“★★★★ Bold… impressive athleticism and energy… has to be seen to be believed.” – Sydney Morning Herald
Overview
Dates & Locations
2024
Dates 14 March – 27 April
Locations
Spain, UK, USA
In 2024, Sydney Dance Company’s ensemble of “awe-inspiring” (In Daily) dancers will tour across Europe, the UK and USA. From the Royal Opera House in London to the Kennedy Centre in Washington, we are thrilled to be bringing our repertoire of works to international audiences.
| Date/s | Venue | Location | Work/s | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 - 16 March | Mercat de les Flors | Barcelona, Spain | Ascent | |
| 19 - 20 March | Mercat de les Flors | Barcelona, Spain | Impermanence | |
| 25 - 28 March | Royal Opera House | London,UK | Ascent | |
| 5 - 6 April | Belgrade Dance Festival | Belgrade, Serbia | ab [intra] | |
| 10 April | Whitebird | Portland, Oregon, USA | ab [intra] | |
| 16 - 21 April | The Joyce | New York City, New York, USA | ab [intra] | |
| 25 – 27 April | Kennedy Center | Washington DC, USA | Impermanence |
Works & Creatives
★★★★ “contemporary dance at its most evocative and beautiful” (Time Out)
Rafael Bonachela’s ab [intra], ‘from within’ in Latin, is ‘dazzling, electrifying, heartfelt’ (Limelight).
Exploring our primal instincts, our impulses and our visceral responses, ab [intra] is a journey through the intensity of human existence that will command your attention.
The music fuses lush cello with ambient electronica and the exquisite dancers occupy a visually arresting ethereal world.
This is a ferociously physical and emotional piece which will stay with you long after you leave the theatre.
Choreography: Rafael Bonachela
Music: Original score by Nick Wales featuring Klātbūtne by Pēteris Vasks*
Lighting design: Damien Cooper
Set and Costume design: David Fleischer
*Original compositions for ab [intra] by Nick Wales. Additional Music from Klatbune by Peteris Vasks, with permission of Hal Leonard Australia Pty Ltd, exclusive agents for Schott Music Ltd of Mainz.
★★★★ “Dance moves for the end of the world… Choreographer Rafael Bonachela sets his excellent dancers on a whirling, bounding trajectory…” – The Sydney Morning Herald
A visceral and thrilling exploration of the juxtaposition of beauty and devastation, this full-length work features a new score full of emotional power from Grammy Award-winning composer Bryce Dessner.
Best known as a founder of American rock band The National and for his film scores for The Revenant and The Two Popes, Dessner was initially inspired by the tragedy of the Australian bush fires and the Notre-Dame fire in Paris. Sydney Dance Company’s “awe-inspiring” (In Daily) ensemble is joined live on stage by the Australian String Quartet. This is epic, driven performance that packs an emotional punch.
Experience the power of dance and music performed live together, laden with meaning, fleeting and vulnerable, and from devastation find energy, urgency, radiance and hope.
Choreographer: Rafael Bonachela
Composer: Bryce Dessner
Original Music Performed By: Australian String Quartet
Music Features: Another World by Anohni
Lighting Designer: Damien Cooper
Stage Designer: David Fleischer
Costume Designer: Aleisa Jelbart
Forever & Ever is a world premiere which “lays siege to the senses with a mighty display of shock and awe.” (The Australian). Set to a sonically stimulating score by The Presets’ Julian Hamilton, Forever & Ever fuses together a killer mix of dance, techno, high fashion and vivid lighting to hypnotic effect. Exploring ideas of order, chaos, popular culture and human behaviour, this boundary-pushing work is a bold and thrilling theatrical experience.
Choreographer: Antony Hamilton
Composer: Julian Hamilton
Costume Designer: Paula Levis
Lighting Designer: Ben Cisterne
Ascent, co-commissioned by Canberra Theatre Centre, is an inspired triple bill featuring the reprise of Antony Hamilton‘s Helpmann Award-winning Forever & Ever and two new works – I Am-ness by Artistic Director Rafael Bonachela and The Shell, A Ghost, The Host & The Lyrebird by renowned international choreographer Marina Mascarell.
Brimming with physicality, Ascent tempers contemporary classical with futuristic experimentation. Full of electric movement and emotional force, Ascent is an arresting portrait of contemporary dance and its potential to move, excite and activate audiences.
Brought to life by Sydney Dance Company’s superb ensemble, this triple bill is complete with inventive installations and magnetic musical scores.
I Am-ness
Choreographer: Rafael Bonachela
Music: “Lonely angel”, meditation for violin and strings by Pēteris Vasks
Lighting Designer: Damien Cooper
Costume Designer: Rafael Bonachela
The Shell, A Ghost, The Host & The Lyrebird
Choreographer: Marina Mascarell
Composer: Nick Wales
Set & Costume Designers: Lauren Brincat and Leah Giblin
Lighting Designer: Damien Cooper
Forever & Ever
Choreographer: Antony Hamilton
Composer: Julian Hamilton
Costume Designer: Paula Levis
Lighting Designer: Ben Cisterne
Media Reviews
“★★★★ Bold… impressive athleticism and energy… has to be seen to be believed.” – The Sydney Morning Herald
“★★★★ This is contemporary dance at its most evocative and beautiful…moments of sheer wonderment and unexpected emotional catharsis.” – Time Out
“★★★★½ A dazzling, electrifying, heartfelt work. Highly recommended.” – Limelight
“★★★★½ The energy on stage is electrifying. The dancers display astonishing power and precision…ab [intra] is an impressive piece and clearly places the Sydney Dance Company as a leader in creating and performing new work.” – Arts Hub
★★★★ “Dance moves for the end of the world… Choreographer Rafael Bonachela sets his excellent dancers on a whirling, bounding trajectory that sustains them in duets, trios and interestingly constructed ensembles…” – The Sydney Morning Herald
★★★★ 1/2 “A hypnotically beautiful work, stunningly performed by the Company’s 17 dancers to music that is visceral and moving” – Limelight
“Extraordinary… Form and function meet seamlessly in every aspect — Bonachela’s huge, fast, juicy movement, Damien Cooper’s luscious lighting, David Fleischer’s imposing stage design and Aleisa Jelbart’s nature-inspired costumes, all in the tight embrace of Dessner’s score.” – The Australian
★★★★ “…the visually arresting aesthetic – a stark white set like a photoshoot, bold block-coloured costumes, strobes, and that unforgiving loop soundtrack – makes you feel like you’ve stumbled into a music video.” – Sydney Morning Herald
★★★★ “Hamilton’s background in commercial dance is a strength for this vision, with the choreography intensifying to a pounding, in-your-face rhythmic complexity before the rave-inspired laser-light finale.” – Sydney Morning Herald
★★★★ “Hamilton’s super-precise, high-definition choreography captures the cool of pop-culture along with its blank-faced conformity.” – Limelight
“aggressive, startling and completely mesmerising” (Forever & Ever) – Australian Arts Review
“… Hamilton’s engrossing Forever & Ever… extraordinary” – Dance Australia
Ascent Reviews:
★★★★ “poignant choreography… a must-watch for the curious.” – Sydney Morning Herald
“an evening of challenging, perfectly executed and deeply satisfying contemporary dance” – Australian Arts Review
“Bold, emotive and visceral, Ascent is a must-see for lovers of dance.” – Arts Hub
“Ascent is a sumptuous combination of choreography, music, movement, and light. Joyous and engaging, Bonachela has brought together three diverging contemporary pieces that showcase the immense depth of talent at Sydney Dance Company. A must see.” – Fjord Review
“Make no mistake, this is a serious contemporary dance company with highly trained, versatile dancers that deserves a place on the world stage. Do not miss the chance to see this accomplished company that will no doubt take the world by storm.” – The Wonderful World of Dance
I Am-ness – Rafael Bonachela
★★★★ “The dancers break apart then come together in Bonachela’s signature waves of sinuous movement, their relationships always in flux.” – Sydney Morning Herald
★★★★ “15 minutes of bodies, light and music connecting in quiet harmony” – Limelight
The Shell, A Ghost, The Host & The Lyrebird – Marina Mascarell
★★★★ “This is Mascarell’s first Australian production, and her choreography is a novel treat: organic, inventive, and teetering on that whimsical border between humanoid, animal, and inert. A must-watch for the curious.” – Sydney Morning Herald
★★★★ “Seven dancers pull on ropes and manipulate the fabric, bringing to mind at different stages sailors on an ancient ship, campers in the wilderness and perhaps survivors somewhere on a distant planet.” – Limelight
“…Mascarell’s gentle and patient choreography results in a dance work that is like watching a painting in motion.” – Dance Life
Forever & Ever – Antony Hamilton
★★★★ “…the visually arresting aesthetic – a stark white set like a photoshoot, bold block-coloured costumes, strobes, and that unforgiving loop soundtrack – makes you feel like you’ve stumbled into a music video.” – Sydney Morning Herald
★★★★ “Hamilton’s background in commercial dance is a strength for this vision, with the choreography intensifying to a pounding, in-your-face rhythmic complexity before the rave-inspired laser-light finale.” – Sydney Morning Herald
★★★★ “Hamilton’s super-precise, high-definition choreography captures the cool of pop-culture along with its blank-faced conformity.” – Limelight
Overview
Dates & Locations
2024
Dates 14 March – 27 April
Locations
Spain, UK, USA
In 2024, Sydney Dance Company’s ensemble of “awe-inspiring” (In Daily) dancers will tour across Europe, the UK and USA. From the Royal Opera House in London to the Kennedy Centre in Washington, we are thrilled to be bringing our repertoire of works to international audiences.
| Date/s: | 14 - 16 March |
| Venue: | Mercat de les Flors |
| Location: | Barcelona, Spain |
| Work/s: | Ascent |
| Date/s: | 19 - 20 March |
| Venue: | Mercat de les Flors |
| Location: | Barcelona, Spain |
| Work/s: | Impermanence |
| Date/s: | 25 - 28 March |
| Venue: | Royal Opera House |
| Location: | London,UK |
| Work/s: | Ascent |
| Date/s: | 5 - 6 April |
| Venue: | Belgrade Dance Festival |
| Location: | Belgrade, Serbia |
| Work/s: | ab [intra] |
| Date/s: | 10 April |
| Venue: | Whitebird |
| Location: | Portland, Oregon, USA |
| Work/s: | ab [intra] |
| Date/s: | 16 - 21 April |
| Venue: | The Joyce |
| Location: | New York City, New York, USA |
| Work/s: | ab [intra] |
| Date/s: | 25 – 27 April |
| Venue: | Kennedy Center |
| Location: | Washington DC, USA |
| Work/s: | Impermanence |
Works & Creatives
★★★★ “contemporary dance at its most evocative and beautiful” (Time Out)
Rafael Bonachela’s ab [intra], ‘from within’ in Latin, is ‘dazzling, electrifying, heartfelt’ (Limelight).
Exploring our primal instincts, our impulses and our visceral responses, ab [intra] is a journey through the intensity of human existence that will command your attention.
The music fuses lush cello with ambient electronica and the exquisite dancers occupy a visually arresting ethereal world.
This is a ferociously physical and emotional piece which will stay with you long after you leave the theatre.
Choreography: Rafael Bonachela
Music: Original score by Nick Wales featuring Klātbūtne by Pēteris Vasks*
Lighting design: Damien Cooper
Set and Costume design: David Fleischer
*Original compositions for ab [intra] by Nick Wales. Additional Music from Klatbune by Peteris Vasks, with permission of Hal Leonard Australia Pty Ltd, exclusive agents for Schott Music Ltd of Mainz.
★★★★ “Dance moves for the end of the world… Choreographer Rafael Bonachela sets his excellent dancers on a whirling, bounding trajectory…” – The Sydney Morning Herald
A visceral and thrilling exploration of the juxtaposition of beauty and devastation, this full-length work features a new score full of emotional power from Grammy Award-winning composer Bryce Dessner.
Best known as a founder of American rock band The National and for his film scores for The Revenant and The Two Popes, Dessner was initially inspired by the tragedy of the Australian bush fires and the Notre-Dame fire in Paris. Sydney Dance Company’s “awe-inspiring” (In Daily) ensemble is joined live on stage by the Australian String Quartet. This is epic, driven performance that packs an emotional punch.
Experience the power of dance and music performed live together, laden with meaning, fleeting and vulnerable, and from devastation find energy, urgency, radiance and hope.
Choreographer: Rafael Bonachela
Composer: Bryce Dessner
Original Music Performed By: Australian String Quartet
Music Features: Another World by Anohni
Lighting Designer: Damien Cooper
Stage Designer: David Fleischer
Costume Designer: Aleisa Jelbart
Forever & Ever is a world premiere which “lays siege to the senses with a mighty display of shock and awe.” (The Australian). Set to a sonically stimulating score by The Presets’ Julian Hamilton, Forever & Ever fuses together a killer mix of dance, techno, high fashion and vivid lighting to hypnotic effect. Exploring ideas of order, chaos, popular culture and human behaviour, this boundary-pushing work is a bold and thrilling theatrical experience.
Choreographer: Antony Hamilton
Composer: Julian Hamilton
Costume Designer: Paula Levis
Lighting Designer: Ben Cisterne
Ascent, co-commissioned by Canberra Theatre Centre, is an inspired triple bill featuring the reprise of Antony Hamilton‘s Helpmann Award-winning Forever & Ever and two new works – I Am-ness by Artistic Director Rafael Bonachela and The Shell, A Ghost, The Host & The Lyrebird by renowned international choreographer Marina Mascarell.
Brimming with physicality, Ascent tempers contemporary classical with futuristic experimentation. Full of electric movement and emotional force, Ascent is an arresting portrait of contemporary dance and its potential to move, excite and activate audiences.
Brought to life by Sydney Dance Company’s superb ensemble, this triple bill is complete with inventive installations and magnetic musical scores.
I Am-ness
Choreographer: Rafael Bonachela
Music: “Lonely angel”, meditation for violin and strings by Pēteris Vasks
Lighting Designer: Damien Cooper
Costume Designer: Rafael Bonachela
The Shell, A Ghost, The Host & The Lyrebird
Choreographer: Marina Mascarell
Composer: Nick Wales
Set & Costume Designers: Lauren Brincat and Leah Giblin
Lighting Designer: Damien Cooper
Forever & Ever
Choreographer: Antony Hamilton
Composer: Julian Hamilton
Costume Designer: Paula Levis
Lighting Designer: Ben Cisterne
Media Reviews
“★★★★ Bold… impressive athleticism and energy… has to be seen to be believed.” – The Sydney Morning Herald
“★★★★ This is contemporary dance at its most evocative and beautiful…moments of sheer wonderment and unexpected emotional catharsis.” – Time Out
“★★★★½ A dazzling, electrifying, heartfelt work. Highly recommended.” – Limelight
“★★★★½ The energy on stage is electrifying. The dancers display astonishing power and precision…ab [intra] is an impressive piece and clearly places the Sydney Dance Company as a leader in creating and performing new work.” – Arts Hub
★★★★ “Dance moves for the end of the world… Choreographer Rafael Bonachela sets his excellent dancers on a whirling, bounding trajectory that sustains them in duets, trios and interestingly constructed ensembles…” – The Sydney Morning Herald
★★★★ 1/2 “A hypnotically beautiful work, stunningly performed by the Company’s 17 dancers to music that is visceral and moving” – Limelight
“Extraordinary… Form and function meet seamlessly in every aspect — Bonachela’s huge, fast, juicy movement, Damien Cooper’s luscious lighting, David Fleischer’s imposing stage design and Aleisa Jelbart’s nature-inspired costumes, all in the tight embrace of Dessner’s score.” – The Australian
★★★★ “…the visually arresting aesthetic – a stark white set like a photoshoot, bold block-coloured costumes, strobes, and that unforgiving loop soundtrack – makes you feel like you’ve stumbled into a music video.” – Sydney Morning Herald
★★★★ “Hamilton’s background in commercial dance is a strength for this vision, with the choreography intensifying to a pounding, in-your-face rhythmic complexity before the rave-inspired laser-light finale.” – Sydney Morning Herald
★★★★ “Hamilton’s super-precise, high-definition choreography captures the cool of pop-culture along with its blank-faced conformity.” – Limelight
“aggressive, startling and completely mesmerising” (Forever & Ever) – Australian Arts Review
“… Hamilton’s engrossing Forever & Ever… extraordinary” – Dance Australia
Ascent Reviews:
★★★★ “poignant choreography… a must-watch for the curious.” – Sydney Morning Herald
“an evening of challenging, perfectly executed and deeply satisfying contemporary dance” – Australian Arts Review
“Bold, emotive and visceral, Ascent is a must-see for lovers of dance.” – Arts Hub
“Ascent is a sumptuous combination of choreography, music, movement, and light. Joyous and engaging, Bonachela has brought together three diverging contemporary pieces that showcase the immense depth of talent at Sydney Dance Company. A must see.” – Fjord Review
“Make no mistake, this is a serious contemporary dance company with highly trained, versatile dancers that deserves a place on the world stage. Do not miss the chance to see this accomplished company that will no doubt take the world by storm.” – The Wonderful World of Dance
I Am-ness – Rafael Bonachela
★★★★ “The dancers break apart then come together in Bonachela’s signature waves of sinuous movement, their relationships always in flux.” – Sydney Morning Herald
★★★★ “15 minutes of bodies, light and music connecting in quiet harmony” – Limelight
The Shell, A Ghost, The Host & The Lyrebird – Marina Mascarell
★★★★ “This is Mascarell’s first Australian production, and her choreography is a novel treat: organic, inventive, and teetering on that whimsical border between humanoid, animal, and inert. A must-watch for the curious.” – Sydney Morning Herald
★★★★ “Seven dancers pull on ropes and manipulate the fabric, bringing to mind at different stages sailors on an ancient ship, campers in the wilderness and perhaps survivors somewhere on a distant planet.” – Limelight
“…Mascarell’s gentle and patient choreography results in a dance work that is like watching a painting in motion.” – Dance Life
Forever & Ever – Antony Hamilton
★★★★ “…the visually arresting aesthetic – a stark white set like a photoshoot, bold block-coloured costumes, strobes, and that unforgiving loop soundtrack – makes you feel like you’ve stumbled into a music video.” – Sydney Morning Herald
★★★★ “Hamilton’s background in commercial dance is a strength for this vision, with the choreography intensifying to a pounding, in-your-face rhythmic complexity before the rave-inspired laser-light finale.” – Sydney Morning Herald
★★★★ “Hamilton’s super-precise, high-definition choreography captures the cool of pop-culture along with its blank-faced conformity.” – Limelight
Featuring works
ab [intra]
Choreography
Rafael Bonachela
Duration
70 mins
First performed
2018
I Am-Ness
Choreography
Rafael Bonachela
Duration
15 mins
First performed
15 March 2023
The Shell, A Ghost, The Host & The Lyrebird
Choreography
Marina Mascarell
Duration
26 mins
First performed
15 March 2023
Forever & Ever
Choreography
Antony Hamilton
Duration
36 mins
First performed
2018
Impermanence
Choreography
Rafael Bonachela
Duration
65 mins
First performed
2021
