Famed choreographer wins Israel Prize

Ohad Naharin hailed as one of the most influential choreographers in the world; known for bringing local dance to wider audience

Reuters | Published: 03.14.05, 23:35

This year’s Israel Prize for dance will be awarded to renowned dancer, choreographer, and musician Ohad Naharin.

Naharin, 53, who is the creative director of the Batsheva Dance Company, received notice of the decision to grant him the prestigious award from Education and Culture Minister Limor Livnat Monday morning.

Livnat said she is proud to grant Naharin the award.

אוהד נהרין (צילום: לסלי ספינקס)

“His wonderful art leaves a great mark on Israeli culture,” she said. “I hope his creative wellspring will continue to flow for many years to come so the Israeli public and people all over the world would continue to enjoy the fruits of his labor.”

Naharin is regarded as one of the leading choreographers in the world, and will be the youngest ever recipient of the award in the arts category.

The Israel Prize Committee said in a statement “Naharin elevated artistic dance to a high level that is recognized in Israel and across the entire world.”

“His involvement in the music and wardrobe is absolute, and his approach to a piece is a general statement expressed through the language of dance and movement,” the statement said. ”Naharin changed the face of the dance stage in Israel.”

'There is something very primal about Israel'

Naharin made local dance history when he took dance away from the hands of an exclusive audience and opened it up to a whole new crowd through his unique movement language and by emphasizing the music, which gave his work the quality of a rock show.

Despite his global appeal, however, Naharin continues to view himself as an Israeli artist.

“I have never thought of creating anywhere else,” he said. “There is something very primal about Israel that allows me to do things differently here.”

Naharin prefers to detach his work from nationalistic, religious, or ethnic connotations.

“I would like to think my art is beyond this,” he said. “It is a fact that I am Jewish and Israeli. Some of the elements I use in my work relate to this, but I am also many other things.”