In "Bedtime Story", Nadav Zellner's dance performance, the choreographer introduces us to his dreams. It's not synonymous with ambitions – he's been fulfilling them for several years since he started working around the world, especially in Europe, where he executes his wildest professional visions. In the current show, which came to Israel as part of a visit by the famous Dutch dance company NDT 2, he focuses on the night dreams he had as a child.
"I have an energetic and telepathic side," he says. "In my current job, I dealt with the whole subject of sleep and dreams, because I dream quite a bit and I remember quite a few of my dreams. I wanted to put the dancers in a state between sleep and sobriety. For me, this is the moment when your dreams can come true. I wanted to put them in that state, because sometimes from the outside it can look like they're dancing while sleeping."
There is also a snake element in the show. The dancers wear pajamas with snakes on them.
"In one of the dreams I remember from childhood, I'm sitting on the floor of my room in the house, in Ramle, and there's a really big snake, a monstrous anaconda, that just caresses me. He looks at me, and I look at him, and there is no fear. I felt really safe. That's where I acted."
From the show "Bedtime Story", photo: Rahi Rezvani
A childhood room in Ramla is an unusual starting point for someone who will become one of our distinguished representatives abroad in the field of dance. It's not easy to be a jazz-loving kid in first grade, or a dance-loving teenager in the '90s somewhere other than Tel Aviv. But Zellner, who transferred to the Thelma Yellin High School for the Arts in ninth grade, doesn't see where he comes from as fundamentally different in this respect from other places – even if the words "Ramla" and "modern dance" don't quite connect naturally. "It's true, but you can say it anywhere. It's a stereotypical thing," he says.
Do you think it's easier for a child or teenager growing up in the same place today?
"I'd like to believe it's easier today, but I guess there are still places that are a little behind on this issue. I believe and hope that it will look different, and that everyone will do what he wants and how he wants, and accept the other in an equal and respectful way. And that applies to all areas of life and this world."
"There's a lot of talent here"
As for this world, Nadav is conducting this interview from Wiesbaden, Germany, where he is putting on two productions in the next six months. He is in Israel, he says, "maybe twice a year," and the rest of the time he works with dance companies in Europe. This is a huge personal achievement for someone who has set himself the goal of becoming a prominent name in his field, but also one that raises the question of how the local dance world would benefit if it focused its activity in Israel.
"I think there's a lot of talent in our country," he explains. "I'm very proud to be part of this dance community, and in the world we rank high on the map."
"My choice to live in Europe has several reasons. Most, though not all, productions require quite a bit of budget. I would love for my company to be in Israel, but I believe that in light of the problem of budgets and awareness, which exists specifically in the dance world here, it may not happen. But never say never, everything can change."
NDT 2 will perform at the Herzliya Performing Arts Hall until July 10.
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