Schools

School Matinees

“Dance brings people together. Beyond the language we speak, beyond where we come from around the world, we all understand the body.” Rafael Bonachela

Our tailored school matinees connect students with cutting-edge contemporary dance performances.

With pre-show talks and demonstrations, students will be offered insights into our artists’ creative processes. Students will engage in a post-show panel discussion and Q&A with Company dancers, creatives and arts professionals, developing a deeper understanding of the process of bringing a performance to life and the career pathways available within the performing arts industry.

School Matinees
2025 Secondary School Matinees
Somos Sydney Dance Company, Neilson Studio Wednesday 2 April, 2025 11.00am
Somos Sydney Dance Company, Neilson Studio Thursday 3 April, 2025 11.00am
ContinuumRoslyn Packer Theatre, Walsh Bay Thursday 30 October, 2025 12.00pm
2025 Primary School Matinee
ContinuumRoslyn Packer Theatre, Walsh Bay Tuesday 28 October, 2025 12.00pm
2025 Relaxed School Matinee

This relaxed school matinee has been planned with considerations for an inclusive audience with a range of potential audience members including, but not limited to, students with sensory or communication conditions, learning disabilities and students on the autism spectrum.

SomosRelaxed School MatineeSydney Dance Company, Neilson StudioThursday 10 April, 2025 11.00am

Need more information about our school matinees? Fill out our Expressions of Interest Form and the Education Team will be in touch.

Watch this video for further insights into a Sydney Dance Company school matinee:

Meaning “we are” in Spanish, Somos features a cascade of intimate solos, duets and trios with a distinct Spanish flavour. Set to music by powerhouse Hispanic artists and performed in the Neilson Studio, this intimate setting will provide you with unparalleled connection to our Company dancers as you witness their formidable artistry and breathtaking physicality closer than ever before. 

Somos Secondary School Matinees at Sydney Dance Company
Secondary (grade 7-12, tertiary or full-time dance)$32/student* Wednesday 2 April 2025, 11.00am
Secondary (grade 7-12, tertiary or full-time dance)$32/student*Thursday 3 April, 2025 11.00am

*Schools receive one complimentary teacher ticket for every 20 student tickets purchased.

 

Somos Relaxed School Matinee at Sydney Dance Company

This relaxed school matinee has been planned with considerations for an inclusive audience with a range of potential audience members including, but not limited to, students with sensory or communication conditions, learning disabilities and students on the autism spectrum.

We will have a dedicated breakout / quiet space for the students should they require it. The auditorium doors will remain open so that students, teachers and carers are free to come and go during the performance should they wish to and the house lights will remain on at a light level.

Relaxed School Matinee Thursday 10 April, 2025 11.00am
Resource Pack

The performance of Somos and accompanying resource pack encourage students to dissect choreographic devices, performance quality, production elements and creative processes. This can be used to enhance delivery of dance curriculum in appreciation and composition components, with the resource pack providing comprehensive behind-the-scenes insight and in-depth tasks to allow for continual analysis of the live performance experience.

Need more information about our school matinees? Fill out our Expressions of Interest Form and the Education Team will be in touch.

This exciting triple bill features works by a trio of superb Australian choreographers featuring a new work by Sydney Dance Company’s Artistic Director Rafael Bonachela, a mainstage premier of Tra Mi Dinh’s acclaimed New Breed work Somewhere between ten and fourteen, and a new commission by Stephen Page, former Artistic Director of Bangarra Dance Theatre. 

Please note: the matinee performance may not feature all three works, or all works in their entirety, depending on the duration of each of the works. This will be determined closer to the season. 

Continuum Secondary School Matinee at the Roslyn Packer Theatre
Secondary (grade 7 - 12, tertiary or full-time dance)$32/student*Thursday 30 October 2025, 12pm

*Schools receive one complimentary teacher ticket for every 20 student tickets purchased.

Continuum Primary School Matinee at the Roslyn Packer Theatre
Primary (grade 3 - 6)$25/student*Tuesday 28 October 2025, 12pm

*Schools receive one complimentary teacher ticket for every 20 student tickets purchased.

Resource Pack

The performance of Continuum and accompanying resource pack encourage students to dissect choreographic devices, performance quality, production elements and creative processes. This can be used to enhance delivery of dance curriculum in appreciation and composition components, with the resource pack providing comprehensive behind-the-scenes insight and in-depth tasks to allow for continual analysis of the live performance experience.

Need more information about our school matinees? Fill out our Expressions of Interest Form and the Education Team will be in touch.

Workshops

Contemporary Creative and Contemporary Technique Workshops can be booked to accompany and support the matinee experience. Workshops provide an opportunity for students to develop contemporary dance technique, learn Sydney Dance Company repertoire and explore choreographic and creative ideas through an industry-based lens.

Workshops are delivered to complement curriculum outcomes for performance and composition elements. Workshops can be delivered as a school incursion to your school or on the same day as a matinee, subject to studio availability.

Merchandise

If you would like to order Sydney Dance Company merchandise for your school or studio group please contact [email protected]
with your order request at least 48 hours before the matinee or workshop.

We will prepare your order for you to collect at the School Matinee Performance or your In-Studio Workshop.

Child Safety

Child Safe Organisation

Sydney Dance Company is committed to providing a safe, nurturing, stable and secure environment for children. We believe that the welfare of children participating in our programs is of the highest priority and we foster practices to support children’s health, developmental needs, self-respect and confidence.You can download our Child Protection Policy and our Values and Expectations for children participating in activities with Sydney Dance Company below.

All teaching staff employed by Sydney Dance Company to work with children and young people hold a current NSW Working With Children Check and agree to abide by our policies and guidelines in relation to working with children.

Should you have any questions or need guidance on how to raise a concern, please don’t hesitate to contact our Child Safe Environment Officer on 02 9258 4800 or [email protected].

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Overview

Our tailored school matinees connect students with cutting-edge contemporary dance performances.

With pre-show talks and demonstrations, students will be offered insights into our artists’ creative processes. Students will engage in a post-show panel discussion and Q&A with Company dancers, creatives and arts professionals, developing a deeper understanding of the process of bringing a performance to life and the career pathways available within the performing arts industry.

School Matinees
2025 Secondary School Matinees
Somos
Sydney Dance Company, Neilson Studio
Wednesday 2 April, 2025 11.00am
Somos
Sydney Dance Company, Neilson Studio
Thursday 3 April, 2025 11.00am
Continuum
Roslyn Packer Theatre, Walsh Bay
Thursday 30 October, 2025 12.00pm
2025 Primary School Matinee
Continuum
Roslyn Packer Theatre, Walsh Bay
Tuesday 28 October, 2025 12.00pm
2025 Relaxed School Matinee

This relaxed school matinee has been planned with considerations for an inclusive audience with a range of potential audience members including, but not limited to, students with sensory or communication conditions, learning disabilities and students on the autism spectrum.

Somos
Relaxed School Matinee
Sydney Dance Company, Neilson Studio
Thursday 10 April, 2025 11.00am

Need more information about our school matinees? Fill out our Expressions of Interest Form and the Education Team will be in touch.

Watch this video for further insights into a Sydney Dance Company school matinee:

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Somos

Meaning “we are” in Spanish, Somos features a cascade of intimate solos, duets and trios with a distinct Spanish flavour. Set to music by powerhouse Hispanic artists and performed in the Neilson Studio, this intimate setting will provide you with unparalleled connection to our Company dancers as you witness their formidable artistry and breathtaking physicality closer than ever before. 

Somos Secondary School Matinees at Sydney Dance Company
Secondary (grade 7-12, tertiary or full-time dance)
$32/student*
Wednesday 2 April 2025, 11.00am
Secondary (grade 7-12, tertiary or full-time dance)
$32/student*
Thursday 3 April, 2025 11.00am

*Schools receive one complimentary teacher ticket for every 20 student tickets purchased.

 

Somos Relaxed School Matinee at Sydney Dance Company

This relaxed school matinee has been planned with considerations for an inclusive audience with a range of potential audience members including, but not limited to, students with sensory or communication conditions, learning disabilities and students on the autism spectrum.

We will have a dedicated breakout / quiet space for the students should they require it. The auditorium doors will remain open so that students, teachers and carers are free to come and go during the performance should they wish to and the house lights will remain on at a light level.

Relaxed School Matinee
Thursday 10 April, 2025 11.00am
Resource Pack

The performance of Somos and accompanying resource pack encourage students to dissect choreographic devices, performance quality, production elements and creative processes. This can be used to enhance delivery of dance curriculum in appreciation and composition components, with the resource pack providing comprehensive behind-the-scenes insight and in-depth tasks to allow for continual analysis of the live performance experience.

Need more information about our school matinees? Fill out our Expressions of Interest Form and the Education Team will be in touch.

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Continuum

This exciting triple bill features works by a trio of superb Australian choreographers featuring a new work by Sydney Dance Company’s Artistic Director Rafael Bonachela, a mainstage premier of Tra Mi Dinh’s acclaimed New Breed work Somewhere between ten and fourteen, and a new commission by Stephen Page, former Artistic Director of Bangarra Dance Theatre. 

Please note: the matinee performance may not feature all three works, or all works in their entirety, depending on the duration of each of the works. This will be determined closer to the season. 

Continuum Secondary School Matinee at the Roslyn Packer Theatre
Secondary (grade 7 - 12, tertiary or full-time dance)
$32/student*
Thursday 30 October 2025, 12pm

*Schools receive one complimentary teacher ticket for every 20 student tickets purchased.

Continuum Primary School Matinee at the Roslyn Packer Theatre
Primary (grade 3 - 6)
$25/student*
Tuesday 28 October 2025, 12pm

*Schools receive one complimentary teacher ticket for every 20 student tickets purchased.

Resource Pack

The performance of Continuum and accompanying resource pack encourage students to dissect choreographic devices, performance quality, production elements and creative processes. This can be used to enhance delivery of dance curriculum in appreciation and composition components, with the resource pack providing comprehensive behind-the-scenes insight and in-depth tasks to allow for continual analysis of the live performance experience.

Need more information about our school matinees? Fill out our Expressions of Interest Form and the Education Team will be in touch.

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Workshops

Contemporary Creative and Contemporary Technique Workshops can be booked to accompany and support the matinee experience. Workshops provide an opportunity for students to develop contemporary dance technique, learn Sydney Dance Company repertoire and explore choreographic and creative ideas through an industry-based lens.

Workshops are delivered to complement curriculum outcomes for performance and composition elements. Workshops can be delivered as a school incursion to your school or on the same day as a matinee, subject to studio availability.

+

Merchandise

If you would like to order Sydney Dance Company merchandise for your school or studio group please contact [email protected]
with your order request at least 48 hours before the matinee or workshop.

We will prepare your order for you to collect at the School Matinee Performance or your In-Studio Workshop.

+

Child Safety

Child Safe Organisation

Sydney Dance Company is committed to providing a safe, nurturing, stable and secure environment for children. We believe that the welfare of children participating in our programs is of the highest priority and we foster practices to support children’s health, developmental needs, self-respect and confidence.You can download our Child Protection Policy and our Values and Expectations for children participating in activities with Sydney Dance Company below.

All teaching staff employed by Sydney Dance Company to work with children and young people hold a current NSW Working With Children Check and agree to abide by our policies and guidelines in relation to working with children.

Should you have any questions or need guidance on how to raise a concern, please don’t hesitate to contact our Child Safe Environment Officer on 02 9258 4800 or [email protected].