Tanja Saban

Gaga People

FRI, 11.09.20, 8:30–9:30
WED, 16.09.20, 18:30–19:30
MON, 21.09.20, 20:15–21:15
WED, 23.09.20, 18:30–19:30
WED, 30.09.20, 8:30–9:30

Bio

Born and raised in Switzerland, she graduated from SEAD training program in 2007. She is a recipient of the conveyor scholarship from the Tanzquartier in Vienna, where she started her career as a freelance dancer and teacher. She collaborates with choreographers and artists of other disciplines on projects as well as creating her own work in Austria, Spain,Switzerland, Israel and New York City.
After taking her first Gaga classes in 2011 in New York, she moved to Tel aviv one year later where Gaga became part of her daily practice. In 2018 she got certified to teach Gaga after completing the teachers course under the artistic direction of Bosmat Nossan.She has since taught Gaga in studios and for dance companies as well as co-taught workshops in Europe.
in 2008, besides dancing, she began to immerse herself more deeply into the practice and study of yoga with her teacher Sri Louise, under whose guidance she completed 400 hours of training in Vienna and Rishikesh, India. She was invited to assist Sri Louise in workshops and a 50 hour yoga teacher training for dancers at Impulstanz Festival in 2011,2013 and 2018.

Class description

Gaga/dancers

Gaga is the movement language developed by Ohad Naharin throughout many years, parallel to his work as a choreographer and the artistic director of Batsheva Dance Company. Gaga originated from Naharin’s need to communicate with his dancers and his curiosity in the ongoing research of movement.

Gaga provides a framework for discovering and strengthening the body and adding flexibility, stamina, agility, and skills including coordination and efficiency while stimulating the senses and imagination. The classes offer a workout that investigates form, speed, and effort while traversing additional spectrums such as those between soft and thick textures, delicacy and explosive power, and understatement and exaggeration.Throughout the class, participants are guided by a series of evocative instructions deployed to increase awareness of and further amplify sensation. Rather than turning from one prompt to another, information is layered, building into a multisensory, physically challenging experience. While many instructions are imbued with rich imagery, the research of Gaga is fundamentally physical, insisting on a specific process of embodiment. Inside this shared research, the improvisational nature of the exploration enables each participant’s deeply personal connection with Gaga.

Gaga/dancers deepens dancers’ awareness of physical sensations, enhances their ability to modulate their energy and enriches their movement quality with a wide range of textures. The classes are built on the same principles as Gaga/people classes but also employ the specific vocabulary and skills that are part and parcel of a dancer’s knowledge. The layering of familiar skills with Gaga tasks presents dancers with fresh challenges, and throughout the class, teachers prompt the dancers to visit more unfamiliar places and ways of moving as well, unlocking the endlessness of possibilities.
Gaga/dancers classes are open to dancers and advanced dance students ages 16+. Classes last between an hour to an hour and fifteen minutes.