ZVI GOTHEINER was born and raised in Israel. He began his artistic career as a gifted violinist with the Young Kibbutzim Orchestra, where he attained the rank of soloist and Concertmaster at age 15. He began dancing at 17, and soon after formed his first performance group.

He first came to New York in 1978 on a dance scholarship from the American-Israeli Cultural Foundation, and went on to dance with the Joyce Trisler Dance Company, Feld Ballets/NY, and the Bat-Sheva Dance Company. After directing Tamar Ramle, and the Jerusalem Tamar Dance Companies, in Israel and the Israeli Chamber Dance Company in New York, he founded Zvi Gotheiner & Dancers in 1989. The Company's performances have received critical acclaim in New York City at The Kitchen, The Joyce Theater, Joyce Soho, The Fiorello Festival, Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors, and Central Park's SummerStage, as well as a variety of experimental venues.

Zvi is a recipient of a New York Foundation for the Arts choreography fellowship and The National Arts Club Weiselberg Award, and has received commissions from Zurich Tanz Theater, Utah's Repertory Dance Theater, Colloquium Contemporary Dance Exchange, the American Dance Festival, and twice by The Joyce Theater's Altogether Different series.

Zvi has earned an exceptional reputation as a teacher across the country, in Europe, Asia, and Latin America. In New York, he serves as a company teacher for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and teaches regularly at City Center.