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Friday, January 27, 2017

In Context: Last Work



The otherworldly dancers of Batsheva Dance Company return with the latest creation from choreographer Ohad Naharin. An open-ended meditation on the humanism inherent in the body’s motion, Last Work veers explosively between the political and the excruciatingly personal. Context is everything, so get closer to the production through our series of curated links, videos, and articles. After you've attended the show, let us know what you thought by posting in the comments below and on social media using #Batsheva.

Program Notes

Last Work (PDF)

Read

Article
Going Gaga for Ohad Naharin (T Magazine)
“...like sucking your cheeks together but with your stomach and rectum.” A profile of Ohad Naharin and the sensual mechanics of Gaga, his influential movement language.

Article
Israel's Revolutionary Choreographer, Ohad Naharin, Hits the Screen and Stage (The Village Voice)
A short feature on Gaga, Batsheva, and Naharin leading up to Naharin’s multiple BAM engagements, onstage and onscreen.

Watch & Listen

Video
Ohad Naharin discusses Gaga movement (YouTube)
Gaga, aging and dancing without mirrors: Naharin in his own words and company members in their own bodies.

Video
Mr. Gaga A film by Tomer Heymann - Official Trailer (YouTube)
Watch the trailer for Mr. Gaga, a documentary on Naharin’s life in- and outside the studio.

Now your turn...

What did you think? Tell us what's on your mind in the comments below and on social media using #Batsheva.

19 comments:

  1. First timer. Nothing less than a wonderfully exciting, thoroughly engrossing and truly mesmerizing performance. Can't wait until the Company returns to BAM again or somewhere else in the New York area. George Sweeper

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  2. So I have always admired Mr. Naharin's work which drew me to this program in the first place and excited to see this new work, however, I was really disappointed with this piece. I go to alot of dance and see many different choreographer's and really tried to like this one but I really didn't get the movements or the point of the piece. I have to say the last 10 minutes were probably the best for me. Sorry I have to be truthful. My dancer friend who accompanied me had the same reaction.

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  4. I left feeling . . . well, nothing. Beautiful, exciting dancers and movement, but ultimately no context. What was this work about?

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  5. What a great piece of moving art. I went with my girl and I teared up at the end, I looked at her and she was crying. The beginning is slow, but it all comes together. I had a wonderful time. There was some protesters in the front. But everything is protested these days.

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  6. The performance was amazing, I enjoyed every minute of it But , this was a torturous experience as far as the seating went ... the worst I ever had , it will take a lot to get me back into this hall again !

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    Replies
    1. Thanks so much for sharing, Moshe!

      We're sorry to hear about your experience before the performance and are very eager to learn more about your concerns. Please feel free to contact us at info@bam.org or 718.636.4100 at your convenience.

      Your enjoyment matters to us and we hope you do visit BAM again soon.

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  7. You have not seen a human being truly move until you have witnessed a Batsheva performance. Every single dancer is a wonder — every articulation of bone, muscle, and sinew a revelation. If there was a meaning to the evening’s performance, it was not clear to me. Perhaps it was political? Perhaps sexual? Perhaps both? And does it really matter when the pure unbridled pleasure of movement is what I will most remember?

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  8. What a superb performance; kudos to the dancers and their incredibly talented director/choreographer, Ohad Naharin. I have seen this company perform, over the years at BAM and they never cease to amaze me. F. Kornfeld

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  9. Amazing performance. It is my 3rd time seeing it and still get emotional every time. I see it as the story of life cycle in general but more specifically it is the story of Israel. I believe that seeing the documentary Mister Gaga will help anyone to understand Ohad Naharin's mind.

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  10. I'd never seen Batsheva before and was blown away by the movement: the strength and delicacy and oddness of the human body. Reminded me of drawings by Egon Schiele, so attenuated and stressed, with flow and percussion added. Sometimes the small gestures were the most effective. As to what did it all mean -- do most people understand what dance performances mean? I don't. I definitely got some ideas from this, some about politics, some about the difficulty of relating to others. It opened my mind.

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  11. My wife and I have loved previous works by Batsheva but man this one was boring.

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  12. I had the abundant pleasure of seeing Batshevas's new peice last evening. The movement the dancers embodied transcended the human/earthy realm into the realm of both the spiritual and magical. Very avant garde! I recommend seeing this thought provoking dance. It makes one think and feel and question, and brakes your heart for humanity and the wilderness. And uplifts you with the spirit of the dancers and the movement itself.

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  13. I find that watching Bat Sheva always challenges my senses. I have seen them many times and each time is a discovery. There is never an attempt to please. This can be challenging as a viewer to be sure. I found myself irritated, bored, exhilarated, excited, in tears and moved, sometimes at the same time.

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  14. We arrived 5 minutes late, and were not allowed to access our seats. We had to stand throughout the performance. I am never going back to BAM again.

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    Replies
    1. We’re sorry to hear of your disappointment with our late seating policy.

      Late seating options vary from show to show and is established by each presenting company to ensure minimal disruption for audience and performers. During rehearsals of Last Work, our production team and Batsheva Dance Company determined that there was, unfortunately, no possibility of ushering late comers into their purchased seats without disrupting the performance. In recognition of this, we held the curtain 10 minutes past the scheduled time for every performance to accommodate as many late arrivals as possible.

      Please note that our house policies are always available on our website, on order receipts and on the back of all live performance tickets.

      Your experience is important to us and we welcome you to contact us at info@BAM.org with any questions about your next visit.

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  15. Wow, Hoezen, I had the same experience. There was a middle aged, African American female usher with a very nasty attitude who blocked me from getting to my seat.

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  16. I too had a similar experience. Was delayed due to traffic and wasn't allowed to go to my seat. This was my first and last time. Learn how to treat your customers.

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  17. I can only wonder about the quality of the dance. My center mezzanine seats gave me only a partial view - about 15% of the stage on either side of the person ahead of me. What a waste of time and money.

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