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