Winning Moves: The Batsheva Dance Company Image by Richard Termine for the Brooklyn Academy of Music

Ohad Naharin, the artistic director of the Israeli-based Batsheva Dance Company will receive the 2009 Samuel H. Scripps/American Dance Festival’s Lifetime Achievement Award, Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth is reporting.

Winning Moves: The Batsheva Dance Company Image by Richard Termine for the Brooklyn Academy of Music

Naharin, who studied and worked with dancer and choreographer Martha Graham, has directed the innovative modern dance troupe since 1990. In addition to his choreography, Naharin developed the dance technique and training-method Gaga, helping dancers learn to initiate their movements in specific ways.

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Naharin will receive the $50,000 prize in a ceremony June 25 at the Durham Performing Arts Center during this year’s American Dance Festival. His piece “Decadance” will be performed there as well, by the Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet. Former recipients of the prize include Graham and Alvin Ailey.

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