2022 Impact Report

Sydney Dance Company’s home is on the lands and over the waters of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We recognise their continuing connection to the land and waters and thank them for protecting this coastline and its ecosystems since time immemorial. We pay our respects to Elders past and present and extend that respect to all First Nations people.

About Us

Dance changes you. More than simply witnessing something beautiful, or engaging with culture, to experience dance is to be positively altered. From performances at the Joyce Theatre in New York and Shanghai Grand Theatre, to the central desert in Alice Springs and the Harbour Foreshore at the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Dance Company has proved that there are no passive observers in a contemporary dance audience.

The reward of truly moving audiences, and the raw pride of sharing Australian art with the world has driven our ensemble of 17 dancers, led by Artistic Director Rafael Bonachela, to become one of the world’s strongest forces in contemporary dance. Alongside Bonachela’s original works, our programs have featured guest choreographers like Jacopo Godani, Melanie Lane, Alexander Ekman, Gideon Obarzanek, Gabrielle Nankivell and Cheng Tsung-lung, as well as collaborations with Sydney Festival, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Conservatorium of Music’s Composing Women and composers Bryce Dessner, Nick Wales, 48nord and the late Ezio Bosso.

Sydney Dance Company has a broad community beyond the practice and performance of our lead dancers. We believe in the universality of dance, and with the largest public dance class program in Australia, people can connect with the grace, strength and creativity that lives within all of us. Our nationwide education program offers a strategic curriculum targeting primary and secondary students through to career focused study for pre-professional dancers and university graduates.

Our History

1969

Suzanne Musitz founds the Company, then known as The Dance Company (NSW).

1973

Sydney Dance Company performs at the Opening Festival of the Sydney Opera House.

1975

Jaap Flier is appointed Artistic Director.

2015

Sydney Dance Company wins Helpmann Award, Best Choreography, Best Dance Work for Frame of Mind by Rafael Bonachela.

2014

The Pre-Professional Year commences: a unique program offering aspiring professional dancers aged 18 to 24 the opportunity to experience fulltime training with Sydney Dance Company.

New Breed completes its first year: A showcase of raw talent and fresh ideas from some of the country’s most gifted emerging choreographers, in partnership with Carriageworks and New Breed Principal Partner The Balnaves Foundation.

1976

Graeme Murphy is appointed Artistic Director. Public dance classes commence at the Company’s Woolloomooloo studios in the evenings after Company dancers finish rehearsals.

1981

Murphy tours Sydney Dance Company internationally for the first time, starting in New York City. Several international tours follow; Sydney Dance Company is the first Western contemporary dance company to perform in the People’s Republic of China.

2007

After an international search, Tanja Liedtke is appointed as the new Artistic Director of Sydney Dance Company. Prior to commencing in the role, tragedy unfolds with Tanja Liedtke dying in an accident.

2013

Sydney Dance Company wins a multitude of awards: Bonachela’s 2 One Another: Winner of 2013 Australian Dance Awards, Rafael Bonachela: Most Outstanding Choreography, dancer Charmene Yap: Most Outstanding Female Dancer, Sydney Dance Company: Most Outstanding Performance by a Company.

1979

Murphy and his partner Janet Vernon introduce a defining name change to Sydney Dance Company and then lead it for a remarkable 30 years, creating 61 works for the Company.

1986

The Company takes up residence at purposebuilt studios at The Wharf in Sydney’s Walsh Bay, minutes from the city’s famed Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House.

2009

Rafael Bonachela is appointed Artistic Director. Bonachela’s vision for the Company embraces a guiding principle that has seen the repertoire grow with the addition of commissioned dance works from Australian and international guest choreographers.

2019

Sydney Dance Company celebrates its 50th Anniversary.

Rafael Bonachela celebrates his 10th year as Artistic Director, a decade in which he has created 23 original works, presented 30 commissions by guest choreographers from around the world, and taken the Company into new territory. His Artistic Directorship consolidates and builds on the Company’s reputation for showcasing boundary-pushing contemporary dance and reinforces its unrivalled position in Australia’s cultural landscape and international cultural leadership.

2018

The Company moves out of the Wharf and into a temporary home in Ultimo while the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct is redeveloped.

2020

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sydney Dance Company launches the Virtual Studio in six days after public health orders cancel large scale gatherings and in person dance classes, with classes streamed live into people’s homes seven days a week.

2021

Sydney Dance Company returns to the redeveloped Wharf Studios at the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct.

2022

Sydney Dance Company becomes a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) and is now able to award Pre-Professional Year students their accredited training certificates under its own brand.

The Company returns to the international stage post-pandemic.

RTO # 45863

Chair’s Report

2022 was an exhilarating year for Sydney Dance Company. Despite the residual challenges from the pandemic, and an associated fear of arrested momentum for the arts sector, Sydney Dance Company’s ambition to make a meaningful and rewarding contribution to the lives of audiences and participants is stronger than ever.

With the return of all main stage performances, Sydney Dance Company’s remarkable year included two Sydney seasons (ab[intra] and Resound), an extensive national tour, a Melbourne season, and an international tour with a residency at Théâtre National de Chaillot in Paris. Plus, performances at festivals like Sydney Festival, a Night at the Barracks in Manly and our PreProfessional Year students performing at the New Annual Festival in Newcastle.

Sydney Dance Company plays a vital role in the ecology and leadership of the contemporary dance sector and from our perspective this starts at home on the Wharf with our performances, training, and open programs. As an organisation we nurture our people, but equally we prioritise sharing our expertise across the sector by building networks and sharing knowledge. In 2022 we curated our first season of INDance, our mini festival of works by independent choreographers supported by the City of Sydney. We also celebrated our ninth season of New Breed, supported by The Balnaves Foundation, this is a program that continues to nurture and develop emerging choreographers.

Another pivotal moment came in late 2022 when Sydney Dance Company was approved by the regulatory body Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) to become a Registered Training Organisation (RTO # 45863). Our educational offering, from open access to elite levels, is a key plank of who we are as an organisation. Becoming an RTO means Sydney Dance Company can now provide accredited training courses and this will create opportunities for growth and expansion in the future.

In 2022, Sydney Dance Company posted a year end deficit of $523,929 and an operational deficit of $410,285 as a result of ongoing business interruptions and uncertainty as we emerged out of the pandemic. The increased financial risks now being faced by Sydney Dance Company are primarily out of our control and will require close monitoring by the Board and management to ensure our overall sustainability. It will also place even greater emphasis on self-generated philanthropy and commercial income.

We remain incredibly grateful for the generosity of our donors, the commitment and loyalty of our audiences and the ongoing support of the Australia Council for the Arts and Create NSW. Sydney Dance Company is dependent on robust financial foundations to enable the organisation to plan with confidence and the Board remains committed to ensuring financial sustainability in order to allow the organisation to flourish artistically.

It has been a joy to experience the performances of 2022 and to be reminded of the extraordinary value of our work both on stage and in the community. I would like to express my gratitude to our wonderful Executive Director Lou Oppenheim and indefatigable Artistic Director Rafael Bonachela for their always capable and committed leadership. Together with a remarkable team united by a common purpose, Sydney Dance Company has made great progress in the last few years, despite significant uncertainty, and the future looks very bright indeed.

We recently announced Professor Larissa Behrendt AO will join the Board in 2023 and I know her impressive knowledge and wealth of experience across the arts sector will be invaluable. I would like to thank Pam Bartlett for her time on the Board and her unswerving commitment and drive as she chaired the Dance Noir Committee. I would also like to thank my fellow Board members for their diligence, commitment and enthusiasm; EmmaJane Newton (Deputy Chair), David Baxby, Jillian Broadbent AC, David Friedlander, Emma Gray, Alexa Haslingden, Mark Hassell, Catriona Mordant AM, Sandra McCullagh, and Paris Neilson.

My term on the Board will come to an end in 2023 and as I reflect on my eight years with Sydney Dance Company, I am incredibly proud of what has been achieved. There are many highlights, especially playing a leadership role in the refurbishment of our premises at the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct and navigating the uncertainty of the pandemic, but most of all knowing that I have been a part of this extraordinary organisation. It is a privilege that I will forever cherish.

Brett Clegg Chair

Executive Director’s Report

I am proud of the entire team at Sydney Dance Company who continued to overcome challenges to deliver a spectacular year of dance experiences to Australian and international audiences in 2022.

One of my first tasks as Executive Director of Sydney Dance Company was joining its first international tour since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it was an extraordinary experience for audiences and dancers alike. The tour to France, encompassing Lyon, Paris (as part of a two-week residency at Théâtre National de Chaillot), Arcachon and Mont de Marsan was a resounding success. All fourteen performances of ab [intra] were well received, with media reviews from Paris and at home in Sydney overwhelmingly positive. The substantive preparation and planning work, particularly within the COVID-19

environment, enabled this successful outcome, and the tour would not have been possible without funding support from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The Australian Federal Government’s support for Sydney Dance Company through the Australia Council for the Arts continues to enrich the cultural life of Australians and as always, we remain thankful for their vital assistance. I would particularly like to thank the Australia Council for the Arts for their investment in our collaboration with the Australian String Quartet, enabling us to co-commission the stunning Bryce Dessner score for Impermanence, which was then named Best Classical Record at the 2022 Libera Awards organised by the American Association of Independent Music.

In 2022 we continued our history of bringing world class quality dance experiences to communities across Australia. Our national tour of Impermanence confirmed the Company’s commitment to our Australian audiences as we danced our way from New South Wales to Western Australia, through the Northern Territory to Queensland and back. The tour included our first ever performance in Karratha and Kalgoorlie, WA.

Another collaboration that saw Sydney Dance Company on screens around Australia in 2022, was the ABC campaign to celebrate their 90th year. Ninety dancers from our ensemble, studio classes, pre-professional year students and community danced to a new arrangement of Bruce Woodley AO and Dobe Newtown’s ‘We Are Australia’ with choreography by Rafael Bonachela.

The NSW Government has also been a steadfast supporter of the Arts over this time. Not only is Sydney Dance Company grateful to be the recipient of ongoing partnership funding from the NSW Government, but we are also thankful to have received support through their Rescue and Restart support package for the Arts. With that support we were able to continue to employ the artists and arts workers that created Impermanence maintained a connection with our community through digital classes and other online programs, and, most critically, ensured that Sydney Dance Company could be ready to return live to Australian and international stages as soon as possible.

I would like to sincerely thank the NSW Government through Create NSW for our beautifully renewed home at the Wharf, underpinning all our creation and rehearsal activities together with our Open Classes and Advanced Training programs. With their support, and that of all those who invested in our vision, including our incredible Capital Campaign donors, we celebrate a home for Australian contemporary dance, now and into the future.

Finally, I would like to thank our Presenting Partner, LG Signature, for their support of the ab [intra] and Resound seasons, support of Sydney Dance Company’s innovative livestreamed dance classes, and their collaboration on a creative piece that merged art and technology.

It has often been said that Sydney Dance Company feels like a family; we work together collectively to bring these incredible works to the stage. We share the joys and triumphs of success,

and we gather together and buckle down to get through the challenges. My sincere thanks and appreciation go to all the Sydney Dance Company family, donors, Board, staff, dancers, and audiences for what has been achieved.

Lou Oppenheim Executive Director

Artistic Director’s Report

What an incredible year 2022 was! We returned to the world stage, and once again toured the best of contemporary dance to Australian audiences around the country. We launched INDance with the support of the City of Sydney, we returned to Melbourne and reconnected with friends and audiences, and we celebrated the joy and artistry of dance with our sector colleagues at DanceX: Festival of Dance.

For many years I wanted to bring renowned international choreographer Ohad Naharin to Australia and in 2022 this dream became a reality as part of the Sydney Festival. Bursting at the seams with vitality and impact, featuring physical refinement alongside playfulness, Decadance is contemporary dance that speaks to everyone, and this performance season marked the company’s full ensemble return to the Sydney Opera House stage since 2017.

After two years of interrupted plans, I was incredibly excited to take Sydney Dance Company once again on a national tour. When COVID-19 struck in March 2020, Impermanence was only four days from its world premiere and opening night. As the impact of the pandemic became apparent, performances were cancelled, and artists sent into lockdown. Impermanence finally took to the stage in 2021, only to once again be interrupted

by the Omicron wave and 16 of 26 performances were cancelled. So it was with bated breath, and an incredible sense of a project long in planning finally on the cusp of fruition, that we took to the road in 2022 and brought this thrilling work to life for audiences around Australia, including some very special performances in Melbourne with the Australian String Quartet joining us live on stage.

Sydney Dance Company continued our relationship with the Naomi Milgrom Foundation, a key partner in commissioning new works, through their support of Years @ MPavillion, Melbourne. With the Foundation’s support I was able to choreograph a site-specific version of Years featuring six dancers.

The event was our first performance in Melbourne, and a wonderful welcome back, since the beginning of the pandemic, and it drew an especially large audience of supporters and media.

After almost three years it was such a privilege to perform on the international stage again in our incredibly successful tour to France. We were overwhelmed by the warm welcome ab [intra] received with standing ovations, rave reviews, and a completely sold-out season at Paris’ prestigious Théâtre National de Chaillot.

I was thrilled to bring ab [intra] to our audiences at home for a season at the Roslyn

Packer Theatre. When creating ab [intra] I wanted to capture the energy and drive I feel each time I walk into the studio. The dancers are an integral part of my creative process; they give life and form to my instincts and creative impulses, and I thank them for their generosity and tireless efforts.

Sydney Dance Company is fully committed to fostering space for the next generation of Australian talent, amplifying the now to support the future. It was a thrill to bring the ninth Season of New Breed to life with four emerging choreographers of such diverse backgrounds and experience, and who chose to explore such thought-provoking, challenging, and stimulating themes through their works. Our partnerships with Carriageworks and The Balnaves Foundation on New Breed are long standing and greatly cherished.

I am humbled to have this year been named a friend of the Maison de Cartier and in celebration of this announcement I was delighted to choreograph a duet performed over two nights at a Cartier Gala event at Phoenix Central Park, Sydney. I was also delighted to have Sydney Dance Company be a leading feature in the opening of Cartier’s new flagship store.

I acknowledge and express my sincere gratitude to our donors for their ongoing support which enables us to nurture young dancers through programs such as the Pre-Professional Year. This year, two cohorts of bold and committed dancers took to the stage for PPY22 Revealed and I am incredibly grateful to Hermès Australia, long-term production partners of this performance season, for their continued support which has allowed this program to flourish.

In August we launched INDance our new season of independent dance presented in the Neilson Studio and supported by the City of Sydney. Featuring four works by incredible independent Australian artists, it was such a joy to support the independent dance sector with a soldout inaugural season.

Sydney Dance Company welcomed audiences back to Sydney for the Resound performance season in October. The triple bill featured two world premieres; Summer choreographed by me, and The Universe is Here by Australian choreographer Stephanie Lake, as well as the return of my work Ocho. It is an intricate and complex process bringing new and existing works to the stage, and Resound’s success was made possible by the generosity, creativity, and hard work of our artistic collaborators; composers Nick Wales, Kate Moore and Robin Fox,

lighting designer Damien Cooper, costume and production designer David Fleischer, contemporary Australian fashion house Romance Was Born, iconic Australian visual artist Ken Done, costume designer Harriet Oxley and harpist Emily Granger. Sydney Dance Company is proud to continue to seek out and amplify the work of Australia’s best creatives through our collaborations, partnerships, and commissions.

Of course, these extraordinary commissions and collaborations would not have been possible without the support of the Carla Zampatti Commissioning Fund, and I remain forever grateful to the Zampatti family and the many generous donors who underpin this crucial fund. This initiative was named in honour of Carla in 2022 in recognition of her longstanding commitment to new and exciting works.

Rafael Bonachela Artistic Director

Our Impact

Contributing To Our Cultural Landscape

Investing in the Creative Industries

44,205

total performances attendances

101

performances locations across 10

5 States & Territories in Australia

Connecting To Our Communities

tour

Work provided for

208,328

199 people Online In Class

81,523 attendances

3,770 dance classes

administrators

$5,801,785

133 videos in our Classes On Demand library

72,899 90,679

4,521

Total Online Followers invested in creative and artistic staff salaries, employing arts administrators, dance educators and production staff, education programs and activities, scholarships for Pre-Professional Year dancers, and support for the broader dance sector by commissioning independent choreographers.

views Videos created (on Instagram)

13 secondments to students from external training institutions

At the Wharf

Dancer’s Report

Starting off our 2022 year with a bang the company made it back on stage at the Sydney Opera House as part of the Sydney festival, performing Decadance by Ohad Naharin.

After a tentative and rocky 2021 we did everything in our power to prepare for this incredible event. Starting our performance preparations in December 2021 we were conscious that we needed to be well prepared. We expanded our movement vocabulary and learnt a great deal of patience and adaptability. Despite the rise in COVID cases around us in NSW we persevered with caution and took all safety measures to ensure we made it to the stage - and we did! Once in the theatre we worked closely with Ohad as he shared his precise details and added his final words of wisdom. All the hard work, caution and hours developing in the studio paid off as we made it to our opening night through to closing with great success, a memory and achievement we will cherish and celebrate for years to come.

One moment from the year that seemed impossible to have imagined a year ago was our tour to France. Having such a career highlighting debut for myself, performing the Cadenza Duet from ab [intra] at the jam packed Théâtre National de Chaillot in Paris. Having watched ab [Intra] back in 2018 while auditioning for the company, I was struck by this beautiful work and was dying to be a part of that world. I remember being mesmerised by the intricate partnering, movement quality and pure power of the duet performed so gracefully and subtly by Charmene Yap and Davide Di Giovanni. The joy of performing this work in 2022 in Paris to a full audience was a dream.

We were graciously hosted by the Australian Embassy in Paris and the views were mind blowing, towering over the city skyline and looking straight on to the Eiffel Tower, rest assured we took plenty of photos! After two weeks in Paris the company were off to Arcachon and Mont-deMarsan. We had an incredible time exploring the cities and meeting the amazing people that helped make the tour possible. The dancers and crew were hosted by the inspiring Dame Darcey Bussell DBE at her château, and it was a beautiful day spent laughing, eating and talking all things dance and beyond. We felt so honoured to be hosted by such special people, we all left feeling like we found a home away from home.

With eight beautiful shows at the Roslyn Packer Theatre we wrapped up our ab [Intra] Sydney season on the Saturday night, with huge success, and by Monday we were on the road for

the national tour of Impermanence. The dancers were so happy to be back on the road performing for our audiences and after not having done so for quite some time we were ready to show our regional towns just what they, and we, had been missing out on. As a Queenslander myself, having not made it on that leg of the tour two years prior, I was thrilled to have made it home in 2022 performing for my family for the first time in seven years.

The regional tour is always a highlight for the dancers, we have amazing opportunities to see the beautiful country we live in while performing and delivering creative workshops in towns big and small. The tour to Western Australia left a big imprint on my mind with so much to see visually but also having the opportunity to return to the place where I found who I was as an artist. Liam Green and I returned to the school we both trained at (West Australian Academy of Performing Arts) to deliver workshops to current students. It was amazing for our teachers to be able to share with the students two graduates now working professionally in the dance industry, but equally as amazing for Liam and I to share the knowledge and growth we have both gained with Sydney Dance Company.

2022 was a year full of collaborations with beautiful artists. Travelling around regional Australia we were joined by the brilliant Australian String Quartet (ASQ). It was thrilling having them on stage with us again, and we took every opportunity to connect on and off stage. The ASQ had a performance while in Albany that all the touring company went to watch, it was spectacular and inspired us all for our show together the following night. Another momentous collaboration was in Melbourne for Dance X, organised by The Australian Ballet, we opened part one of the festival with an excerpt from ab [intra] which was then followed by The Australian Ballet, Lucy Guerin and Bangarra Dance Theatre. This collaboration saw an incredible fusion of dance artists and creatives all coming together cohesively to celebrate our beautiful art form, a collaboration we all felt was long overdue and allowed us all to make lifelong connections.

Back in Sydney at our newly renovated Wharf studios, for the first time since February, it was nice to feel at home, and having been on the road for so much of the year we hadn’t had the chance to truly enjoy our facilities. Our new physiotherapy/ fitness room and pilates space were in full swing (which we took full advantage of), and the hallways and studios were packed with

dancers coming to and from classes. It was great to be back in the Sydney Dance Company Wharf studio rush again.

Our final Roslyn Packer Theatre season of the year saw us working with the beautiful choreographer Stephanie Lake, her generosity, kindness and openness to our own choreographic choices made for an extremely easy and united process that radiated through her choreography on stage.

Onto our final season of the year New Breed 2022, which offers new up and coming choreographers a chance to work with us, and we saw incredibly talented choreographers Sophia Ndaba, Luke Hayward, Charmene Yap and Jenni Large’s works shine. With each choreographer there is so much variety and individuality to be shared, the New Breed season always offers us dancers’ chances to expand our minds and creativity. New Breed is the process that keeps on giving.

Working as an ensemble member for Sydney Dance Company allows us to come together as people and collaborators in such extraordinary ways, we get to travel the world and our beautiful country while sharing the art form we love so much. There is so much to discover about yourself as an artist in Sydney Dance Company and it’s something I feel will never stop developing. We are encouraged every day to expand our individuality and given tools and chances by working with different choreographers every year to expand our movement vocabulary. 2022 was an incredible example of the sheer drive and determination of Sydney Dance Company and the people working within it.

Mia Thompson

Dancers 2022

Tamara Bouman

Dean Elliott Jackson Fisch

Connor McMahon

Kai Taberner

Davide Di Giovanni

Luke Hayward

Rhys Kosakowski

Jesse Scales

Coco Wood (Trainee)

Jacopo Grabar

Liam Green

Natalie Allen Lucy Angel (Trainee)

Isabella Crain

Sophie Jones (Trainee)

Christopher Mills

Mia Thompson

Dimitri Kleioris Morgan Hurrell (Trainee)

Chloe Leong

Emily Seymour

Chloe Young

On Stage

Decadance

“The wow factor is off the charts but no matter how intense the demands, and they are great, each dancer’s personality registers powerfully. It’s a gift not to be underestimated.”

– The Australian

“This performance also showcases the versatility of the Sydney Dance Company dancers. It’s a sensational evening of thrilling, visceral dance...”

– Limelight

“Decadance is where we celebrate our repertoire, the playground in which we add or subtract and adapt pieces from our body of work… I love how Decadance allows the dancers to give their own interpretation, which is full of sublime moments”

–

Ohad Naharin

Bursting at the seams with vitality and impact, featuring physical refinement alongside playfulness, Decadance is a contemporary dance that speaks to everyone. It’s a sparkling statement from the choreographer and company who brought the groundbreaking Gaga movement language to the world, propelling dancers into more eccentric and experimental places than ever before.

Moving to an eclectic soundtrack ranging from Dick Dale to John Zorn, Goldfrapp to The Beach Boys, the dancers of Sydney Dance Company take a virtuosic dive into Ohad’s world, bringing fresh life and fresh limbs to a work that is constantly evolving as part of the repertory of major dance companies worldwide.

Total Performances 6

6 - 9 January

Sydney Opera House, Drama Theatre

Choreographer Ohad Naharin

Staged by Rachel Osborne and Ian Robinson

Soundtrack Maxim Warratt, Ohad Fishof Design and Edit and Stefan Ferry

Music Maxim Waratt, Goldfrapp, Ohad Fishof, David Darling, John Zorn, Al Majad Group, Guem, Dick Dale and the Del-Tones, The Tractor’s Revenge, Kid606, AGF, Lucky Ali & Ramya, Seefeel, Chronomad, The Beach Boys

Lighting Avi Yona Bueno (Bambi) Designer

Costume Rakefet Levi Designer

Acknowledgments

Presented by Sydney Festival 2022.

Years | Live at MPavillion

Total Performances 1

Saturday 5 February

MPavillion, Melbourne

Choreographer Rafael Bonachela

Music ‘Goldberg Variations’, BVW988, composed by Johann Sebastian Bach and arranged by Stephen Emmerson

Music Sonya Lifschitz

Performed by and Stephen Emmerson

Music Bob Scott, Jonathan Palmer Recording

Sound Post Bob Scott at Dodgy Sound Production

Pianos KAWAI supplied by

Costume Bianca Spender Designer

Film Producer Collider Films and Sydney Dance Company

Film Directed by Clemens Habicht

Film Director Florian Emmerich of Photography

Set to renowned Australian musician Stephen Emmerson’s reimagining of Bach’s iconic Goldberg Variations for two pianos, this counterpoint-rich adaptation was recorded with celebrated UkranianAustralian pianist and collaborator Sonya Lifschitz. Years was first conceived, filmed and streamed during 2021’s lockdown as an online work directed by Clemens Habicht.

This live, site-specific performance of Years saw six Sydney Dance Company dancers respond both to the thirty-one counter point variations and the essence of the MPavillion itself. Artistic Director, Rafael Bonachela, reflected on his personal choreographic journey and echoes of the past to find clarity at the heart of a turbulent world. Sinuous costumes by Bianca Spender brought softness and grace to the performance.

Acknowledgments

This performance was only made possible through the generous assistance of our supporters, Artistic Director’s Commissioning Partner 2021 (Years), The Naomi Milgrom Foundation, and Years Corporate Partner, KAWAI.

Years was also supported by members of Sydney Dance Company’s valued donor family: Arab Bank of Australia, Tony Berg AM and Carol Berg AM, David Mathlin, Jules Maxwell, Rebel Penfold-Russell OAM, Penelope Seidler AM, Matt Shelmerdine, Bianca Spender and Sam McGuiness.

ab [intra], ‘from within’ in Latin, explored our primal instincts, our impulses and our visceral responses; a journey through the intensity of human existence that commands your attention. A ferociously physical and emotional piece which stays with the audience long after leaving the theatre.

Total Performances 28

16 March – 9 April

International Tour, France

14 Performances

Maison de la Danse, Lyon

Thèâtre National de Chaillot, Paris

Le Thèâtre Olympia d’Arcachon, Arcachon

Thèâtre de Gascogne, Mont de Marsan

2 – 11 June

10 Performances

Roslyn Packer Theatre, Sydney

20 – 22 October

DanceX: Festival of Dance

4 Performances

Arts Centre Melbourne

Acknowledgments

Sydney Dance Company continues our muchvalued relationship with Presenting Partner, LG Signature. We opened the year together with the ab [intra] season and support from LG Signature to create film content for social media in the lead up to opening night.

Choreographer Rafael Bonachela

Music Original score by Nick Wales featuring Klātbūtne by Pēteris Vasks

Lighting Designer Damien Cooper

Set & Costume David Fleischer Designer

“The spectacle of these very high-level dancers, directed by Spanish choreographer Rafael Bonachela and carried by the heady music of Nick Wales, is breathtakingly poetic and beautiful.” – Le Point

“Dazzling, electrifying, heartfelt” – Limelight

Impermanence

“Arguably the single best piece created by and for an Australian dance company for many years”

– Adelaide Advertiser

“I was seeing those dancers in my mind as I composed… a stunning, inexplicable alchemy happens with the melding of movement and sound. A third art form is born”

– Bryce Dessner, The Australian

Total Performances 25

15 June – 26 August National Tour

18 Performances

Bathurst, NSW Dubbo, NSW Orange, NSW Wyong, NSW Wagga Wagga, NSW Gold Coast, QLD Gladstone, QLD Rockhampton, QLD Darwin, NT Kalgoorlie, WA Albany, WA Karratha, WA Mandurah, WA Perth, WA

6 – 10 September

7 Performances

Arts Centre Melbourne, Playhouse

After two years of disrupted plans, Sydney Dance Company was incredibly excited to be back on the road in 2022 and presenting Impermanence to audiences across Australia.

A visceral and thrilling exploration of the juxtaposition of beauty and devastation, this fulllength work featured a new score full of emotional power from Grammy Award-winning composer Bryce Dessner. Sydney Dance Company’s ensemble was joined live on stage by the Australian String Quartet for several performances, including the Arts Centre Melbourne season.

Choreographer Rafael Bonachela

Composer Bryce Dessner

Music Australian String Quartet Performed by

Music Features Another World by Anohni

Lighting Damien Cooper

Designer

Acknowledgments

The Sydney and Australian national performances of Impermanence were presented in association with the Australian String Quartet. Bryce Dessner’s music composition Impermanence was commissioned by the Australian String Quartet and Sydney Dance Company. This commission was assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts.

Costume Aleisa Jelbart

Designer

Stage Designer David Fleischer

Presented in association with Australian String Quartet and Arts On Tour

Night At The Barracks

Sydney Dance Company joined Australia’s biggest names in music, theatre, ballet, dance, rock, opera and jazz to take part in the inaugural Night At The Barracks at Sydney’s newest outdoor entertainment venue. Sydney Dance Company performed Rafael Bonachela’s Impermanence and the iconic duet from ab [intra].

Total Performances 1

24 September

North Head Barracks, Manly ab [intra] duet

Choreographer Rafael Bonachela

Music Original score by Nick Wales featuring Klātbūtne by Pēteris Vasks

Lighting Designer Damien Cooper

Production David Fleischer and Costume Designer

With sincere thanks to our Presenting Partner, LG Signature, and Sydney Dance Company’s 2018 Commissioning Fund donors.

Acknowledgments

The Sydney and Australian national performances of Impermanence were presented in association with the Australian String Quartet. Bryce Dessner’s music composition Impermanence was commissioned by the Australian String Quartet and Sydney Dance Company. This commission was assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts.

Impermanence

Choreographer Rafael Bonachela

Composer Bryce Dessner

Music Australian String Quartet

Performed by

Music Features Another World by Anohni

Lighting Designer Damien Cooper

Costume Designer Aleisa Jelbart

Stage Designer David Fleischer

Resound

“A three-course carte du jour”

–

Sydney Arts Guide

Total Performances 10

28 October – 5 November Roslyn Packer Theatre

Tracing an arc of emotions that move from a dark turbulent interrogation of our recent times through to a burgeoning, buoyant optimism, Resound was a program of three unique dance works that engaged the heart and soul.

Ocho

Choreographer Rafael Bonachela

Music Nick Wales featuring vocals by Rrawun Maymuru used with permission of the Mangalili Clan

Lighting Designer Damien Cooper

Costume and Set David Fleischer Designer

Summer (World Premiere)

Choreographer Rafael Bonachela

Music Cicadidae composed by Kate Moore, commissioned and recorded by Australian String Quartet, published/ licensed by © Deuss Music, The Hague, and adapted for this performance with kind permission of Kate Moore

Lighting Designer Damien Cooper

Costume Design Romance Was Born and Ken Done

The Universe is Here (World Premiere)

Choreographer Stephanie Lake

Acknowledgments

Resound was made possible by the generous support of the Carla Zampatti Commissioning Fund, as well as our government partners, the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, and the NSW Government through Create NSW. Resound Presenting Partner LG Signature and Artistic Director Partner Cartier.

Composer Robin Fox

Harpist Emily Granger

Lighting Designer Damien Cooper

Costume Designer Harriet Oxley

New Breed 2022

New Breed is our annual celebration of the best emerging Australian choreography in partnership with Carriageworks and generously supported by The Balnaves Foundation. In its ninth season in 2022, the incredibly talented Charmene Yap, Sophia Ndaba, Luke Hayward and Jenni Large, each created new works on members of the Sydney Dance Company ensemble.

New Breed Principal Partner

The Balnaves Foundation

Total Performances 15

30 November – 17 December

Carriageworks

The Veil of Separation

Choreographer Sophia Ndaba

Music Blue Pools – Tim Ayre and Jack Glass

Lighting Designer Alexander Berlarge

Costume Designer Aleisa Jelbart

Set Designer Actualised by Aleisa Jelbart and Guy Harding

The Remnants of

Choreographer Luke Hayward

Original Poem I Remember by Rick Holland

Spoken Text Luke Hayward

Lighting Designer Alexander Berlarge

Costume Designer Aleisa Jelbart and Annie Robinson

S U C K E R

Choreographer Jenni Large

Composer Anna Whitaker

Dramaturgy Ashleigh Musk

Lighting Designer Alexander Berlarge

Costume Designer Aleisa Jelbart

Drunk Tank Pink

Choreographer Charmene Yap

Composer Alyx Dennison

With inspiration and excerpts from: Qualia Ergo Femina Morten Instruxit by Hildegard von Bingen (C12th) and Zadok the Priest by George Frideric Handel (1727). Quia Ergo Femina Morten Instruxit performed and interpreted by Sonya Holowell. Duet constructed from improvisations by Jessica O’Donoghue with responses by Sonya Holowell.

Acknowledgments

Sydney Dance Company sincerely thanks New Breed Principal Partner The Balnaves Foundation, and our Co-Presenters Carriageworks.

Lighting and Set Alexander Berlarge Designer

Costume Designer Aleisa Jelbart

importance of “New

be understated. A credit to Rafael Bonachela, Sydney Dance Company, The Balnaves Foundation and Carriageworks for the artistic and financial risk, the program sets the scene for an exciting future of contemporary dance in Australia.” – Fjord Review

“Sydney Dance Company’s ninth annual season of new contemporary dance works is one of the most satisfying yet.”

– Limelight

“The

Breed” cannot

PPY22 New Annual Festival

– Timeout

New Annual Festival puts the City of Newcastle, NSW, on the radar nationally and internationally, as a creative city where exciting, ambitious, and accessible contemporary art and culture grows and thrives. Sydney Dance Company was proud to be programmed into the 2022 line up presenting Stephanie Lake’s Colossus.

The contemporary dance performance created by internationally renowned choreographer Stephanie Lake is a riveting and hypnotic work that explores the relationships between the individual and the collective with a cast of fifty-five Pre-Professional Year dancers performing as one.

Total Performances 3

23 – 24 September Civic Theatre, Newcastle

COLOSSUS

Produced by Stephanie Lake Company

Choreographer Stephanie Lake

Composer Robin Fox

Lighting Designer Bosco Shaw

Costume Designer Harriet Oxley

Technical Manager Robert Larsen

Production Robert Larsen Manager

Acknowledgments

Colossus was originally commissioned by Arts Centre Melbourne and Melbourne Fringe through the Take Over Program. It is supported by Australia Council for the Arts, Creative Victoria, Canny Quine Foundation, The Humanity Foundation, Linda Herd and generous individual donors.

Associate Producer Beth Raywood Cross

Rehearsal Nikky Muscat and Kaitlin Malone Directors

Dancers Sydney Dance Company’s Pre-Professional Year

“Thrilling and frightening and entirely unforgettable.”

PPY22 Revealed

Featuring four World Premiere works by Sam Coren, James O’Hara, Cloé Fournier and Melanie Lane along with an excerpt of Variation 10 by Sydney Dance Company’s Artistic Director Rafael Bonachela.

Total Performances 2

5 – 6 December

Carriageworks

Excerpt of Variation 10

Choreographer Rafael Bonachela

Composer Benjamin Britton

Lighting Designer Alexander Berlarge

Costume Design Toni Maticevski

Arrival in s.a.r.s.h

Choreographer Sam Coren

Composer Felicity Groom

Spoken Text Luke Hayward

Lighting Designer Alexander Berlarge

Costume Designer Alice Joel

IVY

Choreographer Melanie Lane

Composer Glass Teeth, Positive Centre, Forever Optimum, Positive Centre, Chominciamento di gioia, Anonymous, Stevie Wishart & Sinfonye

Lighting Designer Alexander Berlarge

Costume Designer Bronte Hilder

Tout ce [-‘sa] / All of This [That]

Choreographer Cloé Fournier

Composer Hamed Sadeghi

Vocals Maïssa Alameddine

Lighting Designer Alexander Berlage

Costume Designer Bell Campbell

Outside eye Michelle St Anne

We’ve Been Here Before, But Never Like This

Directed by James O’Hara

Choreographed by James O’Hara in collaboration with PPY2 students

Composition by James O’Hara with the voices of PPY2 students

Lighting Designer Alexander Berlage

Costume Designer Bronte Hilder

Acknowledgments

Sydney Dance Company gratefully acknowledges Hermès Australia for its support as the PPY22 Revealed Production Partner.

– The Sydney Morning Herald

“Seeing this group of accomplished dancers as they step out into the world is incredibly reassuring: the art form will surely flourish.”

INDance

In August our inaugural season of INDance ran in our intimate performance venue, the Neilson Studio. Our first independent company season, supported by the City of Sydney, and featuring four works by independent Australian artists, INDance is a unique opportunity for the independent dance sector to have their work presented in a program which specifically aims to explore the diversity and innovation of contemporary dance. The 2022 program included prominent independent dance artists Prue Lang, Lilian Steiner, Natalie Allen and Rhiannon Newton. The season was a sell out and delivered against its intended objectives of raising the profile of independent Australian dance artists and connecting exceptional, small to mediumscale dance works with Sydney Dance Company audiences.

Total Performances 8

19 – 20 & 26 – 27 August Sydney Dance Company Neilson Studio

Siren Dance Concept, Lilian Steiner Choreography and Performance

Composition Marco Cher-Gibard featuring Aarti Jad

Text The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Milan Kundera

Lighting Designer Giovanna Yate Gonzalez

Costume Designer Geoffrey Watson

“It is rare that independent choreographers get to share their work beyond the premiere season and away from their hometown. It was a joy to have this experience”

– Lillian Steiner, Choreographer/ Performer INDance 2022

“It was wonderful to share this work with Sydney audiences… to be working at Sydney Dance Company alongside a dynamic and diverse dance community”

– Prue Lang, Choreographer INDance 2022

CASTILLO

Concept and Prue Lang Direction

Choreography Prue Lang and Jana Castillo

Composer Chiara Costanza

Performer Jana Castillo

Lighting Designer Lisa Mibus

Video Pippa Samaya, Prue Lang, Takeshi Kondo, Freed, Androids: Mathieu Briand

Producer Alison Halit

Siren Dance premiered at Dancehouse (Carlton, Australia) from 24-27 March 2022. Development and this presentation was supported by Dancehouse, Besen Family Foundation and Lucy Guerin Inc. An initial, short iteration of Siren Dance was supported through presentations at B.Motion Danza(Bassano del Grappa, Italy) and Deltebre Dansa (Deltebre, Spain) in 2019.

CASTILLO premiered at Dancehouse (Carlton, Australia) March 2022. Creation and presentation was supported by Dancehouse, The Australia Council for the Arts, Creative Victoria, Besen Family Foundation, Supercell Festival of Contemporary Dance through the Makers program, Chunky Move and Lucy Guerin Inc. CASTILLO premiered Internationally at Rencontres chorégraphiques internationales de Seine-Saint-Denis (Paris, France) June 2022. Support by The Australia Council for the Arts and Rencontres chorégraphiques internationales de Seine-Saint-Denis.

INDance

Julia

Created by Natalie Allen and Sally Richardson

Director Sally Richardson

Performer Natalie Allen

Sound Design / Joe Paradise Lui and Annika Moses Composition

Featured song Rachael Dease composed and performed by

Lighting Designer Joe Paradise Lui

Costume Designer Nicole Marrington

Set Designer Helen Fitzgerald

Creative Producer Libby Klysz

Stage Manager Georgia Smith

Executive Steamworks Arts

Producers with Feisty Dame Productions

Explicit Contents

Choreographer Rhiannon Newton

Performers David Huggins, Ivey Wawn

Music and Sound Peter Lenaerts

Designer

Lighting Designer Karen Norris

Costume Designer Agnes Choi

Producer Katy Green Loughrey

Explicit Contents was originally commissioned and produced by Campbelltown City Council through Campbelltown Arts Centre. The presentation of Explicit Contents has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts and, the NSW Government through Create NSW.

Creative Industries Collaborations

Total Performances 4

2 Performances 10 & 11 February

Phoenix Central Park

Cartier Gala Event

Cartier came on board as Sydney Dance Company’s official Artistic Director’s Partner at the end of 2021. To celebrate the announcement of Rafael Bonachela as a friend of the Maison de Cartier, five dancers from Sydney Dance Company performed in an immersive installation, and Rafael Bonachela choreographed a feature duet performed over two nights.

1 Performance 16 November

Cartier Sydney Cartier Flagship Opening

Rafael Bonachela and Sydney Dance Company were also a leading feature of the opening of the Cartier flagship store with performances, photo shoots and interviews.

1 Performance 9 May Carriageworks

Australian Fashion Week

Sydney Dance Company was privileged to continue our relationship with close collaborator Bianca Spender with seven ensemble members featured in the iconic Australian womenswear brands’ Australian Fashion Week show at Carriageworks. The dancers wore Bianca’s new collection. Movement direction was by Rehearsal Associate, Charmene Yap.

Sydney Dance Company On Screen

Choreographer Rafael Bonachela

Composer I am Australian Bruce Woodley AO and Dobe Newton

Musical Justin Shave, Uncanny Valley

Arrangement

ABC MADE Harriet Oxley

Executive Producer

ABC MADE Tim Brown

Director

ABC MADE Mark Risso Gill

Producer

ABC MADE Justin O’Sullivan

Senior Creative

ABC MADE Francesca Snow

Senior Designer

ABC MADE Audio Dave Williams

Campaign Creative

Director of Tony Luu

Photography

Stills Photographer Alexandra Adoncello

B Camera Rachael Thornton

Sound Recordist Predrag Malesev

“There

Sydney Dance Company was thrilled to announce a special collaboration with the ABC in 2022, as the national broadcaster launched a new brand campaign to celebrate their milestone of 90 years. Sydney Dance Company featured in one of a series of creative content pieces showcasing the different communities and landscapes ABC engages with across its services. Set to a new arrangement of Bruce Woodley AO and Dobe Newton’s ‘We Are Australian’, ninety dancers from Sydney Dance Company’s ensemble, studio classes, Pre-Professional Year and diverse community danced to new choreography by Rafael Bonachela culminating in the creation of the ABC logo in stunning physical form. The partnership resulted in the creation of sixty second and ninety second spots and a behind-the-scenes documentary featuring an interview with Rafael Bonachela.

The ABC’s Celebrating 90 Years Campaign was the winner of TWO GOLDS at the New York Festivals TV & Film Awards 2023 in the Station/Image Promotion and Station/Network ID categories.

“The ABC has always provided an invaluable platform for the Arts in Australia, and to be part of this unique moment in time, captured at Sydney Dance Company’s iconic Wharf Studios on Sydney Harbour is incredible”

– Rafael Bonachela

was an enormous amount of energy and passion for this project. At its heart, the campaign is about capturing people doing what they love to do and that is –connecting with each other…”

– Diana Constantini, Head of Creative/Creative Director ABC MADE

Teaching, Training & Education

Classes

After the restrictions of the last two years and with a challenging start impacted by Omicron, 2022 saw a full year of uninterrupted schedule of more than 3,770 classes across the year with an attendance of 81,523 and 5,427 individual clients. People of all ages and stages of dance ability joined us at our renowned Wharf Studios, online via virtual studio, or by subscribing to our On Demand library. Our classes provide the opportunity for all members of our dance community from across Australia to join us, be creative, get fit and have fun in a supportive environment. Our livestream classes continued to connect us with online participants in 2022. They allow people who are either geographically or socially unable to attend in-studio the opportunity to enjoy a real-time dance class experience. Our weekly classes for dancers aged 55+ continued to run with much success in 2022. ABC Catalyst’s two-part special “Keep on Dancing”, that aired in October, was filmed at the Sydney Dance Company studios. This nationally-aired program shared the outcomes of research showing that dance is not just a fun way for older Australians to maintain regular exercise, improving cardiovascular fitness, balance, coordination and strength, but also proven to impact overall well-being and inspire an increased sense of community connection.

Sydney Dance Company also partnered with Arthritis NSW to deliver online classes for anyone living with arthritis. Motion & Flow was a weekly class designed for people with a range of mobility and ability levels and delivered by Training Associate Juliette Barton. Participants reported improved mobility, decreased joint pain and positive changes in their mental health.

Our In-Studio classes provide an opportunity for people from all walks of life to connect to the Wharf Studios’ professional and industry leading environment, and become part of a community that supports physical activity, skills development and social wellbeing. During the year we held:

3,770 classes with

81,523 attendances

2,007 attendances via livestream

16,800 views of our On Demand classes

68 short courses delivered to

824 clients

415 individual and group Pilates sessions

“One of the best teachers in the industry! Ramon is one to push our limits, challenge us but also put the biggest smile on our face. His class is the highlight of my week and I couldn’t recommend it more!” – Dance Class Participant

132

13

dance teachers employed secondments to students from external training institutions

Pre-Professional Year 2022

“During my two years in PPY not only did I discover the subject of dance but through dance the curation of life. I came to understand the comfort of true choice. To feel the fear of knowing control. I learnt not only how to direct my body but also to be directed by it. I was entranced by the art of true movement, the force of change, and from change – balance. From that place came a true gift, the gift of knowing others. I have never felt more grateful for my encounters. This course

• 26 PPY1 dancers (new)

• 28 PPY2 dancers (18 returning from PPY21)

• 43% of PPY dancers have engaged with Sydney Dance Company programs before joining the program

Sydney Dance Company’s Pre-Professional Year offers two nationally recognised training qualifications through a specialised curriculum tailored to global industry standards. Successful applicants who have not yet completed diploma level tertiary education or higher join the first year of training and complete a CUA51520 Diploma Diploma of Professional Dance (Elite Performance). All graduating first-year dancers can progress to the second year of training to complete the • CUA60120 Advanced Diploma of Professional Dance (Elite Performance).

Pre-Professional Year is a unique experience for aspiring professional dancers to approach full-time training alongside a resident dance company. A wide and multifaceted view of the dance industry is developed through training in the immersive professional environment of Sydney Dance Company. Encompassing a wide spectrum of industry-based dance practices, the PreProfessional Year dancers train as an ensemble and work with over forty 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.

In 2022 we leveraged philanthropic support to provide three Pre-Professional Year 2021 graduates traineeship level employment contracts with Sydney Dance Company to continue to develop their careers within our own company of elite dancers. Further philanthropic support was given to four Pre-Professional Year students who received fee-paying scholarships to participate in the year-long program, which they would not have been able to afford otherwise. Two of these students had the chance to work with the ensemble for four weeks during their studies where they learned repertoire from Impermanence and ab [intra], gaining insight into professional practice, and deepening their engagement with Sydney Dance Company’s repertoire and creative processes. By the end of the year, one student had been offered a 12-month trainee contract with the ensemble.

In 2022 we piloted a Flexible Training program, with an initial intake of five students. The program allows dancers to train with Sydney Dance Company part-time, taking In-Studio classes, some Pre-Professional Year classes, conditioning pilates sessions and have the support and guidance from the training team. This helps us provide more accessible learning approaches and retain students who cannot commit to full-time training.

has not only taught me dance but the power of humanity.”

– Sophia Fell, PPY 2021 and 2022

Pre-Professional Year 2022

“Thank you so much for everything! You were able to give [my daughter] hope in a difficult situation and your calmness helped to relieve some of those fears about the unknown future. I can see her gaining confidence and independence in equal measures.”

– Flexible Training student’s mother

Conditioning Studio

In its first full year of operation:

415 Pilates sessions to the public

Class

160 sessions with Sydney Dance Company ensemble dancers

120 sessions with Pre-Professional Year students

To mitigate the risk of injury and ensure the dancers are performing at their peak when on stage, Sydney Dance Company provides ensemble dancers and Pre-Professional Year students with access to specialist physiotherapy, pilates, and endurance training. Pre-Professional Year Dancers work three times per week with the Conditioning Studio Manager in group pilates sessions, and each day two company dancers, in consultation with the company physiotherapist, are selected to have a focused pilates session.

Sydney Dance Company’s pilates studio is also open to the public to attend individual and group sessions.

“100% recommend, she’s really great at identifying the needs of each class member” – Group Pilates

participant

Schools and Education

119 face-to-face workshops delivered in schools to a total of

3,214 students from four States & Territories across Australia

66 workshops were delivered on National Tour across ten locations to over

1,670 young people

49

4 School matinee performances, attended by

54 26

Pre-Professional Year students

Bachelor of Music (Performance) students, in partnership with Sydney Conservatorium of Music through University of Sydney

25

young dancers attended Youth Summer Intensive

70

workshops were delivered to schools in the Greater Sydney region in seven different dance styles HSC students from Western Sydney participated in the FORM Choreographic Workshops

4 digital workshops delivered to 50 students

47

young dancers formed two youth ensembles, culminating in a Youth Ensemble Performance attended by

132 people in our Neilson Studio

29 in-studio school holiday workshops with 492 attendances by young people

2,893 students and teachers

1 livestreamed schools matinee viewed by more than

1,300 students nationwide

“The contemporary class was well suited to the students and they really enjoyed learning the repertoire for Impermanence. We look forward to engaging the students with composition tasks from the education resource to develop a class work inspired from viewing the live stream and participating in the workshop.” – Secondary School Teacher, SA, following a virtual workshop

Sydney Dance Company’s Education Programs support Primary, Secondary and Tertiary students and teachers with curriculum aligned workshops, matinee performances and bespoke programs. With the return to activities in schools in 2022, Sydney Dance Company delivered workshops to students in Sydney and around Australia, in contemporary dance as well as a range of other dance styles. To ensure schools can continue to engage with Sydney Dance Company regardless of geographical locations, virtual workshops continued, delivering high-quality content to fifty students throughout the year. Twenty incursions, twenty excursions, four virtual workshops and sixty-six workshops on national tour were delivered throughout the year, reaching a total of 3,214 students.

Our programs for younger people still in secondary school include the Senior Contemporary Dance Program delivered at McDonald College Strathfield, and the Youth Ensemble delivered at our own Wharf Studios. Both provide pathways to the Pre-Professional Year and further industry training. This not only feeds the ecosystem of contemporary dance and strengthens the sector in NSW and Australia, but it also puts Sydney Dance Company in a comparable position to leading companies around the world.

Three of the four graduating McDonald College Senior Contemporary Dance students from 2021 joined our Pre-Professional Year 1 cohort in 2022, with the continuing students staying in the McDonald College Senior Contemporary Dance program for 2022. Students in this affiliate program joined Sydney Dance Company’s Pre-Professional Year for the afternoon session every Thursday at the Wharf to experience pre-professional training and viewing of company and Pre-Professional Year rehearsals.

Twenty-five young dancers from across the nation spent a week at Sydney Dance Company in January for our Summer Youth Intensive program. They worked with professional ensemble dancers, members from the artistic and Pre-Professional Year teams and industry specialists, to gain an insight into what training in the Pre-Professional Year program might be like. A Q&A was held during the week to support and share information about potential pathways for young dancers.

“The workshop was by far one of the most well rounded, organised and purposeful workshops we’ve had.” – Secondary School Teacher, QLD

“Watching the teaching artists teach not only refreshed me as a teacher but we also had such a meaningful chat after their class… The students loved the experience too… for the seniors it continued to develop their artistry and creativity whilst educating them on possible future career pathways.” – Secondary School Teacher, QLD

Tertiary Networks

“I felt so humbled that [my child] had the opportunity to dance in such a professional setting and with such a well organised event and team at Sydney Dance Company. It really did inspire her dreams. The kindness and care shown to the dancers that we witnessed, was a highlight as was the opportunity to see how proud they were of themselves at the show and tell session on Friday afternoon.”

Forty-seven dancers aged between the ages of 13 and 18 formed our two 2022 Youth Ensembles. Youth Ensemble ran for eight weeks of each of terms 1, 2 and 3 and, for the first time, culminated in a performance outcome, held in the Neilson Studio. The performance, for family and friends, was attended by 128 people and included newly created works by Pre-Professional Year alumni Eliza Cooper and former company dancer Davide Di Giovanni.

Sydney Dance Company’s ongoing partnership with FORM Dance Projects in Western Sydney continued for its fourth consecutive year, and seventh year in total. This included two days of workshops in Parramatta for seventy HSC dance students.

Our team of ten Teaching Artists undertook training to deliver education workshops whilst on national tour, learning Sydney Dance Company repertoire and developing an understanding of the creative processes used by the company to develop these works. The Teaching Artists delivered sixty-six face-to-face workshops to young Australian school students aged 8 to 18 years.

Bespoke workshops were also delivered to schools and organisations in Newcastle and Coffs Harbour throughout the year. The education team at Sydney Dance Company works with these organisations to identify their goals and develop unique experiences for them through dance, allowing for an in-depth and unique engagement opportunity.

School matinee performances were run throughout the year and included pre-show discussions with creatives, a performance of the work and a post-show Q&A with opportunities for students in the audience to ask questions. A Secondary school matinee performance of ab [intra] was delivered to 519 students from twenty schools from the Greater Sydney area in June. In September a matinee performance of Impermanence was delivered at the Arts Centre Melbourne as part of Arts Centre Melbourne’s Megamix program; a collection of shows that were fully subsidised by Creative Victoria’s Positive Start funding. This resulted in tickets being fully subsidised to eligible schools and as a result 600 students were able to attend the performance in person. A matinee performance of Resound in Sydney was delivered in October to 538 students and teachers from twenty-three schools, sharing with them the newly commissioned work The Universe is Here by Stephanie Lake, and Summer by Rafael Bonachela.

A digital livestream of the Impermanence matinee at Arts Centre Melbourne was also made available to schools as part of the Federal Government’s RISE funding. This was made free for schools to access and more than 1,300 students from across Australia were able to view the performance online.

In February 2022 Sydney Dance Company commenced an exciting new partnership with the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. The twentysix students in the Bachelor of Music program undertook a structured program of coursework at the Sydney Dance Company Wharf Studios which included Somatic Practice and Theatrical Improvisation, Stylised movement for Musical Theatre, and Classical Techniques for Dance performance. Partnerships like this enable Sydney Dance Company to establish strong links with higher education and offer students access to learn from leading industry professionals.

Sydney Dance Company plays a critical role in contributing to the Australian arts ecology. Besides offering holistic support through industry development and training, and creation of career pathways, as well as traineeships, partnerships and sharing of our infrastructure and resources, we also encourage greater giving to the arts. We do this by forging alliances and collaborations with diverse dance communities, other arts organisations, corporate sponsors, and patrons, and across government departments. We believe

these valuable and rewarding collaborations play a vital role in sustaining not only Sydney Dance Company but also underpinning the sustainability of our sector and community. Throughout the year, Sydney Dance Company staff and dancers share our expertise and undertake information exchange and professional development with our networks of national and international peers.

Building capacity and professional networks not only impacts the long-term sustainability of the sector through continual benchmarking of skills and knowledge against world’s best practice, but it also adds to the cultural vibrancy of the nation by contributing to and supporting the development of arts practice which leads to the creation of new work and performances.

Thirty students in their final year of study for their Bachelor of Fine Arts at Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) attended a masterclass delivered by Sydney Dance Company, some of whom have since undertaken secondments with us at our Wharf Studios. This relationship continues to develop and will see Sydney Dance Company alumnus, David Mack, stage Rafael Bonachela’s 2 One Another on WAAPA students for a performance season in 2023; the third work of Rafael’s to be presented at WAAPA.

Sydney Dance Company provides secondment opportunities to students at other tertiary dance training providers, providing tertiary and vocational students the opportunity to gain insight into professional practice. Over the course of 2022, Sydney Dance Company hosted thirteen secondments from external training institutions including The Australian Ballet School, WAAPA, New Zealand School of Dance, Adelaide College of the Arts, Victorian College of the Arts and NAISDA Dance College (National Aboriginal Islander Skills Development Association).

At Sydney Dance Company we celebrate the ever-changing diversity of experience and skill within the ensemble and are strengthened by every new voice who joins us. Open auditions are an important part of the recruitment process for Sydney Dance Company and after two years of rescheduling, in February we finally held our first open audition since 2017. 84 candidates from around Australia, and three international candidates made their way to the Wharf Studios to audition with us in 2022. For many dancers, this is their first connection with the company and the audition process enables us to connect with national and international industry in an equitable and accessible way.

– Youth Intensive participant parent, 2022

“Our partnership with Sydney Conservatorium of Music’s Bachelor of Music (Musical Theatre) course feels beautifully aligned. Our values in training people to dance more effectively and efficiently for any choreographer in any style is what makes this partnership succeed.”

– Linda Gamblin, Head of Training

Sydney Dance Company continue to feel the benefits of our renewed home at the Wharf. It has been heartening to see more people visiting and returning to work at the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct, taking advantage of Sydney Dance Company’s café and foyer as a place to meet, collaborate and work. We are committed to growing the venue hire business through a targeted approach to commercial hires, partnerships and internally run activations. Hirers have included Cotton On, Australian Tap Dance Festival, The Australian Ballet, Universal, Disney, Hong Kong Dance Company, Crossroads Live, Gondwana Choirs, Bangarra Dance Theatre, Australian Theatre for Young People, Bell Shakespeare, NSW Department of Education – The Arts Unit, Sydney Opera House, Redlands School, Surf Life Saving Australia, and Young Presidents Organisation.

A City of Sydney Nighttime activation grant was used to support the delivery of Happenings – a series of three free Friday night activations, in partnership with Nick Wales. The series launched on 11 February 2022 as part of the Company’s yearly program of events in celebration of Sydney Mardi Gras with featured performances by electric classical musicians, drag performers and DJs.

Sydney Dance Company Wharf Studios, and specifically the Neilson Studio, have been assets that allow Sydney Dance Company to contribute in-kind support for independent artists and the greater arts community. Over 100 hours of in- kind support has been provided to organisations such as Ausdance, Make Music Day, Flamenkisimo ‘Evocasion’ and Phunktional Arts ‘Beyond the Walls’.

Our industry support also extends to sharing resources with the independent dance sector and other arts organisations. In 2022 we established a contra partnership with Sydney Eisteddfod and extended them a reduction in venue hire costs in exchange for a range of marketing support.

As part of Sydney Fringe Festival 2022, and with subsidized support from Sydney Dance Company by way of venue hire, and equipment, Flamenkisimo brought the face of flamenco in Australia to the Wharf. Evocación had two sold-out performances in the Neilson Studio and highlighted the diversity of the independent dance community in Australia.

Philanthropy

With 25% of our income raised through philanthropic support from individuals and foundations, the generosity of Sydney Dance Company’s Partners has a huge impact on our capacity to deliver exceptional contemporary dance experiences. Donations through our annual Partner Program and other targeted funds enable us to create and commission new work - the very essence of the company – and share this work on tour across Australia and around the world and invest in the future of our artform through education, outreach, and training opportunities for young, aspiring dancers.

Although Omicron and public health orders limited face-to-face engagement at times, the philanthropy team focused on making the most of in-season opportunities to re-connect with our wonderful supporters as they once again began to attend live performances.

Every year, we are delighted to welcome our donor family and friends to view rehearsals at our Wharf Studios home in the lead up to our Sydney seasons. These visits provide a unique opportunity for donors to enter the studio space, experience the dancers in action and deepen their understanding of the choreographic process. In 2022 we were excited to host these special events in our Neilson Studio for the first time, giving our supporters a curated insight into ab [intra] and Resound. We were also able to connect with our supporters from further afield virtually via livestream.

A major highlight of the year for the philanthropy team, along with the Board, executive and staff, was the launch of the Carla Zampatti Commissioning Fund. Carla was passionate about the arts, and we are honoured to have enjoyed her support as a Board director, benefactor, and friend to the company. The Commissioning Fund was named in memory of her great commitment to nurturing the company’s creativity through fundraising to specifically support the commissioning of new choreography, music, costume, and design.

The Inaugural Carla Zampatti Commissioning Fund dinner was held at the Wharf on 24 May 2022, and the generous support of this group enabled us to commission and present new work by Rafael Bonachela (Summer) and multiaward-winning Australian choreographer Stephanie Lake (The Universe is Here). As is only fitting for a fund dedicated to a truly iconic Australian fashion designer, we were absolutely thrilled the Carla Zampatti Commissioning Fund also enabled Sydney Dance Company to collaborate with contemporary Australian fashion house, Romance

Was Born, on the costuming for Summer

Our Dancer’s Circle directly supports the growth and development of our ensemble dancers to perform at their peak through a framework of artistic, physical, and mental health support. As an example, this year, Sydney Dance Company was able to send our own physiotherapist to accompany the ensemble whilst on tour in France. This ensures continuity of care for the dancers with a health practitioner with whom they have an established relationship and can assess each dancer individually to provide on-the-spot treatment.

While on tour, we shared backstage tours, videos of curtain calls and other stories from the road. It is so important to us to connect with our donor family whilst we are away from home; international and national tours would not be possible without their support. In 2022 our Touring Fund donors helped us to reinvigorate our global presence with the French Tour and extend our reach to more audiences at home through the Impermanence national tour. Being on tour to 15 towns and cities in five States and Territories across Australia also enabled us to forge connections with the youngest members of our community through a series of education and outreach activities.

Our donors also partner with us to nurture and inspire the dancers and audiences of the future, including fee scholarships for our PreProfessional Year program. In 2022 we were able to offer four full-time scholarships across our first and second year cohorts, providing much needed support to help the students to cope with the pressures of living away from home, many of them for the first time. These life-changing opportunities not only support an aspiring professional dancer to take the next step, but also bring welcomed energy and enthusiasm into the dancers’ studio.

In 2022 the Sydney Dance Company’s Dance Noir fundraising extravaganza came out of hibernation with 410 guests at the Hordern Pavilion for a glamorous and fun night. Despite the challenges of putting on a major fundraising event with the pandemic still looming in the background, the event was a success and welcome opportunity to celebrate in glamourous style with our supporters and their guests.

The evening began with a performance by the Pre-Professional Year dancers followed by Sydney Dance Company dancers performing an exquisite extract of Impermanence. Later in the evening dancers Emily Seymour and Liam Green captivated the audience with their beautiful performance of the Cartier Duet. At the end of the evening the dance floor opened to all, with guests flooding the stage to party into the early hours.

The Dance Noir Committee was chaired by Creative Producer Peter Reeve and Mandy Foley, and the committee worked tirelessly to make the event a great success. We are grateful for all their hard work, dedication and commitment to support Sydney Dance Company.

We continued to raise support through our Take a Seat campaign, with supporters being acknowledged on a brass plaque on the back of their chosen seat in our Neilson Studio. With just 55 seats available for naming, this is a special opportunity for donors to take their place alongside our Take a Step Capital Campaign supporters and to know their contribution is helping to secure our Wharf Studios home for future generations to enjoy.

“It is so enriching and fulfilling for us to see our pieces being worn in a completely emotive, skilful, and beautiful way that is different from how we normally present our work. [the dancers] represent the innate spirit we’re trying to speak to with our clothing.”

– Romance Was Born

Our Supporters

We couldn’t do it without you!

Platinum Partners

A special thank you to our platinum partners for their enduring commitment and passion for Sydney Dance Company.

Robert Albert AO & Elizabeth Albert, The Balnaves Foundation, Jane & Andrew Clifford, Crown Resorts Foundation, Julian Knights AO & Lizanne Knights, Jules Maxwell, Andrew Messenger, Naomi Milgrom AC, Naomi Milgrom Foundation, The Neilson Foundation, Judith Neilson AM, Packer Family Foundation, Gretel Packer AM, Thyne Reid Foundation, The Wales Family Foundation, Carla Zampatti Foundation, Mary Zuber.

Take a Step & Take a Seat Campaigns

The next step has been taken and our home has been transformed, ready to welcome the next generation of dancers. We would like to thank everyone, both acknowledged and anonymous, for their visionary support of our Take A Step and Take A Seat Campaigns. They have enabled the transformation of our physical space and underpinned our creativity for decades to come.

NSW Government

The Neilson Foundation, The Wales Family, Jane & Andrew Clifford, Catriona Mordant AM & Simon Mordant AO, The late Carla Zampatti AC,

Brett Clegg & Annabel Hepworth, Julian Knights AO & Lizanne Knights, Pam & Doug Bartlett, Kiera Grant & Mark Tallis, The Alexandra & Lloyd Martin Family Foundation, Karen Moses, Emma-Jane Newton & Chris Paxton, Thyne Reid Foundation, Mary Zuber, Paul Brady & Christine Yip, Alexa & David Haslingden, Jane & Richard Freudenstein, Mark Hassell, The late Carina Martin, In memory of Nora McCullagh, David Mathlin, Ezekiel Solomon AM, Judi Wolf & Alden Toevs,

Rafael Bonachela & Joe Lawler, Michelle & Logan Boyle, Jillian Broadbent AC & Olev Rahn, Peter &

Liz Brownie, Tony Burke & the late Janice Burke, Benjamin Cisterne, Livinia Clegg, Debbie Coffey, Janine Collins, Alexandra Considine, Jade & Richard Coppleson, Chum Darvall AM, Anne Dunn & Patricia Buick, Donna & Carl Jackson, Tina & Mark Johnson, Longreach Ownership Trust, Michael Lynch & the late Chrissy Sharp, Macquarie Group Foundation, Rohan Morri, Lizzi Nicoll, Margaret Payn, Nick Read, Peter Reeve & Jaycen Fletcher, Leslie Stern, Victoria Taylor, Susan Wynne.

Take a Seat

Robert & Libby Albert, David & Selina Baxby, Jillian Broadbent AC, Todd Buncombe, Livinia Clegg, Janine Collins, Judy Crawford, Desmon Du Plessis & David Jonas, Anne Dunn & Patricia Buick, Deborah & David Friedlander, Margaret Gibbs, Andy Grant, Poppy Mallett, In memory of Nola McCullagh, Karen Moses, Paris Neilson, India Neville, Lizzi Nicoll, Emma-Jane Newton & Chris Paxton, Clare Munnelly & Andrew Ordish, Tim Rahn, Nick Read, Victoria & Peter Shorthouse, Catherine Smithson, Ruth & Bruce Smithson, Noel Staunton.

Dancers’ Circle

To celebrate our milestone 50th anniversary in 2019, we are proud to have launched the Dancer’s Circle; directly supporting the growth and development of our ensemble of dancers, enabling pathways for their time with the Company and beyond.

Patron: Julian Knights AO

Kyril Agnew, Hayley & James Baillie, Paul Brady & Christine Yip, Tony Burke & the late Janice Burke, Brett Clegg & Annabel Hepworth, Manuela Darling, David & Deborah Friedlander, Paula & Damien Cronin, Margaret Gibbs, Andrew & Emma Gray, The Hansen Family, Julian Knights AO & Lizanne Knights, Roslyn Packer AC, in memory of Nola McCullagh, Lorraine Tarabay & Nick Langley, Rachel & Neil Sinden, Pip & Dick Smith Foundation, Mary Zuber.

We would like to thank all our Partners for their generous support and acknowledge those who have given anonymously. Our Partners make it possible for us to create and present new work, inspire future generations of dancers and audiences, and extend our reach.

Our Supporters

Carla Zampatti Commissioning Fund 2022

With visionary support from the Carla Zampatti Foundation. Together with the generosity of the Neilson Foundation and Carla Zampatti Commissioning Fund supporters.

Pam & Doug Bartlett, David & Selina Baxby, Black Diamondz Property Concierge, Paul Brady & Christine Yip, Jillian Broadbent AC & Olev Rahn, Canny Quine Foundation, Belinda Gibson, Kiera Grant & Mark Tallis, Kathryn Greiner AO, Alexa & David Haslingden, John Head, Dr Kenneth Howison, John Griffiths & Beth Jackson, Alicia K Kemp, Katie Lahey AM, David Mathlin & Camilla Drover, Jules Maxwell, In memory of Nola McCullagh, Beau Neilson, Paris Neilson & Todd Buncombe, Rebel Penfold-Russell OAM & Ian Low, Matt Shelmerdine, Ezekiel Solomon AM, Leslie Stern.

Touring Fund 2022

John Barrer, Jane Bridge & Michael Lambert, Susie Dickson & the late Martin Dickson & the late Martin Dickson AM, Ian Galloway & Linda Treadwell, Bunny Gardiner-Hill, Girgensohn Foundation, Rick Gove, Emma & Andrew Gray, Kathryn Greiner AO, David Jonas &Desmon Du Plessis, Elias & Jana Juanas, Helen & Vaughn Jurisich, Matt Shelmerdine, Catherine Smithson, Victoria Taylor, Sean & Sylvia Tooth, Kathy White, Barbara Wilby & Christopher Joyce.

2022 Company Traineeships

David and Fee Hancock Foundation

The Wales Family Foundation

2022 Pre-Professional Year

Doug Hall Foundation Scholarship

The Wales Family Scholarships

Mary Zuber Scholarship

The Hephzibah Artist Development Program.

Bequests

The Estate of C.R. Adamson

The Estate of Patricia Cameron- Stewart

The Estate of Janet Fisher

The Estate of Patricia Leehy

The Estate of Carina Martin

2022 Annual Program

The Estate of Lorelle Thomson

The Estate of Peggy Watson (Rackowska)

Our Annual Program underpins all our activities, enabling us to extend our reach, plan for the future, create and present new work, and inspire future generations of dancers and audiences.

Performance Partners

Jillian Broadbent AC & Olev Rahn,, Tim Fairfax AC, Andrew & Emma Gray, Alexa & David Haslingden, Susan Maple-Brown AM & the late Robert MapleBrown AO, Emma-Jane Newton & Chris Paxton.

Studio Partners

Pam & Doug Bartlett, David & Selina Baxby, Aniek Baten, Paul Brady & Christine Yip, Black Diamondz Property Concierge, Brett Clegg & Annabel Hepworth, Susie Dickson & the late Martin Dickson AM, Georgie & Guy Fergusson, Girgensohn Foundation, Rick Gove, Kiera Grant & Mark Tallis, Kathryn Greiner AO, John Griffiths & Beth Jackson, John Kaldor AO, In memory of Nola McCullagh, Beau Neilson, Paris Neilson & Todd Buncombe, Rebel Penfold- Russell OAM, Kellie & Warryn Robertson, Matt Shelmerdine, Catherine Smithson, Bianca Spender & Sam McGuiness, Leslie Stern, Victoria Taylor, Alenka Tindale, Barbara Wilby & Christopher Joyce, Judi Wolf & Alden Toevs.

Duet Partners

Arab Bank Australia, John Barrer, The Berg Family Foundation, Jane Bridge, Andrew Cameron AM, Dr Michelle Deaker, Ari & Lisa Droga, Helen Eager & Christopher Hodges, Terri Hollings in memory of Erin Ostadal, James & Jacqui Erskine, Kay Freedman & the late Ian Wallace, Ian Galloway & Linda Treadwell, Belinda Gibson, John Head, Fraser Hopkins, David Mathlin & Camilla Drover, Lou Oppenheim, Rachel Parratt & Brett Lunn, Peckyonhartel architects, The Rossi Foundation, CA Scala & DB Studdy, Penelope Seidler AM, Victoria & the late Peter Shorthouse, Ezekiel Soloman AM, Kathy White, Adam Worling Public Relations.

Dance Partners

Michael Adena & Joanne Daly, Alice Bedlington, Marco Belgiorno-Zegna AM & Angela BelgiornoZegna, Phillip & Catherine Brenner, Anne Dunn & Patrick Buick, Prof. David Celermajer AO & Noirin Celermajer, Rochelle Collis, Suellen & Ron Enestrom, Susanne de Ferranti, Helen Forrester, Bradford Gorman & Dean Fontana, Kimberley Gire & Marten Touw, Cheryl hatch, Gabrielle Iwanow, Katie Lahey AM, Tina & Mark Johnson, David Jonas & Desmon Du Plessis, Les Kennedy, Susie Manfred & Hunter McPherson, Connie McKeage, Karen Moses, Matina Papathanasiou, Susan Perrin-Kirby, Peter Reeve & Jaycen Fletcher, Bernard Ryan & Michael Rowe, Cheryl M Spoor, David Wayne, Ray Wilson OAM.

Rehearsal Partners

Janet Abernethy & Richard Willis, Lenore Adamson & the late Ross Adamson, Samantha Bartlett, Jacqui Burton, Richard Caldwell, Challis & Company, Rob Coombe, Tanya Diesel, Annaliese Fairfax, Steve & Emma Fouracre, Kerry Gardner AM, Ryan Gollan, Amber Gooley, Anna & Richard Green, Mikaela Haberfield & David Brown, Hen Halmans, Ben Harlow, the Hon. Don Harwin, Graham & Judy Hubbard, Lynton Jamieson, Elias & Jana Juanas, Virginia Judge, Vaughn & Helen Jurisich, Alicia K Kemp, Tanja Liedtke Endowment, Royston Lim, Peter McGee, Greeba Pritchard, Dominique Robinson, Bernard Rowley, James Sharp & Karl May, Dr Brindha Shivalingam, Jann Skinner, Stuart Thomas, Mike Thompson, Sylvia Tooth, John & Gay Woods.

Ensemble Partners

Andre & Daphne, Sue Barnett, Matthew J.C. Blampey, Sarah Brasch, Alicia Brown, Delia Burrage, Max Dingle OAM, Rachael Haggett, David Emery & Eric Hudson, Jodi Gallagher, Andrea McEwan & Tarryn Handcock, Geoff Greenwell, Josie Gurney, Josephine Key & Ian Breden, Doreen & Phillip Marsh, Sharyn Minahan, Marion Pascoe, Clive Parsons & Sharon Ditmarsch, Michael & Vivienne Pusey, Mary Read, Wouter Roesems, Mark & Jennifer Royle, Norman R Scott, Adrian Sironic, William Smart, David Thomson OAM, Alan & Flavia Young, Silke & Christian Zentner.

Our Year in Numbers

* including performances at Dance X, M Pavilion, Decadance and Night at the Barracks

** INDance performances

*** 2022 includes livestreamed show and audience

****Face to face and online

***** Completed PPY, including flexible learners

Sydney Dance Company 2022

Board of Directors

Brett Clegg (Chair)

Pam Bartlett (until April)

David Baxby

Jillian Broadbent AC

David Friedlander

Emma Gray

Alexa Haslingden

Mark Hassell

Catriona Mordant AM

Sandra McCullagh

Emma- Jane Newton

(Deputy Chair)

Paris Neilson

International Patron

Dame Darcy Bussell DBE

Ambassadors

Judy Crawford

Bee Hopkins

Jules Maxwell

Dance Noir Committee

Co-Chairs: Mandy Foley & Peter Reeve

Committee: Sally Burleigh, Hilary Burton, Jane Clifford, Debbie Coffey, Georgie

Fergusson, Alexa Haslingden, Jan Logan, Jane McCallum, Stephen Thatcher, Christina Voitenko, Michelle Walsh, Judi Wolf

Management

Artistic Director

Rafael Bonachela

Executive Director

Anne Dunn (until January)

Lou Oppenheim (from February)

Deputy Executive Director

Lizzi Nicoll (until March)

Caroline Spence (from March until July)

Executive Assistant

Andrew Grant (until July)

Amy Burrows (from August)

Producer

Dominic Chang

Programming Coordinator

Kerry Thampapillai (from March)

Jacob Williams (until June)

Chief Financial Officer

Sean Radcliffe

Emma Murphy (March to May)

Financial Accountant

Melissa Sim

Payroll Manager

Carina Mision

Chief Commercial Officer

Caroline Spence (until February)

Director Training & Education

Polly Brett (from September)

Head of Operations & Open Programs

Kylie Tung (until April)

Lachlan Bell (April to September)

Head of Open Programs & Learning

Samantha Dashwood

Dance Class Manager

Ramon Doringo

Conditioning Studio Manager

Felicity McGee

Customer Service Manager

Michael Sieders

Customer Service Assistant

Kimberley Brewster

Head of Training

Linda Gamblin

Pre-Professional Year Course Coordinator

Omer Backley-Astrachan

Training Associate

Juliette Barton

Learning Manager

Justine Turner (from August)

Learning Coordinator

Alys Gwillim (until October)

Learning Coordinator

Jacqueline Cooper (from August)

Learning Administrator

Eugénie English (from August)

Philanthropy & Government

Relations Director

Alan Watt (from August)

Head of Philanthropy

Michelle Boyle

Philanthropy Manager

Madeleine White (until September)

Lachlan Bell (from October)

Philanthropy Coordinator

Anya Platoskina (until September)

Philanthropy Assistant

Amy Burrows (until July)

Emma Langfield (from September)

Government Relations Coordinator

Prudence Tan (from September)

Head of Marketing, Communications, Partnerships & CRM

Priscilla Hunt

Senior Marketing Coordinator

Natalie Zagaglia

Marketing & Communications Coordinator

Madeleine Osborne (May to July)

Vivienne Crowle (from August)

Laurence Corbett (from September)

Marketing Assistant

Adrienne Salmon (until July)

Emma Langfield (from April to September)

Publicity Manager

Alexandra Barlow

Corporate Development Manager

Marcus Hurley

Head of CRM & Business Intelligence

Heath Wilder (until October)

Louise Davidson (from October)

Ticketing Specialist

John Calvi

Resident Multimedia Artist

Pedro Greig

Technical Director

Guy Harding

Company and Resident

Stage Manager

Simon Turner

Production Technician

Tony McCoy

Head of Wardrobe

Annie Robinson

Wardrobe Assistants

Nicole Artsetos, Tim Corne, Aleisa Jelbart, Monica Smith

Events & Venue Hire Manager

Sandra Di Palma (until September)

Gracie Valdez (from August)

Venue Operations Manager

Kate Hamilton (May to October)

Venue Technician

Owen Leishman (until February)

The Company

Rehearsal Director

Richard Cilli

Rehearsal Associate

Charmene Yap (from July)

Juliette Barton (Decadence season)

Holly Doyle (until February)

Dancers

Natalie Allen (until April)

Tamara Bouman (from May)

Isabella Crain (until April)

Davide Di Giovanni (until June)

Dean Elliott

Jackson Fisch (until June)

Jacopo Grabar

Liam Green

Luke Hayward

Dimitri Kleioris (until July)

Rhys Kosakowski (until November)

Çhloe Leong

Connor McMahon (from June)

Christopher Mills (from August)

Jesse Scales

Emily Seymour

Kai Taberner (from May)

Mia Thompson

Chloe Young

Trainees

Lucy Angel (from November)

Morgan Hurrell

Sophie Jones

Hugo Poulet (until February)

Coco Wood

Company Doctor

Dr. Michael Berger

Sports Doctor

Dr. James Lawrence

APA Sports & Exercise

Physiotherapist

Ashlea Mary Cohen

Company Teachers

Anton

Emily Amisano

Juliette Barton

Richard Cilli

Joshua Consandine

Davide Di Giovanni

Holly Doyle

Cathie Goss

Jenni Large

Felicity McGee

Iohna Mercer

Sophia Ndaba

Rachael Osborne

Ian Robinson

Charmene Yap

Victor Zarallo