GagaEden Autumn Edition 2024

Week Day

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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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.

Saar was born on a farm in Israel to an artistic family and danced until the age of 18. At that age, he joined the Israeli Army for 6 years. He left the army and started to dance again at the age of 24. In 1998 he created his first work as an independent choreographer. In 2001, Saar established LeeSaar The Company with Lee Sher, relocating to NYC in 2004. The company was commissioned to create full evening dance programs until 2016 and toured internationally. Saar has been the manager of Gaga in the USA since 2012 and was appointed artistic director of Gaga in 2018.