Born and raised in Los Angeles, Barak is the son of acclaimed dancer, choreographer and musician Margalit Oved. Since his accidental entrance into dance in 1995, Barak established himself as one of Israel’s most innovative voices. His first work, Aunt Leah, won first prize at the Suzanne Dellal Centre’s Shades of Dance Competition. In 1998, his work Emma Goldman’s Wedding was invited to the Bagnolet International Competition in Paris where it swept the awards--winning 1st prize, the Prix d’Auteur as well as the Bonnie Byrd and ADAMI Awards. His company went on to tour extensively throughout Europe, including performances at Lyon’s Bienale de la Danse, Paris’ Theatre de la Bastille and Berlin’s Haus der Kulturen der Welt.
In 1999, Barak was appointed by Ohad Naharin as the Batsheva Dance Company’s first-ever house choreographer; he created several works for both the junior and senior companies before severely breaking his leg in 2001 and leaving dance. In 2008, the Suzanne Dellal Centre commissioned Barak to created Monger—his first work in seven years which was met with critical acclaim. In 2009 Barak was co-commissioned by Suzanne Dellal and the Israeli Opera to create Rooster, a work for twelve dancers, an opera singer and Margalit Oved. Both works have toured throughout Israel, Europe, Asia and the United States including performances at Montpellier Danse, Lyon’s Maison de la Danse, Dance Umbrella UK, the Sibiu Festival, Jacob’s Pillow, Switzerland’s STEPS Festival, Belgrade Dance Festival China, Spain, Romania, Italy, Yugoslavia, Croatia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and South Korea.
Barak’s latest work, Wonderland, commissioned by the Suzanne Dellal Centre, premiered this past December. This year Barak has been commissioned to create several new works this year including a new piece for Ballet Jazz de Montreal and the Los Angeles based BODYTRAFFIC Dance Company.
Barak is also a singer of Middle Eastern and classical music and has performed as a soloist with Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Project. This year his work received first prize at the Joyce Foundation’s A.W.A.R.D. Show held inLos Angeles. He is the recipient of a Creative Capital Grant for a new music production with Margalit Oved and Tamir Muskat of the Balkan Beat Box. Barak studied social theory and philosophy at Harvard University.
