Level: Mittelstufe/ Fortgeschritten

The language of gaga originated from the belief in the ‘healing, dynamic, and ever-changing power of movement’. Gaga offers a creative framework to listen deeply to our bodies. We work with our physical sensations, in search of freedom and pleasure and to connect conscious and unconscious movement. Participants are guided through a series of multi-layered tasks with a sensitivity to who is in the room. Gaga encourages exploration between our weakness and strengths, awakens numb areas, and addresses physical habits. The classes offer a workout to investigate our form, speed, and effort while enhancing our flexibility, agility, and coordination. At the same time navigating through an array of physical qualities such as texture, delicacy, and exaggeration, culminating in a multisensory and physically challenging experience. With no mirrors or spectators, comfortable clothes, accompanied by music there is an air of non-judgmental exploration. Olivia Ancona was born in San Francisco, however grew up in Berkeley, London, and predominately Portland, Oregon. After training at the Juilliard School, she joined the Batsheva Ensemble (2010-2012) under the direction of Ohad Naharin and returned to the main company in 2015. Olivia was a founding member of Sharon Eyal’s LEV, and has worked with Mats EK, Johan Inger, Wim Vandekeybus in the Royal Swedish Ballet, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui (Eastman) and Luca Veggetti, amongst others. Most recently she was a guest with the Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch and in the fall of 2016 danced, acted, and coached in the recently premiered film, Suspiria, directed by Luca Guadagnino. She is a certified Gaga teacher and regularly teaches workshops and classes internationally, as well as staging Sharon Eyal’s works. She is currently based out of Berlin and will participate in upcoming collaborations with choreographers Bryan Arias and Alan Lucien Øyen.