In Batsheva’s performances, bold choreography meets captivating dance, all bearing the distinct mark of the company’s world famous and highly original artistic director Ohad Naharin. In Last Work he continues to break the boundaries for contemporary dance. The piece can be described as an approach towards the dark sides of a political protest. The dancers investigate the movements of the body and the touching expression of dance, changing mankind’s infinite emotions into an enigmatic and unforgettable stage performance.

Since its premiere in 2015, the performance has enchanted its audiences, resounding throughout the entire dance industry. The newspaper New York Times stated that “
Based in Tel Aviv, Batsheva Dance Company is one of the most famous dance companies in the world at the moment. The company was formed in 1964, but over the last decades it has changed enormously in regards of style and structure. Since Ohad Naharin took on the role as artistic director in 1990 he has developed Gaga – an innovative and emollient form of training giving Batsheva its special form of expression.
In many ways Gaga is radically different compared to more traditional dance training. Amongst other things mirrors are prohibited in the rehearsal studio. The dancers aren’t rehearsing any given choreography, but rather act on instructions to evoke certain movements, move certain body parts or express certain behaviour. The method has given the dancers a broader repertoire in terms of movements and stronger and more agile bodies.
Through the Gaga method, Naharin has managed and developed that magical feeling that has been at the core of Batsheva since the start in the 1960’s. Together with the dancers he has created a toolbox full of various behaviours and movements: soft, strong, shaking, flexible and sharp.
Ten years has passed since the last time Batsheva visited Sweden. We are very proud to present Last Work at Vara Konserthus, one of the festival’s regional partner venues. The performance is also shown at GöteborgsOperan, closing this year’s festival.

Choreography: Ohad Naharin
Lighting design: Avi Yona Bueno (Bambi)
Sound design and music editing: Maxim Warratt
Original music: Grischa Lichtenberger
Scenography: Zohar Shoef
Costume: Eri Nakamura
Assistant to Ohad Naharin and Maxim Warratt: Ariel Cohen, Guy Shomroni
Recorded music: Few Mysteries Solved in a Year of Contact – Sagat, Club Life – Hysterics, Crusty Juice – MPIA3, Volume VIP – Monkey, Tantrum – Luminox
Co-production: Festival Montpellier Danse 2015, Hellerau – European Center for the Arts, Dresden. With the support of Batsheva New Works Fund and the Dalia and Eli Hurwitz foundation; with special funding provided by the American Friends of Batsheva.

Batsheva Dance Company:

Artistic Director: Ohad Naharin
Executive Director: Dina Aldor
Co-Artistic Director: Adi Salant
Company and Stage Manager: Yaniv Nagar
Senior Rehearsal Director: Luc Jacobs

International Tours
Director: Iris Bovshover
Producer: Naomi Friend

Chief Technical Director: Roni Cohen
Lighting: Gadi Dagon
Sound: Dudi Bell
Technician: Aliaksei Prezhyn

Wardrobe: tbc
Physiotherapist: Nir Dayan