Hofesh Shechter

Hofesh Shechter is recognised as one of the most exciting artists making stage work today, his dark, visceral, vibrant universe positively bursting with innovation and political relevance. The choreographer is renowned for composing atmospheric musical scores to compliment the unique physicality of his movement. Since 2008, the former dancer with the legendary Batsheva Dance Company has headed the UK-based Hofesh Shechter Company.

The partnership between Gauthier Dance and Hofesh Shechter was born in 2017, when Shechter's iconic Uprising was part of the opening production MEGA ISRAEL of the 2nd COLOURS International Dance Festival. Since then, Shechter and Gauthier Dance have kept in touch. After all, while still in Stuttgart, Shechter had promised Eric Gauthier a creation for the company – which would become his contribution to Swan Lakes. The world premiere of the group piece Swan Cake in June 2021 marked Shechter's highly praised start as artist in residence, with a celebration of dance that proved to be as mesmerising as it was cool. Shechter's next choreography for Gauthier Dance was also part of a concept evening. For The Seven Sins – which premiered in May 2022 – Shechter took on the deadly sin of lust and transformed it into the hypnotic, disturbing piece Luxury Guilt.

Shechter’s third work for Gauthier Dance, the atmospheric short film Return, was made for the anniversary production 15 YEARS ALIVE in the 2022–2023 season. Shot in the industrial architecture of the Wizemann Areal and in a morgue, it came with a typical Shechter twist. Instead of a piece about being alive, he created a piece about death – and how memories can bring a person to life again! It was Shechter, too, who, at the end of the 2022–2023 season, landed a major summer hit for Gauthier Dance. His taxing dance marathon Contemporary Dance 2.0 turned out to be an ideal showcase for the virtuoso company and the perfect lure for young viewers. In the summer of 2024, a genuine Shechter extravaganza went one better once again. A triple bill featuring Contemporary Dance 2.0, SWAN CAKE and the world premiere of the aptly named Bonus Track for the programme ANTHOLOGY Shechter X Gauthier Dance.