In 2016, the Sydney Dance Company is treating its audience to another outstanding year of dance and launching with a world premiere. Lead by highly esteemed and award winning Rafael Bonachela, the Spanish born dancer who has graced our shores as Artistic Director of the Sydney Dance Company for 10 years.
The season will begin in Sydney on February 26 with a double bill program, CounterMove showcasing Rafael’s world premier, Lux Tenebris and Swedish choreographer Alexander Ekman’s extraordinary and vibrant piece, Cacti.
Cacti @ Sydney Dance Company 2016
Photo by Irenaeus Herok
Sydney Social 101 asked Rafael what audiences could look forward to in 2016 and he shared the following:
“In 2016 we are celebrating a first for Sydney Dance Company, by joining forces with the renowned Dresden Frankfurt Dance Company to co-present a new work. Lux Tenebris will premiere in Sydney in March 2016 as part of our CounterMove season, and will then tour around Australia, to six states and territories.
In Australia the work will be performed by the Sydney Dance Company ensemble. Then later in the year the piece will be restaged in Germany with dancers from the Dresden Frankfurt Dance Company.
This is an incredible opportunity for us to showcase an Australian-made production to an international audience, danced by arguably the finest contemporary dancers in Europe.
I am also very excited to have commissioned Australian composer/musician Nick Wales to create the original soundtrack for Lux Tenebris. The title translates to ‘light in darkness’, and audiences for this one can expect deep, dusky sonic sounds.
The other part of CounterMove is an incredible dancework called Cacti, by an amazing Swedish choreographer, Alexander Ekman, whom I greatly admire.
The piece has been incredibly popular wherever we’ve performed it. It’s playful and witty. Expect dancers, a string quartet, a white cat and potted cacti.”
Cacti premiered in Australia in 2013 and has a strong reputation for having its audience leaving in fits of laughter. CounterMove will be in Sydney from 26th February -12th March.
For the second half of the year the company will be presenting Untamed brought to you by Rafael Bonachela and one of the country’s most promising choreographers, Adelaide-based Gabrielle Namkivell. This will be Rafael’s second premier for the year that will provide a “perfect counterpoint to Nankivell’s acclaimed Wildebeest, a masterful and evocative dancework” say the company.
In November the Sydney Dance Company and Carriageworks will offer the third edition of New Breed, a three-year initiative to showcase a new generation of Australian choreographers. Supported by the Balnaves Foundation four of these up and coming choreographers will subsequently be commissioned to create a work on SDC in 2016. New Breed opens November 29.
With 78 scheduled performances at 19 Australian venues, Sydney Dance Company will also continue its strong tradition of international touring, showcasing Australian culture, ideas and talent. Better get your dancing shoes on because this is one year not to skip out on.
For more information and tickets:
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