Nederlands Dans Theater / NDT2

CREDITS

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choreography

Nadav Zelner

rehearsal assistants

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lights

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costumes

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sound editor

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music

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with

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duration

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premiere

24 October 2024,

Amare, Den Haag (NL)

links & downloads

> performance sheet (EN)

> dossier de diffusion (FR)

> context

> full video (password)

> high-res photos (password)

> low-res photos (password)

> technical rider (password)

PREMIERE OCTOBER 2024

the pictures above are from Bedtime Story, created in 2021

In Nadav Zelner's second work for NDT 2, his passion for dance and music comes together in a complex choreography that inspires the artistic virtuosity of the dancers. His dance productions combine wondrous imaginary worlds full of unexpected images, influenced by popular culture and supported by a keen eye for design and ear for music.

The work examines and celebrates life – even when it is not easy to digest. It lets us experience the rich, percussive language of movement Zelner has developed and honed, and offers glimpses into the creation of a new dance style that invites audiences into a daring and delightful world full of wonder. 

"When freedom meets boundaries, the universe invites the flies to eliminate the barriers. You are all invited." - Nadav Zelner

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NADAV ZELNER

Born in Ramla, Israel, Nadav Zelner (1992) discovered his love of dance and listening to music at an early age. In high school, his passion for choreography began. Having trained at the Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company, he has since worked tirelessly to form and develop his own unique dance language and technique.

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Nadav has created works for dance companies around the world, like the Staatsoper Hannover, Batsheva Dance Company, Gauthier Dance Company, St.Gallen Theater, Stanislavsky Ballet, Augsburg Ballet, Introdans, Stadttheater Bremerhaven, Chinese International Chongqing Ballet Company. Nadav was invited by the prima ballerina Ekaterina Shipulina from the Bolshoi Ballet to create for her a solo called “Ikra”.

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Besides his love for dance, Nadav is passionate about cinema and has created several short dance films. In 2019 one of his films inspired the director of the Eurovision in Israel to create the entire concept of the postcards around dance. He invited Nadav to choreograph a major part of that year's concept.
 

His worldpremiere for NDT 2 in the 2021-2022 season Bedtime story marks Nadavs debut with NDT. The full video of Bedtime Story can be watched here (password needed).

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THE PRESS ON BEDTIME STORY (2021)

“Zelner’s dance language is passionate, lighting fast and absolute, detailed down to the thumb. During Bedtime Story, everything moves simultaneously on North African driving percussion on the thirteen dancers in black ‘nightwear’: head, shoulders, torso, arms, legs. Smooth, regularly intersected with small jerks.” – NRC

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“In a mixture of hip-hop virtuosity and classical technique, the movement impulses shoot from one side of the supple dance bodies at lightning speed. Just as quickly the facial expressions change, from savage barbarism to overly happy toothpaste smiles. Zelner's quicksilver movement language is reminiscent of the idiom of NDT choreographer Marco Goecke. With the difference that the German prefers to limit himself to the torso in his choreographies – the legs just sort it out with Goecke himself – while Zelner lets the dancers move from the tip of the little toe to the tips of their out-of-bed hair.” – Parool

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“Zelner is an asset to NDT.” – Parool