges. There are many challenges to becoming a dancer. I have to work really hard and there's not a lot of money, but I enjoy doing it so much that it gives me fulfilment.

There were challenges along the way but I found inspiration and support from my various teachers. When my community were unhappy because I did not follow a traditional academic route I got great support from my kathak teacher, who became my guru. When I went to De Monfort University to study for a dance degree I learnt contemporary dance for the first time and my kathak teacher wasn't pleased because it changed the way that I performed classical dance. At this time I got support and inspiration from my teachers at college. Even now I can have moments of doubt and that is when I need an inspirational push from other artists. I have been supported and encouraged in particular by Jonathon Burrows and more recently my mentor is William Forsythe. It gives me a real boost to discover that dancers and artists that I really admire actually believe in me. We all need that bit of support and encouragement when we have our moments of doubt.

I think that when you are questioning your artistic direction you should seek the advice of others around you. Support from teachers and parents is really important. Although my parents and my friends at school were not very sure of the career I chose I think it was because they did not really understand what it meant to be a dancer.  Now they all come and see my performances and they do understand and are really encouraging. I think it is really important that a teacher really listens to their students and allows them to be honest and open without judging. I think that what makes you individual is when you listen to your own voice.  Others might sometimes be critical of this as they were with me but it is the passion and self-belief and will to succeed that matters - as well as being talented. Talent on its own is not always enough; if you do not believe in yourself and really listen to your own doubts then you will never succeed. If you believe you can do it, you will - just do it.