The Company

“SDC’s dancers have emerged (from COVID-19) as technically stunning and emotionally compelling as ever.” Bachtrack

Australia’s leading contemporary dance company, Sydney Dance Company presents new works in Sydney, around Australia and internationally, under the Artistic Direction of Rafael Bonachela and the Executive leadership of Anne Dunn. Over the last five decades, Sydney Dance Company has forged a unique path in Australian dance. Hundreds of thousands of people across the country and around the world have experienced the joy of watching exceptional dancers perform. Sydney Dance Company celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2019: five decades of defining contemporary dance in Australia. Rising from a schools touring ensemble Ballet in a Nutshell, The Dance Company (NSW) was founded in 1969 by dancer Suzanne Musitz. From 1975-76 the Company was directed by Dutch choreographer Jaap Flier, before the appointment of Australian choreographer Graeme Murphy AO in 1976. In 1979 Murphy and his partner Janet Vernon AM instituted the defining name change to Sydney Dance Company and proceeded to lead it for a remarkable 30 years. Murphy and his collaborators created work that enthralled audiences in Australia and in extensive international touring, including being the first western contemporary dance company to perform in the People’s Republic of China. The Company moved into The Wharf, its Walsh Bay home, in 1986 and after an extensive renovation of the iconic building and significant re-development of its facilities, the Company returned to the Wharf in November 2020. Artistic Director Rafael Bonachela celebrated his 12th year with the Company in 2020, a year like no other. Under Bonachela’s artistic direction, the Company navigated through difficult circumstances, continuing to build a rich repertoire of outstanding dance. COVID-19 did not hamper Sydney Dance Company’s ambition as dance films were made, world-class tertiary-level training for young dancers was maintained online and the Australian choreographic talent of the future was fostered with a celebratory season of new work at the end of the year. An ensemble of 16 full-time dancers and one trainee shared Studio space (both real and virtual) with 25 Pre-Professional Year student dancers, school and holiday workshop participants, and alongside tens of thousands of annual public dance class attendees. 2020 saw the launch of Sydney Dance Company’s Virtual Studio, with 68,805 online class attendances across Australia between March and December.