When the Body Forgets How to Think & Movement Becomes Liberation
A movement language without predetermined steps and without fear of embarrassment: Gaga invites you to rediscover your own body and surrender to the
present moment.
At some point—perhaps after forty minutes—the mirror disappears. Not in the literal sense, since there are no mirrors in the light-filled yoga pavilion anyway. Rather, it is that inner mirror that ceaselessly monitors how we look, how we come across, and whether our movements meet the supposed expectations of others that disappears.
Movement Beyond Right and Wrong
The heart beats faster, the skin grows warm, and the body begins to move in a way that is neither rehearsed nor planned. Free, uninhibited, and entirely unique. Gaga is the revolutionary movement language of Israeli choreographer Ohad Naharin, the long-time artistic director of the world-famous Batsheva Dance Company. For professional dancers, Gaga is a daily training regimen that is as demanding as it is precise. With Gaga, Naharin also developed a format that is explicitly open to everyone—regardless of age, dance experience, flexibility, or physical fitness. The idea is as simple as it is liberating: there are no step sequences to memorize and no “wrong” movements to avoid.
Source: Thomas Straub
August 9–18, 2026: Gaga Classes & November 5–8, 2026: Gaga Weekend
Instead, the teacher guides you through a continuous flow of movement using visual cues. Under the guidance of world-class teachers like Saar Harari (artistic director of Gaga), you move continuously for an hour, shifting from subtle inner vibrations to explosive, joyful dance that fills the entire room. Perhaps you’ll imagine your bones floating weightlessly in water. Perhaps the space between your joints will suddenly feel wider. Or an unexpected sense of speed will spread from your spine to your fingertips. You’ll be invited to move parts of your body you didn’t even know you had. Your body doesn’t follow any external form, but rather your own perception.
Gaga heightens awareness of sensations, expands the range of motion, and can release tension that has often built up in the body without us noticing. The focus is not on what a movement looks like, but on how it feels.
Between Inner Movement and Alpine Vastness
A day at a Gaga retreat at Schloss Elmau combines an intense physical experience with tranquility, nature, and lavish comfort. In the morning, class begins in the pavilion. Through the large windows, you can see the majestic limestone formations of the Wetterstein Mountains. Under the guidance of internationally renowned teachers such as Saar Harari, Gaga’s Artistic Director, the body remains in motion for an hour.
Barely perceptible internal vibrations give rise to flowing movements, and small impulses create surprising dynamism—until the energy finally unfolds throughout the entire space in wide, joyful leaps.
Source: Thomas Straub
March 14–18 | Gaga in the Alps with Ohad Naharin
After that, the extraordinary spa awaits
You can float in the warm rooftop infinity pool at the Shantigiri Spa, enjoy the warmth and tranquility of the oriental hammam, or take a dip in the crystal-clear waters of the Ferchenbach.
Opposites go hand in hand: effort and ease, concentration and letting go, alpine clarity and physical warmth. That is precisely what gives these days their special intensity.
NEW DATES
Gaga Classes & Gaga Weekend at Schloss Elmau
The upcoming Gaga class, led by Artistic Director Saar Harari, will take place from August 9 to 18, 2026, and the Gaga Weekend from November 5 to 8, 2026. The next Gaga in the Alps Retreat with Ohad Naharin is scheduled for March 14–18, 2027.
Good to know:
The classes are open to all participants ages 16 and older. No prior dance experience, special coordination skills, or athletic background is required. All you need is a willingness to move and an openness to listen to your own body.
Language: All Gaga classes are held in English.
