Amit says the Hindoos don’t do it. Manish says some Indians can’t do it. But some desis sure can dance.

I caught Sacred Monsters the other day. This is the joint venture between ballet star Sylvie Guillem and kathak-extraordinaire, Akram Khan, which just premiered at Sadler’s Wells in London.

The British production itself is a multi-cultural affair, with choreography from Taiwan’s Lin Hwai-Min and India’s Gauri Sharma Tripathi, the icey set is designed by the Japanese Shizuka Hariu and an Indian-infused score by Philip Sheppard. The reviews seem to sing its praises in unison.

The pairing of the tall and elegant Guillem with the short and stocky Khan works remarkably well as they emphasise their differences and watching both solos and duets is equally enjoyable. But the random talking during the performance, where both gabble about stuff I really wasn’t listening to is a bit odd. I’m sure Khan said he was searching for Krishna at one point.

I suppose they were trying to convey their similar but different experiences of becoming a dancer, but this is far better demonstrated by the start of the piece, where both seem like kids learning how to dance. Anyone whose been to a dance lesson will appreciate it.

I have spent my life studying and performing kathak. It is the source of my creative process. Working with Sylvie Guillem is an exciting new challenge, giving me the opportunity to explore another classical dance language with one of its greatest exponents, and as a result unearth the things that are most often lost between the classical and modern world. - Akram Khan

Another pillar of British dancing, Darshan Singh Bhullar (above), is also kicking off a new piece, Stand and Stare, which will be touring the UK soon.