1985
Black Milk
Ohad Naharin
Choreographer
Ohad Naharin is one of the world’s preeminent contemporary choreographers and has been the recipient of several major awards. Born in 1952 in Kibbutz Mizra, Israel, Naharin trained at Batsheva Dance Company, The School of American Ballet, Juilliard, and Maurice Béjart’s Ballet du XXe Siècle in Brussels, among others. From 1980 until 1990, Naharin presented works in New York City and abroad, including pieces for Batsheva Dance Company, the Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company, and Nederlands Dans Theater. At the same time, he worked with his first wife, Mari Kajiwara (a member of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater from 1970-1984), and a group of dancers in New York. Naharin and Kajiwara continued to work together until she died from cancer in 2001. In 1990, he returned to Israel where he was appointed Artistic Director of Batsheva Dance Company. In the same year, he established the company’s junior division, Batsheva–the Young Ensemble. He has since created over 30 works for both companies. After almost 30 years of leading Batsheva, Naharin stepped down as Artistic Director in 2018, and continues to serve as the company’s House Choreographer. Naharin also developed GAGA, an innovative movement language based on research into heightening sensation and imagination, becoming aware of form, finding new movement habits, and going beyond familiar limits. GAGA is the daily training of Batsheva’s dancers and has spread globally among both dancers and non-dancers.
Repertory:
Black Milk
Minus 16
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Repertory
1985
Ohad Naharin
1999
Ohad Naharin