Our teachers are among our longest-standing Gaga users, and their multi-layered experience with Ohad Naharin’s movement language has been revelatory. From transforming their relationship with dance to affecting how they move through the world on a daily basis, here are some ways in which Gaga has influenced them.
How does Gaga influence and impact your life?
Michal Sayfan – taking Gaga since 2004, teaching since 2006
Gaga brings richness to my life on a physical level of course, but not only. It allows me to sense and feel more — whether it’s pleasant or not. It makes things more vivid.
Yaara Moses – taking Gaga since 2001, teaching since 2003
As a young dancer in the company, I remember being told to “connect movement to pleasure” — this was life changing and liberating. And dancing with no mirrors: the fact that it is not about how it looks, but rather how it feels, this was a big breakthrough for me.
Matan David – taking Gaga since 2001, teaching since 2003
Gaga had a huge impact on the way I see life in general, but even more as a teacher than a student, I realize I teach what I’m lacking and by that improve myself as well as the people around me.
Deborah Friedes Galili – taking Gaga since 2007, teaching since 2012
Gaga helps me take care of my body and mind with a singular mix of maintenance, stimulation, respite, and delight. It encourages me to surpass my perceived physical limits, to experience and even enjoy extremes, which then grounds me so I can cope with the extremes beyond my control — especially those outside the studio. When life is at its most challenging, Gaga offers me a channel to connect to my joy, passion, and pleasure, to revel in the wonder of small details and to discover the wow moments that make it all worthwhile.
Billy Barry – taking Gaga since 2009, teaching since 2017
Gaga influences my life daily. One of my favorite practices is taking what I do seriously while not taking myself too seriously. Connecting to silliness and lightness as virtues in this world are things I feel I have to do. Connecting whatever I do to pleasure, because honestly, why wouldn’t I? Even connecting heaviness and tiredness to pleasure and silliness makes for a day better spent.
Béatrice Larrivée – taking Gaga since 2013, teaching since 2020
Gaga brings lightness to my life and allows me to swim in my passion for movement every day. It gives me the tools to move through daily tasks with more flow and ease.
Doron Perk – taking Gaga since 2007, teaching since 2014
Gaga opened me to a new way of dancing and connecting with my body. I was highly focused on ballet in the early years of my training and Gaga offered me a space to explore, what I felt was, the essence of movement. It didn’t contradict anything, just helped me enhance my experience as a dancer and I started seeing opportunities to use my new toolbox in any style of dance and in how I move around in everyday life.
Courtney Scheu – taking Gaga since 2014, teaching since 2021
Practicing Gaga enabled me to reconnect with the joy, pleasure and fantasy of moving after feeling like I was at war with my body while completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance). Daily, Gaga helps me to listen to my body and to undo unhelpful habits in my mind and body. I find new freedoms through Gaga all of the time.
Anoushka Jago – taking Gaga since 2016, teaching since 2021
As a dancer, Gaga has taught me that there are an endless number of ways to experience one movement and I really love the process of constantly reassessing my default decisions to try to bring more depth or richness to the way I perform choreography. Both teaching and participating in Gaga classes have helped me to rediscover the joy of dance.
Saar Harari – taking Gaga since 1998, teaching since 2012
I am happier and work on being in the moment.
Photo: Roee Shalti
