Gaga for Therapists

Ohad Naharin is situated at the forefront of the international dance scene. After performing with Batsheva Dance Company and the troupes of Martha Graham and Maurice Béjart, Naharin embarked on his choreographic career in 1980. His works have been staged on companies around the globe, and in 2018, Naharin assumed the role of Batsheva’s House Choreographer. As artistic director of Batsheva from 1990-2018, he guided the company with an adventurous artistic vision and reinvigorated its repertory with his captivating choreography. Naharin’s work was chronicled in Tomer Heymann’s documentary, Mr. Gaga (2015).

Parallel to his work as a choreographer and artistic director, Naharin has developed Gaga, an innovative and constantly evolving movement language that is available to both dancers and non-dancers. Gaga originated from Naharin’s need to communicate with his dancers and his curiosity in the ongoing research of movement. Gaga has revolutionized Batsheva’s training, enriched dancers’ interpretation of Naharin’s repertory, and emerged as a growing force in the larger field of movement practices worldwide.

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A teacher of Gaga, Ohad Naharin’s movement language, since 2010, Saar has been the manager of Gaga in North America since 2012 and was appointed artistic director of Gaga in 2018. Born on a farm in Israel, Saar danced, played basketball, and rode horses and motorcycles throughout his childhood. He started to practice Gaga with choreographer Ohad Naharin in 1998 and began creating his own dance works at the age of 24. He relocated to New York City in 2003 and co-founded LeeSaar The Company, which presented his choreography internationally. During his 14 years in New York, Saar was honoured to receive many awards including a Guggenheim Fellowship, New York Foundation for the Arts grant, and National Dance Project grant. Saar returned to Tel Aviv in 2017, and as Gaga's artistic director, he currently teaches around the globe in classes, workshops, and retreats for dancers and non-dancers alike.

Ofri Lauer is a certified physiotherapist and former professional dancer, with expertise in orthopedic rehabilitation, dance injuries, sports therapy, and pelvic floor diagnosis and therapy. Operating her private clinic in Tel Aviv, she combines her extensive therapeutic knowledge with certifications in Pilates, gym training, and hydrotherapy to provide personalized rehabilitation programs. Drawing from her background in dance and physiotherapy, a significant focus of her ongoing work is the development of Mova, an innovative treatment method created in collaboration with renowned choreographer Ohad Naharin. This method integrates principles from Naharin's Gaga movement language with evidence-based physiotherapy techniques, offering new pathways for enhanced body awareness, movement efficiency, and sustainable recovery.

Yaara was born on July 14, the day of the French Revolution, a mere few hundred years later. Growing up in Jerusalem, she started to study ballet and modern dance at the age of 6. As a teenager, Yaara danced in the Jerusalem Hora Dance Group and went on to study professionally at the dance department in Harel High School, Mevaseret. Yaara joined the Batsheva Ensemble at the age of 18 and later was invited to join the main company, under the artistic direction of Ohad Naharin. With Batsheva, Yaara performed works by Ohad Naharin and Sharon Eyal. Yaara gained experience in rehearsal management and is a qualified teacher for Gaga Ohad Naharin’s movement language, for dancers and non-dancers. She has been teaching in Israel and abroad since 2004. Yaara participated in and choreographed for Batsheva Dancers Create performances before leaving the company in 2008 to become a founding member of MARIA KONG Dancers Company.