Performances

De Novo

October 22 - November 1
Continuum
Roslyn Packer Theatre, Walsh Bay
December 3 - December 13
New Breed
Carriageworks, Eveleigh

Repertoire Archive

2024

Love Lock
Choreography / Melanie Lane
Inspired by the power of love stories, Melanie Lane’s bold new work Love Lock deconstructs love songs to create a folk dance that celebrates the fantasies and realities of love.
Duration: 25 minutes
momenta – Contemporary Dance Work
Choreography / Rafael Bonachela
A journey into the poetry and physicality of human bonds.
Duration: 75 minutes

2023

The Shell, A Ghost, The Host & The Lyrebird
Choreography / Marina Mascarell
This piece poses many questions: the body's meaning and its capacity to transform; the relationship with technology, and the connection with nature.
Duration: 26 minutes
I Am-Ness
Choreography / Rafael Bonachela
I Am-ness calls for the convergence of the moving body and creative mind, charting a world in flux where simplicity dominates, and expectations are subverted.
Duration: 15 minutes
Somos
Choreography / Rafael Bonachela
Meaning “we are” in Spanish, Somos features a cascade of intimate solos, duets and trios with a distinct Spanish flavour.
Duration: 50 minutes

2022

Summer
Choreography / Rafael Bonachela
An uplifting new work from Rafael Bonachela, capturing the lightness and positivity of new beginnings. With a score by Australian composer Kate Moore, recorded by the Australian String Quartet and striking costumes by the masters of colour Romance Was Born, Summer will have your spirits soaring.
Duration: 16 minutes
The Universe is Here
Choreography / Stephanie Lake
Fusing movement and music, The Universe is Here brings blistering light to the stage and a fizzing glimpse of a haunted dreamscape. Poetic, fresh and forceful, Stephanie Lake's work is intricate and dynamic dance that hits you in the solar plexus.
Duration: 35 minutes

2021

Impermanence
Choreography / Rafael Bonachela
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 performed in association with the Australian String Quartet.
Duration: 65 minutes

2020

Cuatro
Choreography / Rafael Bonachela
Four dancers. Four musicians. Four Films.
Duration: 14 minutes

2019

Us 50
Choreography / Gideon Obarzanek
Us 50 is a grand-scale work by Gideon Obarzanek featuring 50 performers made up of past dancers that have graced our stage, current Company dancers, and members of our community.
Duration: 40 minutes
Neon Aether
Choreography / Gabrielle Nankivell
Gabrielle Nankivell’s premiere, Neon Aether, is a theatrical adventure into the infinite unknown. Inspired by science fiction and outer space, audiences will be transported into a vivid, ethereal world beyond the clouds.
Duration: 25 minutes
Cinco
Choreography / Rafael Bonachela
Be moved by a “dazzling technical display of flexibility” (★★★★, Sydney Morning Herald) in the world premiere of Rafael Bonachela’s Cinco. Watch “elastic dynamic dancing” (The Daily Telegraph) from our award-winning dancers, in delicate costumes by revered fashion designer Bianca Spender, set to Alberto Ginastera’s soaring String Quartet No.2.
Duration: 26 minutes

2018

ab [intra] – Contemporary Dance Work
Choreography / Rafael Bonachela
ab [intra],​ meaning ‘from within’ in Latin is ‘an exploration of our primal instincts, our impulses and our visceral responses’, says choreographer Rafael Bonachela. From tenderness to turmoil, ​ab [intra]​ is a journey of intense human existence that will command your attention.
Duration: 70 minutes
Forever & Ever
Choreography / Antony Hamilton
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.
Duration: 36 minutes

2017

Ocho
Choreography / Rafael Bonachela
Explosive and powerful, Ocho, is "sexy, athletic choreography…" (Time Out Sydney), showcasing the dancers' virtuosity. Fusing a brutalist industrial dreamscape with a surging electronic score by Nick Wales that features haunting vocals by Aboriginal singer ​Rrawun Maymuru​ of the Mangalili clan, ​Ocho explores​ the infinite connections that exist between us all.
Duration: 40 minutes
Full Moon
Choreography / Cheng Tsung-lung
Cheng Tsung-lung's Full Moon harnesses the power of the moon and the mythology and poetry of mankind to thrilling effect.
Duration: 38 minutes
WOOF
Choreography / Melanie Lane
WOOF​ generates variations of collective actions that speak from matters of the heart. In an imagined physical future, stealing from classical dances, romantic paintings and pop culture, a re-invention of community takes place. In dialogue with Clark’s bold musical score, ​WOOF​ relentlessly forges a duality of instability and empowerment, harnessing the fantasy of a post-human collective spirit.
Duration: 20 minutes

2016

Lux Tenebris
Choreography / Rafael Bonachela
Lux Tenebris​ explores light and darkness with fiercely physical movement and deep, electronic beats by composer Nick Wales.
Duration: 40 minutes

2015

Frame of Mind
Choreography / Rafael Bonachela
Frame of Mind features a dramatic contemporary-classical soundtrack by Bryce Dessner (from American hit rock band The National), recorded by San Francisco’s virtuosic Kronos Quartet. ​Frame of Mind w​on four Helpmann Awards in 2015 – Best Choreography, Best Dance Work, Best Male Dancer and Best Female Dancer – in its critically acclaimed premiere season.
Duration: 35 minutes

2014

Wildebeest
Choreography / Gabrielle Nankivell
Gabrielle Nankivell’s eloquent creation, Wildebeest, showcases the power of dancers as individuals and strength en masse. Moody and animalistic, it’s backed by a stormy and industrial score by Luke Smiles.
Duration: 30 minutes

2010

6 Breaths
Choreography / Rafael Bonachela
Since the 2010 premiere of Rafael Bonachela’s award-winning 6 Breaths the work has toured to New York, London, Barcelona, the Venice Biennale in Italy and the prestigious Movimentos Festival in Germany. A symphony of dance, music by Italian composer Ezio Bosso and costume design by Josh Goot, this emotive work will take your breath away.
Duration: 40 minutes

Overview

“10/10 – Sydney Dance Company has never looked stronger, sexier or more playful than in this thrilling triple bill.” – Sun-Herald

Sydney Dance Company presents a program of three highly entertaining pieces – a cocktail of witty, exhilarating and joyously physical dance that will make you laugh aloud.

From an inspired collaboration with composer Nick Wales  and internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter Sarah Blasko comes Emergence, a dance work by Rafael Bonachela featuring the alluring costume creations of Australian fashion designer Dion Lee. A breathtaking cross-genre leap, Emergence sees the entire company ensemble take to the stage as a stunning soundscape take sensual, physical form.

Irreverent, humorous and brilliant, Cacti is the critically acclaimed brainchild of Swedish dance prodigy Alexander Ekman. Ekman is in high demand internationally, and this piece, devised for the legendary Nederlands Dans Theater 2, shows exactly why. Cacti is not only a subversive, entertaining commentary on the pretentions of contemporary dance, it is also a brilliantly conceived and bracingly physical piece of choreography.

From Australian rising star Larissa McGowan comes Fanatic, a hilarious pop-culture collision that pits Alien vs Predator in an interstellar dance throwdown between two titanic sci-fi film franchises. Giddy and virtuosic, wry and recognisable, this is dance for the digital age – kinetic, immediate and exceedingly funny.

Showcasing some of Australia’s finest dancers, music by Sarah Blasko and Nick Wales and costumes by Dion LeeDe Novo promises a light-hearted but thrilling evening that’s not to be missed!

Follow #SDCOnTour @SydneyDanceCo on FacebookInstagram and Twitter.

Performance History

TOUR DATES 

Northern Territory
15 July, Darwin Entertainment Centre, NT
18 July, Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs, NT

South Australia
22 July, Middleback Theatre, Whyalla, SA
25 July, Northern Festival Centre, Port Pirie, SA
29 July, Chaffey Theatre, Renmark, SA
1 August, Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre, Mt Gambier, SA
6–8 August, Her Majesty’s Theatre, Grote Street, Adelaide, SA

Victoria
12 August, Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo, VIC
15 August, Frankston Arts Centre, Frankston, VIC

Tasmania
20-22 August, Theatre Royal Hobart, Hobart, TAS
27 August, Princess Theatre, Launceston, TAS

Creatives

Emergence
World premiere at Sydney Theatre 1 March 2013
Choreography: Rafael Bonachela
Music: Nick Wales & Sarah Blasko
Costume Design: Dion Lee
Lighting Design: Benjamin Cisterne
Running time: 37 minutes

Fanatic
World premiere at Sydney Opera House, Spring Dance Festival, 20 August 2012
Choreography: Larissa McGowan
Concept: Larissa McGowan, Sam Haren, Steve Mayhew
Dramaturg: Sam Haren
Sound Construction: Steve Mayhew
Lighting Design: Benjamin Cisterne
Running time: 15 minutes

Cacti
Australasian premiere at Sydney Theatre 1 March 2013
Choreography and Costumes: Alexander Ekman
Stage Design: Alexander Ekman and Thomas Visser
Lighting Design: Thomas Visser
Lyrics: Spenser Theberge
Running time: 27 minutes

Media

“Sydney Dance Company has never looked stronger, sexier or more playful than in this thrilling triple bill… 10/10” – Sun-Herald

“Sydney Dance Company set fire to expectations with a stunning three-piece program” – Drum Media

“…infectious playful energy and absolutely incisive wit.” – Time Out Sydney

Blindingly brilliant” – Crikey.com

“Cacti is a delight: witty, effervescent, playful, surreal and joyously physical.” – The Australian

“… witty, smart and danced with kick-arse joy.” – The Monthly

De Novo is a menu of delicious and diverse treats, which finishes on a fabulous sugar high. It should be enjoyed by long-standing lovers of contemporary dance as well as newcomers.” – The Clotheslines, Digital Arts Magazine

De Novo really is wonderful entertainment. In particular, it is sheer pleasure to be able to laugh out loud while enjoying a bravura display of dance, the giggles only silenced with abrupt gasps of astonishment.” – Adelaide Advertiser