Hagit Yakira interviewed by Jacksons Lane

What are your inspirations?

The first thing that inspires me is relationships, emotions, but I also like to work through autobiographical experiences. I always look at all the issues brought up by research, through a personal perspective and then try to see how it can communicate to everybody. I ask myself: what about this topic is it that almost everybody can relate to?

What led you to be a Choreographer?

It was actually not a straightforward process for me. I started out as a dancer but I didn’t like to do this, so I decided to train to be a dance therapist; which I worked in for a number of years. After sometime, I found this was also a bit limited and considered training as a psychologist. At this time I was living in Israel and felt that I needed a change so I decided to come to London and train to do an MA at Laban. Before I did this, I couldn’t find what I liked about dance and movement. I felt there is something amazing that can be beautifully communicated through dance and thought that Laban would be a good place to explore this. Because Laban is so open, I thought it would be a great way to find what I’ve felt is missing.

At Laban I found a balanced way between talking and moving in a similar way to dance therapy. Then I choreographed a solo and fell in love with choreography. I found I can use everything I’ve studied – in relation to the human condition, psychology, and try to find an aesthetic way to put it – beyond therapy. I found I can use this knowledge I have, this passion and put it into an artform.

You seem to be part of a new wave of contemporary Israeli dance groups – why would you say this is growing?

In Israel in general there is alot of growth in the arts. In film too there is a strong wave of individuals. I left Israel seven years ago and even then it wasn’t as wide and broad as it is now. I think people my age want to express themselves - life in Israel is very extreme and art is a way of doing that. Certain companies such as Batsheva Company led the way for many dancers from Israel. Dancers began in that company then left and did their own work. Also other dancers grew up seeing their work so this acted as an inspiration to us. 

Could you tell us more about Sunday Morning? What are the influences of the piece?

I started just with the idea of a memory one and a half years ago. I was visiting my parents for Christmas in Israel. I remember waking up on Christmas morning, with all my family around me, the smells, the feelings and having this strong memory and sensation of the exact way things were 15 yrs ago. This was such a vivid sensation. I felt I had to do something with this notion of ‘Sunday Morning’ and the memories it provokes – with all the family around, something that in the West can be neglected.

I started to work on this idea.  It took a long time to find the people for the piece, but all of a sudden when we started working – it became a piece about memories of childhood. It was a very emotional process – an amazing journey. It took me a long time to finish and I showed it many times as a work in progress.

Sunday Morning is about the notion of memory – how it plays with who we are. These ideas and feelings – are they  really memories or do we create them – are they real? And in the end, does it matter?