Gaga is the movement language developed by Ohad Naharin throughout many years, parallel to his work as a choreographer and the former artistic director of Batsheva Dance Company.

Gaga originated from Naharin’s need to communicate with his dancers and his curiosity in the ongoing research of movement.
Gaga classes are predicated on a deep activation of the body and physical sensations.

The instructions are deployed to increase awareness of and further amplify sensation, and rather than turning from one prompt to another, information is layered, building into a multisensory, physically challenging experience. While many instructions are imbued with rich imagery, the research of Gaga is fundamentally physical, insisting on a specific process of embodiment. Inside this shared research and on top of clear forms, the improvisational nature of the exploration enables each participant’s deeply personal connection with Gaga.
Gaga provides a framework for discovering and strengthening the body and adding flexibility, stamina, agility, and skills including coordination and efficiency while stimulating the senses and the imagination.

The classes offer a workout that investigates form, speed, and effort while traversing additional spectrums such as those between soft and thick textures, delicacy and explosive power, and understatement and being over the top.
Participants awaken numb areas, increase their awareness of habits, and improve their efficiency of movement inside multilayered tasks, and they are encouraged to connect to pleasure inside moments of effort.

 

The research of Gaga is in a continual process of evolution, and the classes vary and develop accordingly.

Gaga has two tracks: Gaga/people and Gaga/dancers.
Gaga/people is open to the general public and available for anyone, without the necessity of previous experience.
Gaga/dancers is open to professional dancers and dance students.

Gaga/people classes offer a framework for users to connect to their bodies and imaginations, experience physical sensations, improve their flexibility and stamina, exercise their agility and explosive power, and enjoy the pleasure of movement in a
welcoming, accepting atmosphere.
Gaga/people classes are open to people ages 16+, regardless of their background in dance or movement. No previous dance experience is needed. Classes last approximately one hour.
Participants should wear comfortable clothes and be prepared to dance barefoot or in socks. It is advisable to bring a bottle of water and a towel for use after class.

Gaga/dancers deepens dancers’ awareness of physical sensations, expands their palette of available movement options, enhances their ability to modulate their energy and engage their explosive power, and enriches their movement quality
with a wide range of textures. The classes are built on the same principles as Gaga/people classes but also employ the specific vocabulary and skills that are part and parcel of a dancer’s knowledge.

The layering of familiar skills with Gaga tasks presents dancers with fresh challenges, and throughout the class, teachers prompt
the dancers to visit more unfamiliar places and ways of moving as well, unlocking the endlessness of possibilities. Dancers are guided to connect their effort to pleasure and to discover the virtue of silliness.
Gaga/dancers classes are open to professional dancers or advanced dance students ages 16+.

Classes last between an hour to an hour and fifteen minutes.