On January 29, 2017 at 5pm at The Kimmel Center, Perelman Theater, The Israeli Film Festival of Philadelphia presents an exclusive screening of Mr. Gaga, a film that Variety calls” possibly the most exciting documentary for fans of modern dance. Director and producer, Barak Heymann will be the guest speaker for the evening as well.
No choreographer demands more passion, commitment, and vulnerability from his dancers than Ohad Naharin, the tyrannical genius Artistic Director of the Batsheva Dance Company. Filmed over 8 years, this captivating documentary explores the behind-the-scenes process of this revolutionary Israeli dance company that introduced the world to a new language of modern movement: “GAGA.” GAGA regards movement as self-exploration, designed to awaken the unconscious within each performer and infuse dance with breathtaking emotional resonance. Barak and Tomer Heymann, the documentarians behind Who’s Gonna Love Me Now?, explores Naharin’s life story from his childhood on a kibbutz to his army service and early struggles as a dancer. What results is a fascinating portrait of a man with an extraordinary vision and unbounded creativity that changed the world of dance forever.
Ohad Naharin, Choreographer & Artistic Director of the Batsheva Dance Company
Ohad Naharin has been hailed as one of the world’s preeminent contemporary choreographers. As Artistic Director of Batsheva Dance Company since 1990, he has guided the company with an adventurous artistic vision and reinvigorated its repertory with his captivating choreography. Naharin is also the originator of an innovative movement language, Gaga, which has enriched his extraordinary movement invention, revolutionised the company’s training, and emerged as a growing force in the larger field of movement practices for both dancers and non-dancers.
Naharin was appointed Artistic Director of Batsheva Dance Company in 1990 and has served in this role except for the 2003-2004 season, when he held the title of House Choreographer. During his tenure with the company, Naharin has choreographed over 20 works for Batsheva and its junior division, Batsheva Ensemble. He has also restaged over 10 of his dances for the company and recombined excerpts from his repertory to create Deca Dance, a constantly evolving evening-length work.
Gaga movement language developed by Ohad Naharin
Gaga is a new way of gaining knowledge and self-awareness through your body. Gaga provides a framework for discovering and strengthening your body and adding flexibility, stamina, and agility while lightening the senses and imagination. Gaga raises awareness of physical weaknesses, awakens numb areas, exposes physical fixations, and offers ways for their elimination. The work improves instinctive movement and connects conscious and unconscious movement, and it allows for an experience of freedom and pleasure in a simple way, in a pleasant space, in comfortable clothes, accompanied by music, each person with himself and others.
“We become more aware of our form. We connect to the sense of the endlessness of possibilities. We explore multi-dimensional movement; we enjoy the burning sensation in our muscles, we are ready to snap, we are aware of our explosive power and sometimes we use it. We change our movement habits by finding new ones. We go beyond our familiar limits. We can be calm and alert at once.” – Ohad Naharin
Special Screening of Mr. Gaga
January 29, 2017 at 5pm
Perelman Theater, The Kimmel Center, 300 South Broad Street, Phila
Film only $19.99; Film plus dinner at Estia $100.
Ticket online at https://www.kimmelcenter.org/reserve/index.aspx?performanceNumber=31167
Video Trailer