Dance Australia’s Critics’ Choice Survey 2018

Dance Australia asked key dance critics from around the country to nominate their top picks for 2018. A massive congratulations to everyone for their incredible achievements. Here are the 2018 Sydney Dance Company mentions:

Best new work

“Antony Hamilton’s Forever & Ever for Sydney Dance Company – a wild ride from pure postmodern intellectualism to surrealism, hip-hop, and absurd theatrics, with a brilliantly clever score by Julian Hamilton, multiple costume designs by Paula Levis and wild, gorgeous lighting by Benjamin Cisterne” – Lee Christofis (Australian Book Review)

Most significant dance event

“ab [intra] focused on the large ensemble dynamic, rather than particular dancers. Seeing the full companies… all on stage for such long durations and so brilliant at working en masse resonated as dance in its most core and primal form” – Stephanie Glickman (Herald Sun)

Most outstanding dancer

“Izzac Carroll and Jesse Scales – ab [intra]; Sydney Dance Company – each so strong” – Lesley Graham (The Mercury)

Most significant dance event

“Ten years since Rafael Bonachela choreographed his first new work on Sydney Dance Company (360° in 2008). As artistic director his style has come to shape and define the company itself in recent years.” – Geraldine Higginson (Dance Australia)

Best new work

“A tie between Rafael Bonachela’s ab [intra] (SDC) and Janessa Dufty’s Telopea (SDC’s New Breed program)” – Geraldine Higginson (Dance Australia)

Most outstanding dancer

“Ariella Casu (SDC) has been a standout across a range of works this year” – Geraldine Higginson (Dance Australia)

Encore please!

“Congratulations to SDC’s New Breed program, now in its fifth year, which gives company dancers and emerging choreographers the chance to create short new works” – Geraldine Higginson (Dance Australia)

Highlight of the year

“In 2018 female choreographers were given more opportunities to shine… Sydney Dance Company chose only female choreographers for the company’s annual New Breed season” – Valerie Lawson (dancelines.com.au; dancetabs.com)

Most interesting Australian independent group or artist

“Gabrielle Nankivell, dancer, choreographer, teacher” –  Valerie Lawson (dancelines.com.au; dancetabs.com)

Dancer to watch

“Davide Di Giovanni, Sydney Dance Company” –  Valerie Lawson (dancelines.com.au; dancetabs.com) 

Best new work

“Rafael Bonachela’s ab [intra] for Sydney Dance Company” – Jill Sykes (Sydney Morning Herald)

Most outstanding dancer

“The inseparable partnership of Charmene Yap and Davide Di Giovanni in ab [intra] for Sydney Dance Company” – Jill Sykes (Sydney Morning Herald)

Dancer to watch

“Jesse Scales in Antony Hamilton’s Forever & Ever, Sydney Dance Company” –  Jill Sykes (Sydney Morning Herald)

Most interesting Australian independent group or artist

Gabrielle Nankivell – Maggie Tonkin (Dance Australia)

View the full list at Dance Australia.