Spell

Spell is a bold dance work from celebrated choreographer Rafael Bonachela. Five distinctive worlds, five powerful “spells,” each a vivid ritual that together create dance alchemy.

With intricate rhythmic detail and fearless technicality, Bonachela’s signature style reaches new heights of precision and passion.

Set to music from Ólafur Arnalds, Bryce Dessner, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins and Alice Smith, with costume and set design by Kelsey Lee and lighting design by Damien Cooper, Spell creatives conjure an exhilarating fusion of movement, light, and sound for the dancers to inhabit.

Spell is an invitation to experience dance as a potent, primal force.

Choreography: Rafael Bonachela
Music from: Ólafur Arnalds, Bryce Dessner, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, and Alice Smith.
Lighting Design: Damien Cooper
Costume & Set Design: Kelsey Lee

Proudly supported by Visionary Patron, the Clegg Foundation
Commissioning Partners, Orsolina28 Art Foundation

I found myself at an event last year, where I heard the inimitable Alice Smith sing her cover of ‘I Put A Spell On You’. It is a haunting performance that feels like a hypnotic love, a longing, on the brink of obsession. There is raw emotional power and a trance-like quality to the song that adds new perspective and depth into the lyrics. I was eager to explore how this feeling, and the idea of a spell as a transformation could be conveyed through dance.

Music guided me in every aspect of this work. From Alice Smith’s singular cover to a choral arrangement of Momentary by Olafur Arnalds, and a suite of three songs for solo violin by Bryce Dessner that allows us to oscillate between movement and stillness. I was drawn to building elements of compression and release within the choreography to build a series of dances that are ‘spells’.

We started working on Spell in July 2025, at the artist retreat Orsolina28 Art Foundation. To be building this world in one of the most magical places I’ve ever experienced was a true gift. Orsolina28 feels designed to nurture creativity — the natural beauty, the light, the stillness — everything invites you to slow down and connect more deeply, not only with the work but with yourself. Our time there was incredibly special. The residency gave us a rare sense of space, both physical and mental, that allowed us to immerse fully in the process with focus, clarity, and freedom. Bryce Dessner was also able to join us there and the texture of his music always provides so many different cues to weave into. It’s a pleasure to include his compositions in this work.

Triple bill featuring Spell, In between ten and fourteen and Unungkati Yantatja – one with the other.

“Bonachela at his best: tightly built, dramatically open-ended, and danced with complete conviction.” – Dance Australia

“Bonachela’s own world-premiere Spell delivers the evening’s visceral heartbeat.” – Robb Report

Continuum – Premiere
Roslyn Packer Theatre, Walsh Bay Arts Precinct, Sydney
22 October – 1 November 2025