Years | Live at MPavilion

An elegiac meditation on the layers of legacy that shape both our past and our future, Years sees Artistic Director Rafael Bonachela’s choreography performed by the incredible dancers of Sydney Dance Company as they delve deep into the essence of movement and musicality.

Set to renowned Australian musician Stephen Emmerson’s reimagining of Bach’s iconic Goldberg Variations for two pianos, this counterpoint-rich adaptation was recorded with celebrated Ukranian-Australian pianist and collaborator Sonya Lifschitz whose “powerful exposition” (The Sydney Morning Herald) of Bach’s work has earned her international acclaim. Years was conceived, filmed and streamed during 2021’s lockdown as an online work, directed by Clemens Habicht.

This live, site-specific performance of Years sees six dancers respond both to the 31 counter point-rich variations and the essence of the MPavillion itself. Bonachela reflects on his personal choreographic journey and echoes of the past to find clarity at the heart of a turbulent world. Sinuous costumes by Bianca Spender bring softness and grace to the angles of the architecture and the dancers’ movement.

Created and staged with the support of the Naomi Milgrom Foundation, Years is also presented in honour of former Sydney Dance Company Board Member and patron of the arts, the late Carla Zampatti AC.