A ward-winning dance work Vertical Road from acclaimed choreographer Akram Khan returns to the UK for one performance this year only at The Hawth, Crawley.

This will be our one chance to see a performance by the Akram Khan Company in 2012 before Akram's collaboration with Oscar winning director Danny Boyle for the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Currently on a world tour, Vertical Road draws inspiration from the Sufi tradition and the Persian poet and philosopher Rumi.

Exploring man's earthly nature, his rituals and the consequences of human actions, it is performed by eight dancers from around the world.

Without the text and dialogue that have featured in Akram's recent works, it has strong Middle Eastern influences.

It continues Khan's interest in exploring the interfaces between different cultures and creative disciplines and is inspired by the idea of vertical ascension – a common motif in several different religions.

London-born Akram began dancing at seven and studied with the renowned kathak dancer and teacher Sri Pratap Pawar.

He has numerous awards to his name, including an MBE for services to dance presented in 2005.

He is also an honorary graduate of Roehampton and De Montfort Universities and an honorary fellow of Trinity Laban.

In 2006 Akram was invited by Kylie Minogue to choreograph a section of her Showgirl concert.