Momo

Performing Arts Season 2024/2025

– Eine Gruppe von Tänzer:innen trainiert an einer Ballettstange. Eine Person steht auf dem Kopf.

German premiere

World premiere: 10 December 2022, Suzanne Dellal Centre, Tel Aviv

“Momo” has two souls. One sends long roots to the depths of the earth – a soul that embodies archetypes and myths of hardened, raw masculinity, and the other is in a constant search for an individual and distinct DNA; one moves within its own autonomous and independent force field and the other is a constellation of elements that spin around the same nucleus – alternately drifting away and towards it, making room for necessary tenderness and catharsis.

With a soundtrack comprised mostly of the album “Landfall” by the legendary Laurie Anderson and Kronos Quartet, one of the foremost contemporary classical music ensembles, a shared passion of deep sorrow and beauty unfolds on stage. Relinquishment becomes a dedicated search for a crack, and glitches in the movement code turn out to be free, playful, and emotive material.

Ohad Naharin joined Batsheva Dance Company in 1974 and was appointed Artistic Director in 1990. In the same year, he established the company’s junior division, Batsheva – the Young Ensemble. He has since created over thirty works for both companies. After almost thirty years of leading Batsheva, Naharin stepped down as Artistic Director in 2018, and continues to serve as the Company’s House Choreographer.

In addition to his stage work, Naharin also developed Gaga, an innovative movement language based on research into heightening sensation and imagination, becoming aware of form, finding new movement habits, and going beyond familiar limits. Naharin trained in music throughout his childhood and continues to infuse his work with a unique musicality. Under the pseudonym Maxim Waratt, he composed music for many pieces he created for the company.

Over the course of his years in Batsheva, Naharin has won many awards and honours, among them the Israel Ministry of Culture Award for Lifetime Achievement (2016), an honorary Fellowship by Tel Aviv University (2018), an honorary doctorate by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (2019), Commandeur de l’ordre des Arts et des Lettres (2023) and many more.

Artistic Team

Ohad Naharin – Creation

Batsheva Dance Company dancers and Ariel Cohen – Co-Creation

Gadi Tzachor – Set and Props Design

Eri Nakamura – Costume Design

Avi Yona Bueno (Bambi) – Lighting Design

Maxim Waratt – Sound Design and Editing

Laurie Anderson and Kronos Quartet from the album “Landfall” / “Metamorphosis II” by Philip Glass / “Madre Acapella” by Arca / Maxim Waratt – Music

Yula Gold, Simony Monteiro, Linda Brumbach, Michal Helfman, Yonatan Oppenheim – Special Thanks

Performed by

Batsheva Dance Company

Yarden Bareket, Billy Barry, Yael Ben Ezer, Adi Blumenreich, Nathan Chipps, Matan Cohen, Guy Davidson, Iyar Elezra, Chiaki Horita, Sean Howe, Li-En Hsu, Londiwe Khoza, Adrienne Lipson, Ohad Mazor, Eri Nakamura, Gianni Notarnicola, Danai Porat, Igor Ptashenchuk, Yoni (Yonatan) Simon

 

Major sponsor: Chelck Family Foundation

Supported by: Mifal HaPais Council for the Culture and Arts, Batsheva New Works Fund, American Friends of Batsheva, L’Association Pluriel pour l’Art Contemporain, The Zita and Mark Bernstein Family Foundation, Factory54

Co-producers: Orsolina28 Art Foundation, Moncalvo

Presenting Co-producers: Torinodanza Festival / Teatro Stabile di Torino – Teatro Nazionale / Festival Aperto - Fondazione I Teatri, Reggio Emilia / Fondazione del Teatro Grande di Brescia.

Batsheva Leadership

Ohad Naharin – House Choreographer

Lior Avizoor – Artistic Director

Dina Aldor – Executive Director

Next date:

• Date Thursday, 16/January/2025 19:30 (2 more dates)
• Venue Haus der Berliner Festspiele - Große Bühne
• Address Schaperstraße 24, 10719 Berlin-Wilmersdorf