Moves of Interplay – Dancer Thomas Bradley

Each week we take you behind the scenes and through the moves of  Interplay.

Rafael Bonachela never knows exactly when he will get inspiration for his works, but says that ‘often life will bring it to me in one way or another’. In the case of his latest work for our Interplay season, 2 in D Minor, it all happened when he heard Richard Tognetti play the Sarabande from Johann Sebastian Bach’s Partita in B Minor as part of Project Rameau (our collaboration with the Australian Chamber Orchestra in 2012). Rafael dived headfirst into the world of Bach’s sonatas and partitas for solo violin. These very famous works are an essential part of the repertoire for a violinist and Rafael became obsessed.

Once Rafael got into the studio at the beginning of January he had something that was very concrete, which was the music. In creative development he decided, in contrast, to start with something very open. Rafael asked the dancers to draw inspiration from a range of objects (a book, map, painting and tarot cards) as well as to bring something of their own into the studio so they could then go on and create a movement sequence which Rafael would further develop.

Dancer Thomas Bradley reflects on what inspired him in the studio: “I’ve recently discovered the art of power couple Hans Bellmer and Unica Zürn. Perhaps my reading into their work influenced this twisted shot.”

Interplay features choreography by Rafael Bonachela Jacopo Godani and Jacopo Godani  Showing at Sydney Theatre (15 March – 5 April), Canberra Theatre Centre (10 – 12 April) and Southbank Theatre, Melbourne (30 April – 10 May).

Image of dancer Thomas Bradley by Peter Greig