GagaEden Spring Edition 2025

Sense. Groove. Research. Discover. Let go. Move.

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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Ian Robinson was born in Bangor, Maine USA. He trained with the Robinson Ballet and graduated from New York University Tisch School of the Arts with a BFA. Ian danced with various companies and projects including Mikhail Baryshnikov’s Hells Kitchen Dance, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal, Sydney Dance Company and Aszure Barton & Artists before joining Batsheva Dance Company in 2009. Until 2017 Ian danced there full time under the artistic leadership of Ohad Naharin. Ian now continues independently to develop himself as a dancer, creator, teacher and videographer. He is a certified Gaga teacher, stages Ohad’s works and leads classes and workshops for dance communities around the world.

Hani Sirkis was born in 1998 in Israel. She studied at the Shira Ganor Dance School, participated in Batsheva's "Hamama" in 2014 and 2016, and graduated from Thelma Yellin High School of Arts’ Dance Department. Hani received the America-Israel Cultural Foundation scholarship in the years 2013 and 2014, and she won the Jeannette Ordman scholarship in 2015. Hani joined the Batsheva Ensemble in 2016 and Batsheva Dance Company in 2018, where she danced until 2022. Other than her work as a dancer and Gaga teacher, Hani also creates and performs as a drag queen under the stage name “Barbie Cute” and manages the drag show “Kunty Klub.”