Ohad Naharin

was born in Kibbutz Mizra in Israel. He began his training in 1974 with the Batsheva Dance Company, before being discovered by Martha Graham, who invited him to New York. There, he studied at the School of American Ballet and the Juilliard School. His engagements then took him to the Bat-Dor Dance Company and to Maurice Béjart's Ballet du XXe Siècle in Brussels. In 1980, he made his debut as a choreographer and founded the Ohad Naharin Dance Company. Since then, Ohad Naharin has created numerous choreographies, including for Nederlands Dans Theater, Ballet Frankfurt, and the Compañía Nacional de Danza.

In 1990, Ohad Naharin was appointed Artistic Director of the Batsheva Dance Company and in the same year founded the company's junior division, Batsheva – The Young Ensemble. Ohad Naharin has developed over thirty works for both ensembles. His pieces are performed worldwide, including by Nederlands Dans Theater, the Paris Opera Ballet, Cullberg Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Alvin Ailey Dance Theater, the Royal Danish Ballet, and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal.

His specially developed movement language, Gaga, has now become a training method not only for the Batsheva Dance Company but for many dancers worldwide. In 2015, the Heymann Brothers released their comprehensive documentary about Naharin, Mr. Gaga, which was praised by critics and audiences alike. In 2018, Naharin stepped down as Artistic Director of the Batsheva Company. However, he continues to serve as House Choreographer.

Ohad Naharin has been honored with several awards, including the Israel Prize for Dance (2005), the New York Dance and Performance Award (2002, 2003), and the Dance Magazine Award (2009). Naharin, who holds both Israeli and American citizenship, currently lives in Israel.