2023 Education Brochure

2023 Education Program

Welcome to Sydney Dance Company’s 2023 Education Program! We are excited to share the many ways young people can connect with Sydney Dance Company in 2023.

Whether it’s through the energy of a dance workshop, the anticipation of watching live performance, the real-world application of creative tasks through our resource packs, or specially designed virtual workshops, we cannot wait to work with your students.

Contact us any time you wish to discuss any of these programs in more detail. We can’t wait to hear from you!

(02) 9258 4800 or email education@sydneydancecompany.com

Double click this image for a downloadable poster to put up in your studio or classroom.

“Dance allows individuals and communities to shape their cultural identity and express their deepest feelings. These experiences continue to resonate throughout our lives, transforming our minds, bodies and souls”

Rafael Bonachela, Artistic Director

January

Summer School Holiday Workshops: 3–25 January

School workshops available to book from Term 1

May

National Tour: Ascent:

• Wyong, 6 May

• Adelaide, 11–13 May

• Adelaide School Matinee, 12 May

• Bendigo, 31 May

ab [intra]

• Frankston, 20 May

• Mildura, 24 May

• Geelong, 27 May

February

June

National Tour: Ascent:

• Warrnambool, 3 June

September/October

PPY 2024 Applications close (early September)

National Tour: Ascent:

• Melbourne 29 August – 2 September

Spring School Holiday workshops: 25 September – 6 October

March

National Tour: Ascent:

• Canberra Season, 9–11 March

• Canberra School Matinee, 10 March

Sydney Season: Ascent:

• 15–26 March

• Sydney Secondary School Matinee, 16 March

• Sydney Primary School Matinee, 23 March

July

Winter School Holiday workshops:

3–14 July

National Tour: Ascent:

• Darwin, 19 July

• Alice Springs, 22 July

• Hobart, 27–29 July

• Hobart School Matinee, 28 July

November

Sydney Season 2: Up Close: Somos

1–15 November

• Sydney Secondary School Matinee, 14 November, 10:30am-11:45am 14 November, 1:00pm-2:15pm

April

Autumn School Holiday workshops: 10–21 April

August

National Tour: Ascent:

• Launceston, 2 August

• Newcastle, 9 August

• Port Macquarie, 12 August

Melbourne Season: Ascent

• 29 August – 2 September

• Melbourne School Matinee, 29 August

December

Sydney New Breed Season: 6-16 December

PPY23 Revealed: (dates to be released soon)

School Matinees

Our tailored matinees connect students with cutting-edge contemporary dance performances. Through 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 various performing arts industry career pathways, and the process of bringing a performance to life.

Watch this video for further insights into a Sydney Dance Company School Matinee

School Matinees

Sydney Secondary School Matinees:

• Suitable for Grades 7-12, and tertiary or full-time dance students

• Ticket Price - $30/student (schools receive one complimentary teacher ticket for every 20 student tickets purchased)

• Duration: 2 hours (approximately)

Book Here

Sydney Primary School Matinees

• Suitable for Grades 3-6

• Ticked price: $20/student (Schools receive one complimentary teacher ticket for every 20 student tickets purchased)

• Duration: 1 hour (approximately)

Book Here

Workshops

• For Sydney performances, workshops can be delivered on the same day as a matinee, subject to studio availability.

Resource Packs

• Resource Packs are included with all ticket purchases, pulling back the curtain on creative processes, design choices, choreographic and appreciation tasks.

Interested in booking but need more information? Click the button below to fill out our ‘Expression of Interest’ form and the Learning Team will be in touch.

Fill in this form

Sydney – Season 1 2023 Ascent

School Matinee performances at the Sydney Opera House:

• Ascent, Secondary Matinee, Thursday 16 March, 12-2pm

Book Here

• Ascent, Primary Matinee, Thursday 23 March, 12-1pm

Book Here

We are thrilled to announce our exciting program Ascent for the Season 1 School Matinee performances at the iconic Sydney Opera House.

With three unique works of scale and fine artistry, Sydney Dance Company presents Ascent, an inspired triple bill consisting of two world premieres from renowned choreographers.

Brimming with physicality, Ascent tempers contemporary classical with futuristic experimentation 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.

To ensure you don’t miss this electrifying performance showcasing Australia’s best contemporary dancers, book now. If you are interested in booking but need more information, register your interest in tickets here.

School Matinee performances at Sydney Dance Company, Walsh Bay:

• Up Close: Somos, Secondary School Matinee, Tuesday 14 November, 10:30-11:45am or 1:00pm-2:15pm

Book Here

For the first time, Sydney Dance Company will be presenting the Sydney Season 2 School Matinee Performance at the refurbished Walsh Bay Studio in its very own intimate theatre space. This intimate setting will provide students with unparalleled connection to our Company dancers, as they witness their formidable artistry and breath-taking physicality closer than ever before.

“Our students walked away inspired and passion-filled, ready to embrace dance and all it has to offer themselves, others and the wider community.” – Sutherland Public School

“Sydney Dance Company have offered a great opportunity to my students who have not seen contemporary dance live or have been to a theatre before. My students admired the dancer’s hard work and strength, allowing them to move across the stage powerfully. They also loved that the dancers were from diverse backgrounds, all excellent at their craft and passionate about dance. My students cannot wait to attend again next year”

– Noble Park Secondary College

In 2023, Sydney Dance Company will have a range of works touring the country. Keep reading to learn more about these works and check in with your local theatre to see what show is performing in your area.

Ascent

With three unique works of scale and fine artistry, Sydney Dance Company presents Ascent, an inspired triple bill consisting of two world premieres from renowned choreographers.

Brimming with physicality, Ascent tempers contemporary classical with futuristic experimentation 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. Coming to theatres around the nation, this triple bill is a creative union at once forceful, sumptuous and dizzying.

ab [intra]

ab [intra], meaning ‘from within’ in Latin, is ‘an exploration of our primal instincts, our impulses and our visceral responses’, says choreographer Rafael Bonachela. From tenderness to turmoil, ab [intra] is a journey of intense human existence that will command your attention.

The music fuses lush cello with ambient electronica and the exquisite dancers occupies a visually arresting ethereal world. This is a ferociously physical and heartfelt piece which will stay with you long after you leave the theatre.

“...has to be seen to be believed. Don’t miss this electrifying journey showcasing Australia’s best contemporary dancers.”

– The Sydney Morning Herald

National Tour 2023

Locations

Sydney Dance Company will be bringing Rafael Bonachela’s critically acclaimed work ab [intra] and inspired triple bill Ascent to more than 15 locations around Australia in 2023.

Performances will be held in the following locations. Booking links will be added here when they’re available. Contact your local venue for group ticket bookings and more information.

National Tour 2023 Workshops

Alongside the National Tour performances, Sydney Dance Company’s Teaching Artists can deliver workshops in your school in some locations and virtually at any time that suits your schedule.

Teaching Artists will deliver contemporary dance workshops that are adaptable to a variety of skill levels and dance experience. With curriculum links in dance, PDHPE, music, drama as well as many cross-curriculum links into history, geography and humanities, our workshops are a positive and inclusive experience for your students to develop dance technique, creative thinking and performance skills in a fun and engaging environment.

Are you interested in booking a workshop but need more information? Click the button below and the Learning Team will be in touch.

Fill in this form

Teaching Artist Workshop Dates and Locations 2023

Canberra 27 Feb – 3 March

Alice Springs

Wyong 26

Hobart 26

Macquarie

July – 26 July

July - 27 July

July - 29 July

July – 4 August

August – 25 August

Secondary Schools, Dance Studios and Community Groups (aged 12+)

• Duration: 2 hours

• Cost: $375 + GST

Primary Schools, Dance Studios and Community Groups (aged 8-12)

• Duration: 1 hour

• Cost: $275 + GST

Introduction to Contemporary Workshops is designed for students aged 8-12 and are aimed primarily at beginners, although can be tailored for any experience level. The workshops are an entry-level taster of the techniques and approaches to contemporary dance and creative movement.

Book Here Book Here

Workshops

Sydney Dance Company offers a range of dance workshops that can be delivered Face-to-Face or Virtually. In both delivery methods, workshops and classes can be adapted to suit your school study program (dance, performing arts, PDHPE) and accommodate the diverse learning needs of students including those with different skill levels and prior dance experience. Sydney Dance Company workshops will challenge, engage and inspire your students regardless of their previous dance experience or learning environment.

Workshops can be offered in the following dance styles or contact us to discuss a bespoke workshop!

• Contemporary Creative - A technique warm up and a creative task (for secondary school-aged students)

• Introduction to Contemporary (for primary school-aged students)

• Contemporary Technique - A technique warm-up and learning Sydney Dance Company repertoire

• Theatre Jazz

• Lyrical

• Ballet

• Hip Hop

• JFH

For more information, contact: 02 9258 4800 or email education@sydneydancecompany.com.

Face-To-Face

Workshops can be delivered as an incursion (delivered at your school/studio) or excursion at our studios located in the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct, subject to availability. Sydney Dance Company Teaching Artists will guide your students through warm-up, technique and teach a genre-specific routine.

Please note: in-school workshops for schools more than 35km from Sydney CBD will incur travel expenses.

Face-To-Face Secondary School/dance studios (ages 12+)

• Up to 2 hours (Contemporary Creative)

• 90 mins (all other styles)

• $375 + GST (Up to 35 students)

Virtual

Virtual workshops are delivered through Zoom or Microsoft Teams while students are at school, in the studio, or undertaking remote learning. Sessions are delivered by a Teaching Artist and supported by Virtual Studio Technician (VST) who can assist with technical support and online child-safe practices. Sydney Dance Company Teaching Artists will guide students through warm-up, technique and teach a genre-specific routine modified for virtual delivery.

Virtual Secondary School/dance studios (ages 12+)

• 60 mins $250 + GST (Up to 40 students)

• 90 mins $375 + GST (Up to 40 students)

Face-To-Face Primary School (ages 8-12)

• 60 mins

• $275 + GST (Up to 35 students)

Virtual Primary School (ages 8-12)

• 60 mins

• $250 + GST (Up to 40 students) Book here

Resource Packs

Sydney Dance Company’s Resource Packs are designed to enrich student learning and include behind-the-scenes access to cast and creative biographies, information on the stimulus of the work and the creative process, as well as curriculum-aligned appreciation and composition tasks.

Resource Packs include access to the filmed work for use in educational settings and are $75.00 each.

Dance Locale

Dance Locale is a suite of five short films, created in collaboration with the NSW Government’s Festival of Place, using site-specific dance to celebrate and activate public spaces in NSW. This Resource Pack explores site-specific dance and dance for film.

Includes:

• Five short films (3-8 minutes each)

• Cast and Creative Bios

• 1 x Appreciation Task

• 2 x Composition Tasks

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Cinco

Cinco (Spanish for five) was created for the stage by Artistic Director, Rafael Bonachela in 2019 to celebrate Sydney Dance Company’s 50th anniversary. The five dancers are structurally placed on stage using a star or pentagram for reference. The set is minimal, allowing for the fluidity and grace of celebrated Australian fashion designer Bianca Spender’s blue and yellow toned costumes to dominate the palette.

Includes:

• 1 x Performance Recording (25 minutes)

• Cast and Creative Bios

• 1 x Composition Task

• 2 x Appreciation Tasks

Buy Now

ab [intra]

ab [intra], a full-length work by Artistic Director Rafael Bonachela, premiered in 2018 and returned to the stage in 2022. From tenderness to turmoil, ab [intra] is a journey through the intensity of human existence that will command your attention.

Includes:

• Excerpts of sections for appreciation and analysis

• Cast and Creative Bios

• 3 X Creative Tasks

• 2 X Appreciation Tasks

Please note that this Resource Pack doesn’t include the full-length work of ab [intra], but does include excerpts which enable students to respond to all tasks.

Buy Now

Youth Ensemble

Are your students passionate and curious to explore contemporary dance further? Sydney Dance Company’s Youth Ensemble is an extension program which works in conjunction with regular studio training to provide dancers with a sense of creative expression, technical development and the opportunity to learn contemporary repertoire from industry specialists.

Delivered throughout Terms 1, 2 and 3, the Youth Ensemble is for dancers at an intermediate to advanced level ages 12-15 and 15-18.

Involvement in Youth Ensemble is by audition only; more information is available on our website.

“I’ve really enjoyed Youth Ensemble for the last two years. It has been such a stimulating environment for me to develop my contemporary technique and I loved developing friendships within a community of dancers like myself who I still talk to regularly.”

Youth Ensemble dancer

“[The conversations and Q&A sessions in] Youth Ensemble were so refreshing and honest as well as being caring, passionate and inclusive. It was nice to have the young dancers dream again as it has been nothing short of deflating and demotivating with covid! We appreciate all the hard work and thought that goes into everything.”

Youth Ensemble dancer parent

Sydney Dance Company’s Pre-Professional Year provides a unique opportunity for aspiring professional dancers aged 18-24 to experience full-time training with Sydney Dance Company. Encompassing a wide spectrum of industry-based dance practices, the Pre-Professional Year dancers train as an ensemble and work with over 40 choreographers, teachers and company affiliates each year. The expansive and highly curated program offers a diverse range of practices and movement philosophies, forging a direct link to the global contemporary dance community.

Dancers in the Pre-Professional Year work towards completing CUA60120 - Advanced Diploma of Professional Dance (Elite Performance) over two years, with the option to finish after one year with a CUA51520 - Diploma of Professional Dance (Elite Performance). Sydney Dance Company is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO #45863).

For more information, read the 2023 Prospectus here.

“The Pre-Professional Year has been a melting pot of experiences and exposure that has shifted my outlook on dance as an art form. The course reflects the wide range of diversity and authenticity that is present in the dance industry. It is a perfect hybrid of exploration, creativity, technique and agency.”

Archie McLean, PPY20-21

“The Pre-Professional Year was such a wholesome experience that I am incredibly grateful for. The physical and mental training delivered by many renowned artists led me on a journey to finding a deeper sense of self.”

Isabella Ciappara, PPY 2021-22

Professional Development

Teacher Upskilling

Sydney Dance Company understands that as teachers there are few opportunities to continue to develop your skills or learn something new for yourself which is why we offer customised training upskilling for primary, secondary and dance studio teachers.

These sessions can be delivered in Sydney, in our National Tour locations or virtually and can be aligned with your desired learning outcome, whether it’s tips on how to guide improvisations, workshopping choreographic taskwork for your lesson plans or learning repertoire to keep you moving.

Contact us on 02 9258 4800 or email education@sydneydancecompany.com for more information.

Professional Intensive

Sydney Dance Company runs Professional Intensive programs every year. These one-week programs provide an opportunity for professional and early career dance artists to learn from Sydney Dance Company, extending formal training, sparking creativity, and challenging young artists through daily technique classes, creative development and learning Sydney Dance Company repertoire.

To be notified of when the next Intensive is running, complete this form and the Learning Team will be in touch.

See what previous participants have to say about their experience in the Professional Intensive in the video below:

“The Teaching Artist was incredible – her genuineness and love of dance absolutely shone through, and her organic approach to teaching was so lovely. The kids felt welcomed immediately and it was evident in their engagement with the class –we could’ve stayed for hours!”

- Emmanuel College QLD, Excursion

“The instructors are highly professional and deliver an excellent virtual/online learning experience that makes students feel like they are physically in the same room as the instructors.”

- Loreto Normanhurst, NSW, Incursion – Virtual

“The resources are excellent! I have been integrating the resources into our unit of work on ‘creating dance from a stimulus’ which has been just perfect!”

- St Brendan-Shaw College, Resource Packs

“As young dancers completing their own full-time dance education, experiencing both the choreography and dancing of such professionals was inspiring and motivating. The students thoroughly enjoyed the performance and talked about the style and execution all the way home.”

- Angus and Lucinda’s Academie de Danse, Bowral, Matinee Performance

Photos by Rafael Bonachela, Daniel Boud, Pedro Greig, Wendell Teodoro, Gez Xavier Mansfield and Ben Symons

Content created by Sydney Dance Company © Sydney Dance Company