Sydney Dance Company
2023 Season
“For Sydney Dance Company, 2023 will be a year of innovation and breaking the boundaries of what contemporary dance experiences can be. 2023 also marks my fifteenth year as Artistic Director of Sydney Dance Company and I am excited to share that I will continue my commitment to this role for another five years. I am also honoured to enter my second year as a Friend of the Maison for Cartier.
I am delighted to announce a premiere triple-bill Ascent, co-commissioned by the Canberra Theatre Centre, followed by a season at Sydney Opera House as part of their 50th-anniversary celebrations.
Ascent will feature a brand-new work by me, the return of Antony Hamilton’s Helpmann award-winning work Forever and Ever, and a world premiere by the renowned Spanish choreographer Marina Mascarell. After the challenges of the past few years, I am so pleased to again be commissioning an international artist whose works have garnered critical acclaim around the world, alongside showcasing the work of a brilliant Australian choreographer.
For our second season, we will be sharing an entirely new experience for our audiences – Up Close. Performed in the Neilson Studio at Sydney Dance Company, this intimate setting will provide audiences with an unparalleled connection to our Company dancers, allowing you to witness their formidable skill and astonishing physicality up close and personal.
Our first-ever season of Up Close will feature my brand-new work Somos, meaning “we are” in Spanish. Audiences will be transported by a cascade of solos, duets and trios with a distinct Latin flavour.
Supporting the next generation of Australian artists and the future of contemporary dance is at the core of everything that we do. In 2023 we will be celebrating a decade of New Breed with our co-presenter, Carriageworks. With the unwavering support of the Balnaves Foundation, New Breed has seen more than 34 emerging dance artists present world premiere works, with our choreographers to be announced later in 2023.
After this year’s sold-out inaugural season supported by the City of Sydney, I am proud that INDance will return to the Neilson Studio in August. This curated program provides the opportunity for independent Australian dance artists to present their works to new audiences at Sydney Dance Company.
A new year of dance would not be complete without the opportunity to perform for audiences around Australia. In May we will share our new triple-bill Ascent, along with my work ab [intra] in 14 locations across five states and territories.
In September our international tour begins! After the incredible success of our French tour in 2022, it is such a privilege to return to the world stage and I can’t wait to announce our international tour locations in the coming months.
And finally, we welcome back LG SIGNATURE as a major partner of Sydney Dance Company. The second year of our partnership will see us continue on a path together in a bid to inspire, move and uplift our audiences. As a proud supporter of the broader arts community in Australia, LG SIGNATURE will be working together with us to support the next generation of Australian dancers.
I look forward to welcoming audiences into our world, to experience a year of invigorating, transformative dance.”
Rafael Bonachela, Artistic Director
Sydney Dance Company
2023 SEASON DETAILS
Ascent
9 – 11 March 2023
Canberra Theatre Centre
15 – 26 March 2023
Sydney Opera House
In 2023, Sydney Dance Company makes an exciting return to Sydney Opera House as part of their 50th anniversary with an impressive triple-bill Ascent, co-commissioned by the Canberra Theatre Centre. Ascent features the reprise of Antony Hamilton’s Helpmann award-winning Forever & Ever and world premieres by Rafael Bonachela and renowned Spanish choreographer Marina Mascarell.
Brimming with physicality, Ascent explores ideas of the now, order, chaos, popular culture and human behaviour with three innovative works from local and international talents. Full of electric movement and emotional force, Ascent is an arresting portrait of contemporary dance and its potential to move, excite and activate audiences. Brought to life by Sydney Dance Company’s superb ensemble, this program is a sensorial delight complete with inventive installations and magnetic musical scores. This triple-bill is a creative union at once forceful, sumptuous and dizzying.
NATIONAL TOUR
ab [intra]
Ascent
Sydney Dance Company’s national tour will include performances of Rafael Bonachela’s powerful masterwork ab [intra] and performances of Ascent, a triple-bill by Rafael Bonachela, Marina Mascarell and Antony Hamilton.
“Breathtakingly poetic and beautiful… what happens on stage is of an almost incomprehensible fluidity and softness. And the public, fascinated, applauds standing. Run there!” – Le Point (France) on ab [intra]
National Tour dates
Wyong, NSW
Ascent
06 May, The Art House
Adelaide, SA
Ascent
11 – 13 May, Dunstan Playhouse
Geelong, VIC
ab [intra]
27 May, GPAC, Costa Hall
Mildura, VIC
ab [intra]
24 May, Mildura Arts Centre
Frankston, VIC
ab [intra]
20 May, Frankston Arts Centre
Bendigo, VIC
Ascent
31 May, Ulumbarra Theatre
Warrnambool, VIC
Ascent
03 Jun, Lighthouse Theatre
Darwin, NT
Ascent
19 Jul, Darwin Entertainment Centre
Alice Springs, NT
Ascent
22 Jul, Araluen Arts Centre
Hobart, TAS
Ascent
27 Jul – 29 Jul Theatre Royal
Launceston, TAS
Ascent
02 Aug, Theatre North
Newcastle, NSW
Ascent
09 Aug, Civic Centre
Port Macquarie, NSW
Ascent
12 Aug, Glasshouse
“Forever and Ever lays siege to the senses with a mighty display of shock and awe. It’s immediate, visceral stuff, as Wednesday’s opening night reception proved. The roars of approval went on and on.” The Australian
Up Close: Somos
1 – 15 November 2023
Neilson Studio, Sydney Dance Company
Up Close is a premiere format season in Sydney Dance Company’s Neilson Studio. This intimate setting will provide you with unparalleled connection to our Company dancers, as you witness their formidable artistry and breathtaking physicality closer than ever before.
Our first season of Up Close presents Somos, a world premiere by Rafael Bonachela. Meaning “we are” in Spanish, this new work will feature a cascade of spectacular performances with a distinct Latin flavour.
New Breed
6 – 16 December 2023
Carriageworks, Eveleigh
In 2023 Sydney Dance Company, Carriageworks and The Balnaves Foundation continue their commitment to choreographers and present the tenth edition of New Breed.
Since its premiere season in 2014, 34 emerging Australian choreographers have created works for this program.
Showcasing a rich diversity of choreographic ideas, the tenth cohort of incredibly talented choreographers will create brand new works on members of Sydney Dance Company. 2023’s four choreographers will be announced mid-year.
New Breed is made possible thanks to the support The Balnaves Foundation.
