6 September 2011 Last updated at 18:07

In pictures: Manga meets contemporary dance in TeZukA

Dancer Helder Seabra sits on the stage at the beginning of a rehearsal performance of TeZukA at Sadler's Wells, London, on 5 September 2011

The art of Japanese manga and anime inspires the new work, TeZukA, by choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, premiering at Sadler's Wells, London. Characters created by legendary cartoonist Osamu Tezuka, Japan's answer to Walt Disney, are brought to life by contemporary dance.

Helder Seabra, reads a Japanese manga publication, Astro Boy, on stage during a rehearsal performance of TeZukA at Sadler's Wells, London, on 5 September 2011

The artist had a major impact on Japanese culture, literature and film, creating a huge body of work.

Kazutomi Kozuki as the character Astro Boy during a rehearsal performance of TeZukA at Sadler's Wells, London, on 5 September 2011

He produced more than 700 different manga titles for adults and children, which included characters such as Princess Knight, Black Jack and, perhaps his most famous, Astro Boy.

A female dancer pants a male dancer's chest during a rehearsal at Sadler's Wells theatre, London

Working with a cast of 10 performers, two musicians and a calligrapher, Cherkaoui examines the themes of art, the environment, life and death.

A male dancer stands in the shadows watching a projection on a backdrop at the Sadler's Wells theatre, London

The production features lighting and visual design by Willy Cessa. Tezuka's original illustrations and calligraphy, recreated by Japanese video artist Taiki Ueda, are projected onto a backdrop of tumbling scrolls of paper.

A male and female dancer perform a lift during a rehearsal

Costumes are by Serbian-born fashion designer Sasa Kovacevic.

Dancers lift paper scrolls above kneeling performer during a rehearsal at Sadler's Wells theatre, London

The piece also features a specially commissioned score from Nitin Sawhney, performed live by Japanese drummer Tsubasa Hori and Korean musician Woo Jae Park.

Performers paint on white paper rolled out on the stage at Sadler's Wells theatre, London

As well as drawing on Tezuka's work, Cherkaoui also examines manga as an art form.

A performer views calligraphy from the side of the stage at Sadler's Wells theatre, London

“In many ways Osamu Tezuka shaped a part of my understanding of Eastern philosophy and aesthetics, my way of moving and seeing art and life," Cherkaoui explains.

A Shaolin monk moves through the air with a stage sword closely followed by a female dancer during a rehearsal at Sadler's Wells theatre, London

Combining painting, calligraphy and drawing, manga artists are highly respected in Japan and their work spans a broad range of genres including science fiction and adventure.

Two male dancers move in unison during a rehearsal performance of TeZukA at Sadler's Wells, London, on 5 September 2011

The international cast of performers includes Argentine dancer Daniel Proietto, winner of the National Dance Award 2011 for outstanding male performance; Belgian Damien Jalet; Norwegians Jon Filip Fahlstrom, Guro Nagelhus Schia and Vebjorn Sundby; and Portuguese performer Helder Da Silva Seabra.

Performers gather on stage during a rehearsal performance of TeZukA at Sadler's Wells, London. 5 September 2011

Joining the cast from the East are Japanese calligrapher Tosui Suzuki; performers Shintaro Oue, Satoshi Kudo and Kazutomi Kozuki; and Shaolin monks Li Bo and Huang Jiahao. The production premieres at Sadler’s Wells, London, from 6–10 September 2011. Photos: Emma Lynch/BBC

In Pictures

In pictures: Manga meets contemporary dance in TeZukA

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