Your Impact

Our family of philanthropic donors and supporters is instrumental to so many elements of our work, from supporting the commissioning of new work, to taking the Company on the road and underpinning many of our education and outreach activities. In 2020, the generosity and commitment of our donor and supporter community was critical to maintaining the stability and sustainability of the Company through such a financially unpredictable period. Philanthropic and sponsorship income represented 27% of Sydney Dance Company’s revenue in 2020. We welcomed the significant support of a number of grant-making trusts in 2020, including the Neilson Foundation, Thyne Reid Foundation, The Balnaves Foundation, Crown Resorts Foundation, Packer Family Foundation and Nelson Meers Foundation. As we adapted many of our programs to suit virtual connectivity in light of physical restrictions, their flexibility was transformational as it allowed us to pursue opportunities to keep our community connected. As we cancelled the first performance season of the year, we were heartened by the immediate response from our audiences, with 23% of those who held tickets donating their value, many of whom were making a gift for the first time. With additional cancellations of both our Melbourne and second Sydney seasons, this generosity continued. As with all of our activities in the first half of 2020, our donor engagement shifted online and we were delighted to be able to continue to “meet” with our donor family in a series of virtual gatherings. From “opening nights” of Cuatro and Dance Locale, to Zoom cocktails to celebrate what would have been the start of a national tour with our Touring Circle, we were so pleased to be able to stay in touch, thanks to the power of technology. As restrictions eased and the dancers returned to the studio, we hosted a number of online rehearsal viewings, live from the studios, giving our community the opportunity to enjoy the rare treat of watching dance! Rafael and the dancers kept busy and creative, making numerous short videos and digital diaries to share. Our donors learned much about the dancers’ lives, interests and personalities that they wouldn’t have otherwise known; who knew that Victor Zarallo was a budding TV chef who makes a mean Spanish omelette! We celebrated a number of international awareness days, including Happiness, Dance and Gratitude and joined charities around the world in celebrating Giving Tuesday Now in May. The short film the dancers made to acknowledge Giving Tuesday Now was shared widely and resulted in generous support from 152 new donors to the Company. Fundraising dinners are a cornerstone of Sydney Dance Company’s philanthropic calendar and, in pre-pandemic in February 2020, supporters were delighted to attend an exquisite evening with Rafael, the dancers and the Australian String Quartet in the home of Board Member Carla Zampatti AC to raise funds for

the creation of Impermanence. As 60 people enjoyed the elegant event, which included a live performance from the ASQ, we could never have known that this would be the last time we would gather in person with our donor family before COVID-19 hit our shores, and heartbreakingly, that this would be the last dinner the incredible Carla would host on our behalf. For a decade, Dance Noir has worn the crown as Dancing Queen of the Sydney fundraising parties and has been instrumental in raising significant funds. With gatherings of any scale impossible, Dance Noir At Home was conceived: a series of intimate dinner and small cocktail parties, simultaneously held in private homes, with online entertainment. In total, more than 200 people met together to celebrate Sydney Dance Company, dress in their best after months in active wear and fundraise to support our journey through 2020 with an online auction of luxury items and experiences and individual pledges. While everyone missed the mirror balls and dance floors of years gone by, Dance Noir At Home was an en pointe way to acknowledge the peculiarities of the year and a joyful celebration of our dance community. Our “At Home” hosts and Dance Noir Committee members were unparalleled in both their enthusiasm and generosity, adapting to ever-changing circumstances to facilitate this important fundraising event. Co-Chairs of the Dance Noir Committee, Board Director Pamela Bartlett and Creative Producer Peter Reeve were, as always, outstanding in their passion and drive. Across the year, Sydney Dance Company activated a number of partnerships with like-minded companies striving to stay connected. Activewear brand P.E Nation worked with us to highlight the importance of physical and mental health; Medibank’s “Live Better at Home” initiative paired with the Virtual Studio and later in the year Medibank and Sydney Dance Company created “The World’s Fittest Dance Move” PR campaign, focussing on the amount of movement and dance Australia had missed out on during 2020. Family-owned Australian company, Demi & Co aligned their marquee product - The Demi Barre Duet – with our online ballet classes to great effect.

“Their warm and professional approach and our shared vision of innovation and adapting to the times allows our partnership to flourish.” Demi & Co.

The commitment and generosity displayed by both philanthropic and commercial partners across the year was outstanding. 2020 was difficult for everyone and Sydney Dance Company is sincerely grateful to all of those who stood alongside us, with commitment and loyalty, as we navigated uncharted waters. Thank you.