Sharon Eyal received the Olivier Award for Best New Dance Production for Into the Hairy, a work that sharpens her distinct voice in contemporary choreography. Presented at Sadler’s Wells, the piece emerged as one of the year’s most arresting performances—charged with emotional intensity and physical precision.
Marking its 50th edition, the Olivier Awards 2026 honoured innovation across theatre and dance, with Into the Hairy standing out for its concentrated force and sensorial clarity. Created with Gai Behar for S-E-D Dance Company, the 45-minute work unfolds without interruption, carried by eight dancers who articulate solitude, desire, and connection through a language that is at once exacting and instinctive.
Inside ‘Into the Hairy’: a language of emotion and physicality
The choreography moves between repetition and fracture, restraint and release, drawing the body into a field of heightened sensation. Koreless’s pulsating score acts as an internal rhythm, while costumes by Maria Grazia Chiuri for Dior lend a sculptural presence. Lighting by Alon Cohen sculpts the stage into a shifting psychological terrain.
Rather than relying on narrative, the work distils emotion into movement, inviting a collective yet deeply intimate experience. In an age shaped by digital mediation, Eyal’s choreography insists on the immediacy of the body—its fragility, endurance, and expressive charge—securing her place at the forefront of contemporary dance.
Don’t miss our new issue! Inside, you’ll find an in-depth interview with Sharon Eyal, which will give you a glimpse into her enigmatic and captivating world.
