DANCE GUEST PERFORMANCE

Mr. Gaga

a film about passion, expression and freedom
documentary
Digital
Tomer Heymann‘s documentary »Mr. Gaga« grants us intimate insights into the life and work of the exceptional Israeli choreographer Ohad Naharin and explains his progression during the course of his life.

Ohad Naharin grows up in a kibbutz and serves in the Yom Kippur War. He starts dancing professionally when he is already 22 years old. Naharin forges his path through the big ballet schools in New York and Paris before he becomes the artistic director of the Israeli »Batsheva Dance Company« in 1990. After a grave back injury, he seems to be confronted with the end of his career. But his drive to dance stays intact and inspires him to invent something revolutionary: the dance style »Gaga« is born!

The documentary shows shots from rehearsals and material from the archives and tells the fascinating story of choeographer Ohad Naharin, whose creations reveal an unparalleled mastery and beauty. Tomer Heymann directs the documentary. With »Mr. Gaga«, he landed a huge success in Israel – the movie was seen by over 100‘ 000 people.
«Tomer Heymann’s fundamental understanding for the uniqueness of dance makes «MR. GAGA» a little masterpiece.»
DAGENS NYHETER
Ohad Naharin begins his education at the »Batsheva Dance Company« when he is 22 years old. He also receives his first engagement at the »Batsheva Dance Company«. Martha Graham invites him to the United States where he studies at the »Juilliard School« and becomes a member of Béjart‘s »Ballet du XXe Siecle«. In 1980, he starts choreographing his own pieces and gains worldwide recognition. In 1990, he takes over the »Batsheva Dance Company« and sparks a revolution: Contemporary Dance becomes the most important innovator for cultural life in Israel. Many prominent companies around the world – like the »Nederlands Dans Theater«, the »Cullberg Ballet«, the »Ballet de l’Opéra de Paris«, the »Alvin Ailey Dance Theater« and the »Ballett am Rhein« – have pieces of Ohad Naharin in their repertoire. Aside from his work for the stage, Naharin develops »Gaga«, an innovative language of movements that centers a conscious handling of sensation and its access to movement. For Naharin, it’s all about passion, outbursting power, the extreme, the pleasure of the moment and breaking boundaries. This method is not only the predominant training method of the Batsheva-Ensemble, it also has found its following among dancers all around the world.
Tomer Heymann, born in Tel Aviv in 1970, makes several other documentaries like »It Kinda Scares Me« or »Paper Dolls«. Heymann’s movies are present at the Berlinale, but also at other Festivals on the Philippines, in Taiwan, Los Angeles, Madrid and Warsaw. His brother Barak Heymann acts as his producer. Tomer Heymann‘s intention for »Gaga« is to show how much hard work goes into the performances and shows of the »Batsheva Dance Company«.
«The idea for this movie was born over 20 years ago when I saw Naharin’s »Batsheva Dance Company« on stage for the first time. My head and my heart got into a turmoil comparable to that caused by an incredible cocktail of alcohol and drugs – just without alcohol and drugs. A continuous sequence of movement, music, energy, sexuality, sensuality and dancers one was falling in love with without knowing why. From this evening on, I was obsessed with the »Batsheva« art of dance. Naharin is a tough nut, very complex and a contradictory character. But all that makes him a fascinating subject for a documentary.»
Tomer Heymann