Hofesh Shechter started dancing at school in his native Israel. 'I didn't even know what a choreographer was. I joined the professional youth folk-dancing company first, then other companies. Three years ago I took time off and began choreographing.'

Today he's tipped as the hottest thing in contemporary dance. Critics have called his latest work, In Your Rooms, 'probably the most important new dance work to be created in Britain since the millennium'.

He came to England six years ago. 'London was a shock. There are opportunities and possibilities here, but it's hard to find them. Nobody's exactly waiting for you to arrive.'

His work is certainly diverse: he's choreographed the opening scene of the second series of TV show Skins and the new stage production of Saint Joan at the National Theatre. 'Both were very cool. It was challenging working with non-dancers.'

For Shechter, suffering from choreographer's block is actually inspiring. 'Without dealing with blocks, pieces would be beautiful but boring. Difficult moments are interesting and shouldn't be avoided.'

· Emma Love In Your Rooms is on at Sadler's Wells on 28 and 29 September (sadlerswells.com)