★★★★ “an inventive and adventurous ride…original and evocative” – TimeOut (Forever & Ever)
Tickets from $45 – $100
Info, Dates & Prices
Date 29 August – 2 September
Location ACM Playhouse, Melbourne
Prices $45 – $100
Ascent co-commissioned by the Canberra Theatre Centre is an inspired triple bill featuring the reprise of Antony Hamilton’s Helpmann Award-winning Forever & Ever, and world premieres by renowned international choreographers Marina Mascarell and Rafael Bonachela.
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.
Performances
Tuesday 29 August, 7.30pm
Wednesday 30 August, 7.30pm
Thursday 31 August, 7.30pm
Friday 1 September, 7.30pm
Saturday 2 September, 2.00pm – (Audio Description available)
Saturday 2 September, 7.30pm
Our Ascent season offers a Live Audio Described performance and Tactile Tour on Saturday 2 September @ 2.00pm.
1.15pm – Tactile Tour (15-20 mins)
2pm – Audio Described Performance
Audio description and tactile tour services are to enhance the experience of customers who are blind or have low vision.
The audio description is a live commentary of the visual elements of a performance by trained audio describers, relayed via a free headset and receiver linked to the FM radio system within the venue.
The tactile tour is available prior to the performance. Patrons who are blind or have low vision will experience hands on access to some costumes, props and stage elements in order to capture the atmosphere of the work. Our Sydney Dance Company staff will relay the context of each piece and how it is used in the performance.
Book online, call 02 9221 4811 or email [email protected].
| Type | Premium / A Res | B Res |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | $100 / $89.00 | $65 |
| Concession | $100 / $79 | $55 |
| Under 30s | $100 / $69 | $45 |
| Groups (8 or more) 10% off Adult | $90 / $80.10 | $45 |
Follow @SydneyDanceCo #2023SDC and #SDCOnTour on Facebook and Instagram.
*Concession tickets are only valid for Australian Pensioners, Senior Card holders and Full-Time Students.
Authorised ticket sellers
The only authorised ticket seller for Annual Subscriptions is Sydney Dance Company.
The only authorised ticket sellers for Ascent Single Tickets are Sydney Dance Company, Sydney Opera House and Today Tix. Only tickets purchased by authorised agencies should be considered valid and reliable. In accordance with Terms and Conditions, Sydney Dance Company reserves the right to cancel tickets purchased from a Third Party Website (reseller) and the ticket holder may be refused admission to the event. For more information on purchasing tickets safely and securely, read Live Performance Australia’s Safe Tix Guide here.
School Matinee
School Matinee
The matinee performance on Wednesday 30 August will include a post-show panel discussion and Q&A with Company dancers, creatives and arts professionals giving an insight into the creative process of bringing the performance to life.
| Secondary (Grade 7 - 12) | Tickets - $30 | Wed 30 Aug, 2.00pm |
If you have any questions, please contact Sydney Dance Company at [email protected].
Creative Credits
Choreographer: Rafael Bonachela
Music: “Lonely angel”, meditation for violin and strings by Pēteris Vasks
Lighting Designer: Damien Cooper
Costume Designer: Rafael Bonachela
Costume Design Realisation: Aleisa Jelbart
Choreographer: Marina Mascarell
Composer: Nick Wales
Set & Costume Designers: Lauren Brincat and Leah Giblin
Lighting Designer: Damien Cooper
Choreographer: Antony Hamilton
Composer: Julian Hamilton
Costume Design: Paula Levis
Lighting Designer: Ben Cisterne
★★★★ “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
★★★★ “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
★★★★ “Bonachela’s choreographic response puts aside fear and goes for the loving touch as four dancers – Riley Fitzgerald, Madeline Harms, Naiara de Matos and Piran Scott – are joined by invisible forces, rarely separating as they glide, float and weave around one another.” – Limelight
“… (I Am-ness)… is extraordinarily lyrical, filled with unexpected movements across every area of the body, and composed of groupings that break up and then come together in different arrangements throughout the work. It was beautifully performed by Riley Fitzgerald, Madeline Harms, Piran Scott and Naiara de Matos.” – Dance Australia
★★★★ “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 offered a strikingly beautiful abstract staging involving acres of ropes and fabric manipulated by 9 dancers to create, what appeared to be, a storm at sea.” – Australian Arts Review
“…Mascarell’s gentle and patient choreography results in a dance work that is like watching a painting in motion.” – Dance Life
“Cleverly supported by Nick Wales’ superb score, the stage is a visual delight. There is a sense we are watching the sails of a whimsical ship. As the dancers pull and push the ropes, the silk banners rise and fall, creating visual magic.” – Fjord Review
★★★★ “…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
Info, Dates & Prices
Date 29 August – 2 September
Location ACM Playhouse, Melbourne
Prices $45 – $100
Ascent co-commissioned by the Canberra Theatre Centre is an inspired triple bill featuring the reprise of Antony Hamilton’s Helpmann Award-winning Forever & Ever, and world premieres by renowned international choreographers Marina Mascarell and Rafael Bonachela.
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.
Performances
Tuesday 29 August, 7.30pm
Wednesday 30 August, 7.30pm
Thursday 31 August, 7.30pm
Friday 1 September, 7.30pm
Saturday 2 September, 2.00pm – (Audio Description available)
Saturday 2 September, 7.30pm
Our Ascent season offers a Live Audio Described performance and Tactile Tour on Saturday 2 September @ 2.00pm.
1.15pm – Tactile Tour (15-20 mins)
2pm – Audio Described Performance
Audio description and tactile tour services are to enhance the experience of customers who are blind or have low vision.
The audio description is a live commentary of the visual elements of a performance by trained audio describers, relayed via a free headset and receiver linked to the FM radio system within the venue.
The tactile tour is available prior to the performance. Patrons who are blind or have low vision will experience hands on access to some costumes, props and stage elements in order to capture the atmosphere of the work. Our Sydney Dance Company staff will relay the context of each piece and how it is used in the performance.
Book online, call 02 9221 4811 or email [email protected].
| Type: | Adult |
| Premium / A Res: | $100 / $89.00 |
| B Res: | $65 |
| Type: | Concession |
| Premium / A Res: | $100 / $79 |
| B Res: | $55 |
| Type: | Under 30s |
| Premium / A Res: | $100 / $69 |
| B Res: | $45 |
| Type: | Groups (8 or more) 10% off Adult |
| Premium / A Res: | $90 / $80.10 |
| B Res: | $45 |
Follow @SydneyDanceCo #2023SDC and #SDCOnTour on Facebook and Instagram.
*Concession tickets are only valid for Australian Pensioners, Senior Card holders and Full-Time Students.
Authorised ticket sellers
The only authorised ticket seller for Annual Subscriptions is Sydney Dance Company.
The only authorised ticket sellers for Ascent Single Tickets are Sydney Dance Company, Sydney Opera House and Today Tix. Only tickets purchased by authorised agencies should be considered valid and reliable. In accordance with Terms and Conditions, Sydney Dance Company reserves the right to cancel tickets purchased from a Third Party Website (reseller) and the ticket holder may be refused admission to the event. For more information on purchasing tickets safely and securely, read Live Performance Australia’s Safe Tix Guide here.
School Matinee
School Matinee
The matinee performance on Wednesday 30 August will include a post-show panel discussion and Q&A with Company dancers, creatives and arts professionals giving an insight into the creative process of bringing the performance to life.
| Secondary (Grade 7 - 12) |
| Tickets - $30 |
| Wed 30 Aug, 2.00pm |
If you have any questions, please contact Sydney Dance Company at [email protected].
Creative Credits
Choreographer: Rafael Bonachela
Music: “Lonely angel”, meditation for violin and strings by Pēteris Vasks
Lighting Designer: Damien Cooper
Costume Designer: Rafael Bonachela
Costume Design Realisation: Aleisa Jelbart
Choreographer: Marina Mascarell
Composer: Nick Wales
Set & Costume Designers: Lauren Brincat and Leah Giblin
Lighting Designer: Damien Cooper
Choreographer: Antony Hamilton
Composer: Julian Hamilton
Costume Design: Paula Levis
Lighting Designer: Ben Cisterne
Media
★★★★ “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
★★★★ “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
★★★★ “Bonachela’s choreographic response puts aside fear and goes for the loving touch as four dancers – Riley Fitzgerald, Madeline Harms, Naiara de Matos and Piran Scott – are joined by invisible forces, rarely separating as they glide, float and weave around one another.” – Limelight
“… (I Am-ness)… is extraordinarily lyrical, filled with unexpected movements across every area of the body, and composed of groupings that break up and then come together in different arrangements throughout the work. It was beautifully performed by Riley Fitzgerald, Madeline Harms, Piran Scott and Naiara de Matos.” – Dance Australia
★★★★ “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 offered a strikingly beautiful abstract staging involving acres of ropes and fabric manipulated by 9 dancers to create, what appeared to be, a storm at sea.” – Australian Arts Review
“…Mascarell’s gentle and patient choreography results in a dance work that is like watching a painting in motion.” – Dance Life
“Cleverly supported by Nick Wales’ superb score, the stage is a visual delight. There is a sense we are watching the sails of a whimsical ship. As the dancers pull and push the ropes, the silk banners rise and fall, creating visual magic.” – Fjord Review
★★★★ “…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
Featuring works
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