Guillem has previously collaborated with Maliphant on the Sadler's Wells production PUSH, and will appear with Khan in Sacred Monsters at the venue this fall. She appeared with the Ballet Boyz in a program of Maliphant's work at Sadler's Wells in fall 2004.

"I'm thrilled Sylvie is now an associate artist of Sadler's Wells," said artistic director and CEO Alistair Spalding. " Sylvie is arguably the most outstanding ballerina and extraordinary dance talents of the last two decades. Her new appointment means she will feature in future work commissioned and produced by Sadler's Wells and work alongside other collaborators and dancers to develop concepts and ideas for large-scale pieces".

"Sacred Monsters is a major work which brings together two of today's pre-eminent dance talents as they explore the dynamics and language of two great classical dance forms, kathak and ballet," he added.

Guillem said, "Sadler's Wells is an ideal space for me to nurture and evolve my art in a creative and supportive environment."

The current Sadler's Wells Theatre is the fifth by that name, the first having opened in 1683. The 20th-century incarnation, created by Lilian Baylis in 1927, was the site of the creation of English National Opera and two ballet companies, now the Royal Ballet and the Birmingham Royal Ballet. The most recent version of the theater was constructed in 1998; the Rambert Dance Company is its resident company and Random Dance its associate company.