London’s centre for dance training, creation and performance, The Place, has appointed Farooq Chaudhry, dance producer and co-founder of Akram Khan Company, as its newest patron.
An alumnus of London Contemporary Dance School, in the eighties and nineties Farooq danced professionally and internationally, then retired to become a producer. As well as co-founding Akram Khan Company in 2000 and working as a producer in East Asia, Farooq was creative producer at the English National Ballet from 2013–17, working alongside artistic director Tamara Rojo.
In 2014, Farooq was awarded an honorary doctorate from De Montfort University for his services to dance. In early 2019 Farooq was awarded an OBE for his services to dance and dance production.
Chaudhry said, “studying at London Contemporary Dance School marked the beginning of discovering who I am through dance. It gave me an identity and a voice that set me in motion both on and off the stage. The Place has a tremendous legacy and is going through a phase of exciting reinvention that I find inspiring and visionary. I look forward to getting to know staff and students, and bedding myself into this brilliant organisation which played a huge role in giving me a sense of a purpose and a North star.”
Fellow patrons of The Place include Anthony van Laast, Bonnie Greer, Wayne McGregor, Kenneth Olumuyiwa Tharp and Paloma Faith.