Showing @ King’s Theatre, Edinburgh, Thu 30 Jan only @ 20:30

“Contemporary dance” are two words that can strike fear into the hearts of the uninitiated. With their latest full length piece, the Akram Khan Company prove the medium can be fresh and exciting as well as accessible. The King’s Theatre is packed with industry professionals but two nearby children appear likewise rapt; on the edge of their seats throughout.

The piece roars to life – literally – with a lone figure in a swirling black robe, a hysterical holy man who writhes and raves about Abraham and the binding of Isaac; a significant event in all three of the world’s major monotheistic religions. The show’s title, iTMOi, is derived from “In the Mind of Igor”, a reference to Stravinsky and his iconic ballet, The Rite of Spring. Sacrifice is the key theme throughout, with Khan masterfully blending elements of the two earlier narratives to create something entirely unique.

The story is played out by recognisable characters: the stately mother/goddess, the virginal girl on the verge of awakening, father/guardian figures and jeering tribes. By playing with the audience’s expectations and the possibilities inherent in the familiar mythology, Khan fills his production with moments of beauty, innocence, menace, aggression, and even humour. It is an epic, eternal narrative condensed into an hour of stunning spectacle.

Special mention must also go to the score, composed by the legendary Nitin Sawhney, Jocelyn Pook and Ben Frost. From the menacing, babbling whispers of the assembled company to Eastern-influenced melodies or the white noise of a needle endlessly skipping on a silent record, the soundtrack perfectly reflects the events onstage. The music effectively becoming a player in its own right, supporting the other performances but never overwhelming them.

Stepping out of one’s comfort zone can feel risky, particularly when time and money are luxuries we cannot afford to waste. But Akram Khan and British Dance Edition make a very strong case for sampling something new.