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.
| Engine | Thursday 25 June, 2026 12.30pm | Sydney Opera House | $34 per person (one complimentary teacher ticket provided for every 20 students) | SOLD OUT |
| Engine | Thursday 6 August, 2026 12.00pm | State Theatre Centre Perth | Tickets available through State Theatre Centre Perth | |
| Current | Wednesday 9 September, 2026 11am | Sydney Dance Company, Neilson Studio | $34 per person (one complimentary teacher ticket provided for every 20 students) | |
| Current | Thursday 10 September, 2026 11am | Sydney Dance Company, Neilson Studio | $34 per person (one complimentary teacher ticket provided for every 20 students) | |
| Current | Wednesday 16 September, 2026 11am | Sydney Dance Company, Neilson Studio | $34 per person (one complimentary teacher ticket provided for every 20 students) |
| Engine | Sydney Opera House | Thursday 2 July, 2026 11.30am | $26 per person (one complimentary teacher ticket provided for every 20 students) | SOLD OUT |
Need more information about our school matinees? Fill out our Expressions of Interest Form and the Education Team will be in touch.
Engine
The Engine school matinee performances feature exhilarating works from the Season One Engine triple bill.
Secondary School Matinee – Thursday 25 June 2026
The secondary school matinee features two works from the triple bill: a world premiere by Rafael Bonachela and the return of Melanie Lane’s Love Lock.
Rafael Bonachela’s The Journey Itself is Home is a new work featuring music by Grammy Award–winning composer Bryce Dessner, inspired by 17th-century Japanese poet Matsuo Bashō.
The second work, Melanie Lane’s Love Lock, is a reimagined folk dance of the future. Drawing on collective experiences across diverse cultures, an accelerating world, and disappearing lands, Love Lock celebrates the binding power of dance to move, warn and empower. The work showcases costume design by celebrated Australian fashion designer Akira Isogawa, layered with texture and colour, alongside a score composed by UK electronic artist Clark.
Primary School Matinee – Thursday 2 July 2026
The primary school matinee features a world premiere by Rafael Bonachela. The Journey Itself is Home is set to music by Grammy Award–winning composer Bryce Dessner and draws inspiration from 17th-century Japanese poet Matsuo Bashō.
| Secondary (grade 7 - 12, tertiary or full-time dance) | $34/person* | Thursday 25 June, 2026 12.30pm | Sydney Opera House | SOLD OUT |
*Schools receive one complimentary teacher ticket for every 20 student tickets purchased.
| Primary (grade 3 - 6) | $26/person* | Thursday 2 July, 2026 11.30am | Sydney Opera House | SOLD OUT |
The duration for the Primary School Matinee performance is approximately 60 minutes.
Schools receive one complimentary teacher ticket for every 20 student tickets purchased.
The performance of Engine 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.
Current
CURRENT threads together three new commissions from leading Australian choreographers, Raghav Handa, Jenni Large and Azzam Mohamed, with the Australian premiere of Rafael Bonachela’s seminal work E2 7SD. Together these four artists form a compelling portrait of contemporary Australian dance — diverse in form, voice and perspective, yet united by curiosity and originality of expression.
Created in London in 2004, E2 7SD is the award-winning work that defined Bonachela’s signature choreographic style and put him on the world stage, winning over audiences and achieving critical acclaim. Never performed before in Australia, this momentous anniversary feels like the perfect time to share this dynamic, high-energy duet.
We have commissioned some of Australia’s most exciting choreographers to present new works that will join E2 7SD on stage as part of one seamless experience. Creating alongside Bonachela is Raghav Handa, our 2025 Balnaves Artist in Residence, whose work draws on the principles of Indian kathak to explore multifaceted expressions of contemporary Australian identity; Jenni Large, a New Breed alum and our 2026 Balnaves Artist in Residence, who creates work infused with hyper-design and apparatus, inspired by the personal, political and transformational forces of the body; and Azzam Mohamed (Shazam), a Sydney-based Sudanese dancer, choreographer and educator, whose practice spans a rich blend of traditional cultural, street and club dance forms.
Please note that the School Matinee performances may not include both works.
| School Matinee Performances | $34/person* | Wednesday 9 September, 2026 11am | Sydney Dance Company, Neilson Studio |
| School Matinee Performance | $34/person* | Thursday 10 September, 2026 11am | Sydney Dance Company, Neilson Studio |
| School Matinee Performance | $34/person* | Wednesday 16 September, 2026 11am | Sydney Dance Company, Neilson Studio |
*Schools receive one complimentary teacher ticket for every 20 student tickets purchased.
The performance of Current 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 sdc@sydneydancecompany.com
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
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 education@sydneydancecompany.com.
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.
| Engine |
| Thursday 25 June, 2026 12.30pm |
| Sydney Opera House |
| $34 per person (one complimentary teacher ticket provided for every 20 students) |
| SOLD OUT |
| Engine |
| Thursday 6 August, 2026 12.00pm |
| State Theatre Centre Perth |
| Tickets available through State Theatre Centre Perth |
| Current |
| Wednesday 9 September, 2026 11am |
| Sydney Dance Company, Neilson Studio |
| $34 per person (one complimentary teacher ticket provided for every 20 students) |
| Current |
| Thursday 10 September, 2026 11am |
| Sydney Dance Company, Neilson Studio |
| $34 per person (one complimentary teacher ticket provided for every 20 students) |
| Current |
| Wednesday 16 September, 2026 11am |
| Sydney Dance Company, Neilson Studio |
| $34 per person (one complimentary teacher ticket provided for every 20 students) |
| Engine |
| Sydney Opera House |
| Thursday 2 July, 2026 11.30am |
| $26 per person (one complimentary teacher ticket provided for every 20 students) |
| SOLD OUT |
Need more information about our school matinees? Fill out our Expressions of Interest Form and the Education Team will be in touch.
Engine
The Engine school matinee performances feature exhilarating works from the Season One Engine triple bill.
Secondary School Matinee – Thursday 25 June 2026
The secondary school matinee features two works from the triple bill: a world premiere by Rafael Bonachela and the return of Melanie Lane’s Love Lock.
Rafael Bonachela’s The Journey Itself is Home is a new work featuring music by Grammy Award–winning composer Bryce Dessner, inspired by 17th-century Japanese poet Matsuo Bashō.
The second work, Melanie Lane’s Love Lock, is a reimagined folk dance of the future. Drawing on collective experiences across diverse cultures, an accelerating world, and disappearing lands, Love Lock celebrates the binding power of dance to move, warn and empower. The work showcases costume design by celebrated Australian fashion designer Akira Isogawa, layered with texture and colour, alongside a score composed by UK electronic artist Clark.
Primary School Matinee – Thursday 2 July 2026
The primary school matinee features a world premiere by Rafael Bonachela. The Journey Itself is Home is set to music by Grammy Award–winning composer Bryce Dessner and draws inspiration from 17th-century Japanese poet Matsuo Bashō.
| Secondary (grade 7 - 12, tertiary or full-time dance) |
| $34/person* |
| Thursday 25 June, 2026 12.30pm |
| Sydney Opera House |
| SOLD OUT |
*Schools receive one complimentary teacher ticket for every 20 student tickets purchased.
| Primary (grade 3 - 6) |
| $26/person* |
| Thursday 2 July, 2026 11.30am |
| Sydney Opera House |
| SOLD OUT |
The duration for the Primary School Matinee performance is approximately 60 minutes.
Schools receive one complimentary teacher ticket for every 20 student tickets purchased.
The performance of Engine 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.
Current
CURRENT threads together three new commissions from leading Australian choreographers, Raghav Handa, Jenni Large and Azzam Mohamed, with the Australian premiere of Rafael Bonachela’s seminal work E2 7SD. Together these four artists form a compelling portrait of contemporary Australian dance — diverse in form, voice and perspective, yet united by curiosity and originality of expression.
Created in London in 2004, E2 7SD is the award-winning work that defined Bonachela’s signature choreographic style and put him on the world stage, winning over audiences and achieving critical acclaim. Never performed before in Australia, this momentous anniversary feels like the perfect time to share this dynamic, high-energy duet.
We have commissioned some of Australia’s most exciting choreographers to present new works that will join E2 7SD on stage as part of one seamless experience. Creating alongside Bonachela is Raghav Handa, our 2025 Balnaves Artist in Residence, whose work draws on the principles of Indian kathak to explore multifaceted expressions of contemporary Australian identity; Jenni Large, a New Breed alum and our 2026 Balnaves Artist in Residence, who creates work infused with hyper-design and apparatus, inspired by the personal, political and transformational forces of the body; and Azzam Mohamed (Shazam), a Sydney-based Sudanese dancer, choreographer and educator, whose practice spans a rich blend of traditional cultural, street and club dance forms.
Please note that the School Matinee performances may not include both works.
| School Matinee Performances |
| $34/person* |
| Wednesday 9 September, 2026 11am |
| Sydney Dance Company, Neilson Studio |
| School Matinee Performance |
| $34/person* |
| Thursday 10 September, 2026 11am |
| Sydney Dance Company, Neilson Studio |
| School Matinee Performance |
| $34/person* |
| Wednesday 16 September, 2026 11am |
| Sydney Dance Company, Neilson Studio |
*Schools receive one complimentary teacher ticket for every 20 student tickets purchased.
The performance of Current 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 sdc@sydneydancecompany.com
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
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 education@sydneydancecompany.com.
Gallery
