Batsheva takes dance to the world
IT has been 24 years since Ohad Naharin took over the reins as artistic director of the Batsheva Dance Company, propelling the Israeli troupe onto the international stage as never before.
Hailed as one of the world’s most important contemporary choreographers, Naharin developed the innovative movement language Gaga, whilst guiding Batsheva into its current role as one of Israel’s leading cultural ambassadors.
However, for the multi-award-winning Naharin, who was born on Kibbutz Mizra in northern Israel, there’s one person who still inspires him more than any other – his 84-year-old mother who was also his dance teacher.
“I think she is proud of me and I’m proud of her,” he says. “She still follows my work, comes to rehearsals sometimes and she can be very opinionated. It’s a good dialogue.”
Talking to Naharin by phone from Tel Aviv, it’s clear that he couldn’t be more passionate about the art form to which he has devoted his life.
“Dance helps you connect to the power of imagination and to yield and appreciate delicacy and small gestures – all the things that are very important elements of life,” he muses.
“Dance can easily abolish the national, ethnic and geographical connotations and it can reach people for the values and ethics and not for the colour of their skin or religion or race.”
Interestingly, Naharin did not begin formal dance training until he was in his early twenties.
“Officially, with training I started very late, but I consider dancing as something that I’ve done as long as I can remember,” he explains.
“Although I didn’t go to [dancing] school, I always danced. Over the years, I was constantly facing the need to communicate to dancers, because as a choreographer you realise a dancer’s interpretation of your work is basically the most important thing.
“The choreography is not what moves me – it’s watching my dancers that really moves me and elevates the work. I developed this language [Gaga] which enables dancers to better their interpretation, not just of my work but their dancing in general.”
With 18 dancers in its senior dance troupe and 15 in the youth company, the Tel Aviv-based Batsheva now notches up some 250 performances around the world each year. As well as Israeli dancers, Batsheva includes performers from many other countries.
“We have dancers from Canada, Puerto Rico, Japan and Taiwan,” Naharin says. “The relationship between the dancers is very intimate, because we are exposed and vulnerable and we need to support each other.”
In 1996, Batsheva made its Australian debut to great acclaim at the Adelaide Festival. Now 18 years on, the company is returning to the Adelaide Festival, this time with its latest production Sadeh21.
Described as a “choreographic voyage with cinematic character”, Sadeh21 looks set to be a highlight of the festival, where it will be performed from March 5-8 (Batsheva has just arrived in Australia to perform at the Perth Festival from February 14-18).
“I remember [the last visit] as being a special time for us and I always like going to Australia,” says Naharin.
“With different countries and cities, I can always find a lot more things in common than differences. I remember that fresh feeling when we went to Australia and I’m looking forward to that again.”
The trip will also be a family affair for Naharin. He and his partner Ari, a dancer with Batsheva, are bringing their four-and-a-half-year-old daughter Noga on the tour.
“It will be interesting and challenging, but a good situation,” he smiles, revealing that Noga already lights up the dance floor any chance she gets.
“She just loves to dance and she is very capable,” Naharin says proudly. “She’s a natural, but who knows? I will be happy to see her fulfilling what she wants and just be happy doing it. I don’t have plans for her to be anything.”
And Naharin firmly believes that we should all discover the dancer within us.
“Dance can bring people together but also can make people feel good when they’re on their own,” he says. “A lot of dancing can just be between you and the universe – it’s not necessary to have other people around. It’s about listening to your body, and you can dance anywhere and everywhere. It’s also about the healing power of dance.”
Batsheva Dance Company performs at the Adelaide Festival from March 5-8. Bookings: www.adelaidefestival.com.au.
REPORT by Jackie Brygel
PHOTO of Batsheva Dance Company’s new work Sadeh21, which will be performed at the Adelaide Festival.
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