Watch Emanuel Gat Dance

It is perhaps too short-lived and creatively diverse to be called a trend, and using the word invasion carries unfortunate political associations. But through some mysterious fluke of programming, UK audiences will have the opportunity to see more dance by Israeli-born choreographers during the next few months than at any other time in recent memory.

Some of it, such as the two productions that Batsheva Dance Company will present in the upcoming Dance Umbrella festival programme, is coming to us from abroad. Co-founded more than four decades ago by no less a modern dance icon than Martha Graham, Batsheva has its headquarters in Tel Aviv. Headed since 1990 by the choreographer Ohad Naharin, it is currently the best-known Israeli contemporary dance troupe in the world.

The other work on offer represents what might be considered an Israeli dance diaspora. Emanuel Gat Dance has the distinction of inaugurating Sadler’s Wells Debut, an initiative designed to throw a spotlight on choreographers new to Britain at the tantalisingly low cost of £10 per ticket. Gat’s group happens to be based in France. Jasmin Vardimon and Hofesh Shechter meanwhile, are both touring work up and down the country – Vardimon with a 10th anniversary company retrospective called ‘Yeserday’ and Shechter (who formerly danced both for her and Batsheva) with an exciting double bill that last year helped brand him as our fastest-rising dance star. Both of them live and work in the UK.

The dances these Israeli artists create might loosely share certain qualities – a full-bodied physicality, say, or a bold and dynamic use of stage space. No matter where they call home, they all have their roots in a culture in which – unlike that of uptight Britain – dance has a solid presence as both a leisure activity and an art form. ‘Dance is very popular in Israel,’ says Naharin . ‘When I was growing up we used to get together for folk dancing. It’s not like you had to be trained to do it. It was for everybody. For us it’s like singing. People are also dancing together. It establishes for them a connection between pleasure, movement, music and form.’

Vardimon echoes him. ‘Dance is huge in Israel. It’s deeply integrated into the education programme so kids become familiar with the art form from an early age. Almost everyone there has been to the theatre to see a dance performance.’

Naharin confirm that dance is flourishing in his homeland. The reason, he believes, may be because ‘in Israel there is more space. By this I mean a void or vacuum created by a lack of history or tradition. Israel is written about as an old country, but in reality it’s very young. People came from all over the world just in the last 70 years. Each one brought a different culture, and a lot are trying to forget their culture to create something new. At the same time a lot of knowledge, curiosity and talent from many different backgrounds is meeting up here. I think this creates something fresh and unconventional for dance. It’s like a clean slate.’

A passion for movement and ‘the power of the imagination,’ says Naharin, also figure significantly. ‘Dance has, of course, some kind of support from the government and different producers or small theatres. But it’s not something that’s organised. First of all it comes out of individuals who just love to move and love to choreograph. And from an audience that finds dance challenging to watch. It’s a very vibrant situation.’

Given all this vitality it’s revealing that Gat, 39, chose to leave his native land in order to pursue his calling. In his youth he claims to have had no particular interest in dance as a career. Following three years’ mandatory military service, his dream was to become a conductor. A workshop for amateur dancers quickly put paid to that idea. Three months later Gat joined a proper company, but dropped out within two years to make his own choreography. From 1994 he worked independently, finally forming his own group a decade later. Yet even after winning some of the highest awards and honours his homeland can bestow, frustration with the system there compelled to head to France.

The reasons for Gat’s departure were practical and artistic. ‘My references are much wider than nationality,’ he avows. ‘I have broader interests related to art, dance, culture and politics that don’t stop at any border.’ Instead he cites poor working conditions, lack of funding and limited opportunities for growth as motivating factors for his move. ‘The core issue is that art and culture are a low priority in Israel right now. I thought I’d better go where I can make things happen and not just fight lost causes. In France I was offered a three-year residency. Here I can concentrate on work rather than just survive.’

Nevertheless, like Naharin, Gat sings the praises of Israel’s buzzing independent dance scene. ‘In terms of budgets and money,’ says Gat, ‘it’s not the better places that automatically get better artists or a better creative energy. There’s an amazing amount of dancers and choreographers working in Israel. What’s interesting is that they don’t only stay there. They travel. A lot of festivals in Europe programme Israeli dance.’

Although he has virtually no profile in London, Gat’s two-day Debut gig at Sadler’s Wells could change all that. ‘Here at the Wells we’re always looking for people who have the ambition and ability to make dance that will fit our large stage,’ says the venue’s artistic director, Alistair Spalding. ‘Emanuel’s got whatever it is that a choreographer needs. His work is engaging, unexpected and musical, and absolutely led by movement.’ And that, ultimately, is what the British dance-going public is seeking from Gat and his fellow Israelis.

Emanuel Gat Dance (Sept 19-20) and Batsheva Dance Company (Oct 20-21) are at Sadler’s Wells. Box office: 0844 871 0090. www.sadlerswells.com Batsheva (Oct 22-25) is also at Riverside Studios: 020 8237 1111. www.riversidestudios.co.uk Dance Umbrella hotline: 084 412 4312. www.danceumbrella.co.uk Touring information for Hofesh Shechter and Jasmin Vardimon: www.hofeshtour.co.uk and www.jasminvardimon.com

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