Hofesh Shecter – dancer and choreographer (1975 -)
The Israeli-born choreographer Hofesh Shechter burst on to the British dance scene after moving to the UK in 2002. His work gained attention not only for its intriguing, animalistic movement quality but for the urgent humanity of his pieces, often expressing a political feeling that caught the imagination of a younger demographic.

Born in Jerusalem in 1975, Shechter studied traditional folk dance before entering the Rubin Academy of Dance and Music. Shechter’s first professional engagement was as a dancer with Batsheva Dance Company. Shechter studied drum and percussion in Tel Aviv and Paris, playing in the French capital with a rock band named The Human Beings. This education informed his musical compositions for some of his dance pieces. Shechter also served in the Israeli military during his National Service.

Shechter then danced in London with Jasmin Vardimon’s company before he created his first choreographic piece, Fragments in 2003. This creation led to a relationship with The Place, where Shechter was Associate Artist from 2004-2006. In 2007, The Place, Southbank Centre and Sadler’s Wells commissioned Schechter to create In Your Rooms, the piece that cemented his critical reputation.

The following year Shechter established his own company that now tours extensively as well as being company-in-residence at the Brighton Dome. He has worked with a large variety of companies including Scottish Dance Theatre and Candoco Dance, as well as choreographing for theatre, Broadway, and the popular Channel 4 television series Skins. The choreographer made his debut with The Royal Ballet with Untouchable in 2015. The Paris Opéra Ballet acquired his The Art of Not Looking Back in 2018.