Mr Galili subsequently worked with two well-known Israeli troupes, the Bat-Dor and Batsheva Dance companies.

ECONOMIST: Contemporary dance

Ten years ago, Mr Galili moved from Amsterdam to the northern town of Groningen.

ECONOMIST: Contemporary dance

One measure of Galili Dance's status is the number of young hopefuls who want to join.

ECONOMIST: Contemporary dance

Mr Galili knew nothing about dance until he was in his early 20s.

ECONOMIST: Contemporary dance

Yet once or, at most, twice a year, Mr Galili sees between 350 and 500 applicants over three days each time.

ECONOMIST: Contemporary dance

At the last moment one dancer was unable to get a visa, forcing Mr Galili to rearrange the piece days before its debut.

ECONOMIST: A jubilant Cuban dance company returns to Britain

Then, in one of the more bizarre twists in this itinerant choreographer's tale, Mr Galili learnt how to cut and shape poodles' hair for rich poodle-owners.

ECONOMIST: Contemporary dance

In Groningen, though, Mr Galili is dance's top dog.

ECONOMIST: Contemporary dance

He and two other siblings were fostered by three different families, and Mr Galili recalls with evident pain that he grew up in 17 different places between the ages of five and 18.

ECONOMIST: Contemporary dance

Small, for Mr Galili, is clearly beautiful.

ECONOMIST: Contemporary dance

Mr Galili got the job.

ECONOMIST: Contemporary dance