This masterclass offers a focused introduction to Emanuel Gat’s decentralized approach to choreography, developed over more than 30 years of creative research and practice. Facilitated by long-term collaborator Michael Loehr, the workshop provides direct access to both the mechanics and the philosophy that underpin this distinctive methodology.

At its core, the decentralized approach redefines the role of the dancer. Rather than transmitting set material or fixed forms, the process is based on presenting structured compositional “problems” and training dancers in problem-solving. As Emanuel Gat describes it: “To put it in the simplest manner, what I do as a choreographer is present a series of problems to the dancers, and then coach and train them in problem-solving — everything that has to do with analyzing situations, understanding potentials, decision-making, cause and effect, responsibility, and accountability.”

Over 3 days, participants will work with compositional systems and real-time decision-making frameworks that generate choreography through interaction rather than central control. Through practical studio processes, dancers will develop tools for analyzing situations, recognizing potential, making clear decisions, and understanding the consequences of their actions within a collective structure.