Batsheva Dance Company

Its inception was inspired by Israel's growing interest in American modern dance, mainly Martha Graham and Anna Sokolow.

Classes in Graham technique were offered at the time, some taught by Rina Schenfeld and Rena Gluck, who were the company's principal dancers for many years.

[2] Bethsabee de Rothschild withdrew her funding in 1975, and the company gradually shed the Graham aesthetic that had dominated its early years.

[5] This movement language has been so influential in the modern dance world that, in 2015, a documentary entitled Mr. Gaga was created by Tomer Heymann.

[6] Baroness Bethsabee de Rothschild, a patron of Martha Graham, wanted to create a foundation for Modern Dance in Israel, where she resided.

The Israeli culture allowed for a different embodiment of the choreography and many responded well to it, even though some critics made mention of "faulty technique".

Due to the company's close relationship with Martha Graham, many other well-renowned choreographers set work on Batsheva, such as Jose Limon, Glen Tetley, Jerome Robbins, and others.

The position was taken by Gili Navot, a former Batsheva dancer and rehearsal director, while Naharin continued to hold the role of house choreographer.

[9] In December 2019, the company premiered a piece titled 2019, which was described by The Jerusalem Post as a tight group of fine dancers who shine with singularity, and a choreography that seems to offer a fresh outlook on the components of its performance.