Yossi Berg

Yossi Berg was born 1976 in Kiryat Yam.

He began studying classical ballet at the Re’ut High School of the Arts in nearby Haifa, and in 1992 he trained in Liora Bing-Heidecker’s studio as well as with Haya Tzur.
In 1994, at age 18, Berg moved to Tel Aviv.

He began dancing with Batsheva Ensemble and took part in Dance Party (1994), Lachrymose (1995), White Tears (1997). In 1997 he moved to Batsheva Company and danced with the original dance team of Sabotage Baby (1997), Hamsin 98 (1998), Moshe (1999), The Rest (2000). During his term with the company, Berg began trying his hand in choreography, and created works for creative dancer nights in Batsheva, as well as for Curtains Up (Haramat Masach) and Mahol Lohet Dance Festivals: Andalusian Delights (1996); Snow Queen, Architect (1997); Happiness, Goliath (1999); Yael (2000).

In 2000, Berg left Batsheva for the Lloyd Newson’s DV8 Physical Theatre. In 2002, he joined Vertigo Dance Company and later also danced in Yasmeen Godder’s troupe, among others in Strawberry Cream and Gunpowder (2004).
In 2005 Berg began choreographing jointly with Oded Graf. The two formed the Yossi Berg and Oded Graf Dance Theatre which performs and creates in Israel and worldwide, as well as choreographs for ballet troupes and opera houses around the world. Their joint works include Heroes (2006); 4Men, Alice, Bach and the Deer (2009); Animal Lost (2010); Bodyland (2013).

Berg won the Ministry of Culture’s Young Choreographer Award (2001, 2004, 2006) and Solo Performer Award (2003). Together with Graf, he won the Minister of Culture award in 2013, and choreography awards in various festivals around the world, including Spain, Germany, Poland, Denmark and the US.