
Israel
L-E-V/Sharon Eyal & Gai Behar
Love Chapter 2
L-E-V (lev is the Hebrew word for "heart") has already thrilled audiences at the Migros Culture Percentage Dance Festival Steps in 2014, with cool moves and an aesthetic that stems from the artistic directors' contrasting backgrounds: while Sharon Eyal has toured the world as a star of the renowned Batsheva Dance Company, Gai Behar comes from the Israeli underground and club scene, and has become famous as a producer of raves. Musician and DJ Ori Lichtik is also part of the close-knit artistic team. His pulsating techno beats, sometimes recorded live, are a signature feature in all L-E-V creations. These come about like snapshots of a perpetual creative flow, on the theme of love. Love Chapter 2 is completely devoted to the world of feelings left behind by lost love: mostly as a group, the dancers elegantly move across the stage – anonymous and androgynous. With astonishing flexibility, they keep forming new expressive body images. However, this unity is deceptive: each one of the ensemble's six members is competing for survival. Razor-sharp, down to the last detail, they lend form to their emotions – the next eruption is never far away. Once again, the latest creation from L-E-V offers a hypnotic, enticing and potentially addictive dance experience.
Videos

Trailer Love Chapter 2
Photos

Love Chapter 2 © André Le Corre

Love Chapter 2 © André Le Corre

Love Chapter 2 © André Le Corre
Sharon Eyal

As a dancer at Batsheva Dance Company, Tel Aviv, Sharon Eyal was the muse of choreographer Ohad Naharin. At Batsheva, she worked as associate artistic director (2003-2004) and subsequently as house choreographer (2005). She founded L-E-V in Tel Aviv with Gai Behar in 2013 (at Steps for the first time in 2014). She is a sought-after guest choreographer and has created for the following, among others: Carte Blanche – the Norwegian National Company of Contemporary Dance (at Steps in 2012), Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, the Royal Swedish Opera Ballet and Nederlands Dans Theater. Picture: Amit Sides & Oran Avivi & Kobie Flashman
Gai Behar

Gai Behar of Israel has played a role in shaping Tel Aviv's club scene. Between 1999 and 2005, he produced live music and underground events, organised huge techno parties and raves, and also presented international video artists and DJs. He has been working closely with Sharon Eyal since 2005 and is involved in all her choreographic works. Picture: Camilla Simonson
Ori Lichtik

Drummer and DJ Ori Lichtik is seen as one of the founding fathers of Israel's techno scene and, from 1996 onwards, he made a name for himself primarily as a producer of raves. All of Sharon Eyal's essential works are based on his sound collages. In L-E-V's shows, he shapes the audio experience slightly differently each time. Picture: Tomer Applebaum
Programme:
Love Chapter 2
Creation:
Sharon Eyal
Co-creation:
Gai Behar
Live music:
Ori Lichtik
Lighting:
Alon Cohen
Costume design:
Rebecca Hytting, Gon Biran
Costume production:
Odelia Arnold
Technical director:
Alon Cohen
Assistant technical director:
Bruch Shpigelman
Dancers:
Gon Biran, Darren Devaney, Rebecca Hytting, Mariko Kakizaki, Keren Lurie Pardes
Co-production:
Festival Montpellier Danse, Migros Culture Percentage Dance Festival Steps, Dance and Theatre International Festival Freiburg, Sadler's Wells (London), Julidans, RomaEuropa Festival
In 2017, L-E-V received the FEDORA – Van Cleef & Arpels Prize for Ballet