Night at the Barracks Digital Program

The journey to bring Impermanence to the stage for its world premiere in 2021 was a long but incredibly rewarding one, with theatre closures, cancelled performances, rehearsals from home, and at last the joy of finally sharing this work with our beloved audiences and returning home to our newly refurbished Wharf Studios.

This year, it has been such a privilege to take Impermanence on tour to 15 locations around Australia, sharing the very best of contemporary dance with our national audiences through performances and educational workshops. And at last, bringing it to Night at the Barracks, where we have the privilege to perform at Sydney’s newest outdoor venue set under the stars in Manly. The support of our donors and audiences over the past two years has been incredible and so very appreciated. This came in many forms and every piece of it contributed to ensuring that Sydney Dance Company is still here today.

My sincere thanks go also to our major funders the Australian Government, through the Australia Council for the Arts, for their ongoing support. The Australian Government’s assistance programs over the course of 2020 and 2021 made a material difference to Sydney Dance Company and we are deeply grateful for that help.

Earlier this year, audiences in France had the pleasure of watching the Company perform ab [intra] which included a two-week residency at the prestigious Théâtre National de Chaillot in Paris. This was the first time we had been able to tour internationally in almost three years. With sold out performances around the country and much critical acclaim, it reaffirmed our role as cultural ambassadors for Australia. This extraordinary tour was only possible due to the leadership of the Sydney Dance Company Board and exceptional hard work of all the team at the company, together with the generous support of our partners. I would like to thank the Australian Government for its support delivered through the Australia Council for the Arts and the guidance and counsel of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as we embarked on our long-awaited return to the world stage.

After the outstanding success of our French tour, we were delighted to present Rafael Bonachela’s ab [intra] to audiences here at home in June. This season would not have been possible without the generous support of our Presenting Partner, LG SIGNATURE. I would also like to thank our family of corporate and private supporters, who all play a vital role in the Company bringing ground-breaking performances to audiences, both here in Australia and around the world.

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 humbled and deeply thankful to have received support through their Restart and Renewal support package for the Arts. With that support we were able to employ the artists that have helped bring Impermanence and ab [intra] to the stage and ensured that Sydney Dance Company could return to national and international touring. 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

would also 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, we have secured a home for Australian contemporary dance, now and into the future.

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 of the Sydney Dance Company family, Board, staff, dancers and audiences for what has been achieved to bring Impermanence and ab [intra] to life.

encourage you to allow yourself to inhabit Impermanence and the ab [intra] duet – they are a reflection of our collective experience over the past few years, marking a moment in time where we could truly appreciate the fleeting nature of all we hold dear.

Lou ExecutiveOppenheimDirector

Welcome to Impermanence and duet from ab [intra]

After the challenges we have all faced, as a nation and as global citizens, it is an enormous privilege to be able to present Impermanence and the duet from ab [intra] for Night at the Barracks. I am truly delighted that you are here, in the open air, and watching Sydney Dance Company perform.

When Impermanence first began to take shape, Bryce Dessner and I were initially inspired to consider the ephemeral nature of life when we spent time together in Paris in 2019, shortly after the Notre Dame fire. We reflected on how easily things fall apart, even structures we imagine to be eternal, but also the fragility and impermanence of human life, the planet and human relationships. This transience, so fleeting and vulnerable is the perfect subject for live performance and in a post-COVID “new normal”, a work that we created to reflect on vulnerability has added poignancy.

The majority of the score was written towards the end of 2019 when the bushfire crisis overwhelmed Australia. Bryce was deeply affected by what he was seeing; the images of the bush on fire, headline news across the world, permeated his thinking and the work. The personal connection he felt to Australia, to Sydney, to the Company, the dancers, saw beauty germinate from desolation.

As it became apparent towards the end of 2020 that we would, perhaps, be able to perform on stage again, I contacted Bryce to explore extending both his score and my choreography; to create a full-length work that responded to the initial stimulus and to the shattering change to the fabric of our lives that had affected us all.

Bryce has created incredible music. It is full of emotional power; epic, driven, raw and poignant. The choreography takes its cues from these drivers inspired by the questions the music raises for me – what do we hold dear? How do we make each and every moment count? From devastation, what is the pathway through energy and urgency to peace and radiance?

It has been a real treat to conceive of this work together –to explore the emotional drivers through both dance and music and to arrive at a place where the parts knit together so closely to make the whole. And ironically, to be able to shape Impermanence in response to such unexpected, but life-changing global events. For me, this encapsulates the incredible power of contemporary dance and music and how the response of the artist can truly resonate.

Part of making that whole is of course the Australian String Quartet – working with them to not only realise the work for performance but to jointly commission the score has been a joy. I want to thank the wonderful musicians of the Australian String Quartet, Dale Barltrop, Francesca Hiew, Stephen King and Michael Dahlenburg, and guest musician Christopher Cartlidge. Their talent is breathtaking and their passion for this project inspiring. It has been a pleasure to work again with Damien Cooper whose lighting brings so much depth to this work, with designers David Fleischer and Aleisa Jelbart, whose deigns in set and costume have captured our world of Impermanence

I am also thrilled to be bringing the stunning duet from ab [intra] to Night at the Barracks, after such an incredibly successful tour to France and season in Sydney.

When creating ab [intra] wanted to capture the energy and drive I feel each time I walk into the studio. think about ab [intra] (meaning ‘from within’ in Latin) as an energy transfer between the internal and the external. For me it is more than the external expression of internal concepts, in this dance sphere it is a representation of energy – an energy derived from the interaction of these two facets of our worlds.

My innate human and personal instincts play a significant role in my creativity; they feed through the entire process from the point of inspiration to collaborations at every level and right through to the living moments of the final performance. wanted to try to capture this internal instinctive process and make an external representation of it – and so ab [intra]

Thewas born.creative process started as a series of improvisations where I asked the dancers to be in the moment with each other, to feel and listen - to use their instincts and their impulses and then seek to capture those moments in writing. Those written phrases became the direction for a physical movement sequence, a script for dance, an energy transfer from the thought to the body.

Now more than ever, I realise that we must make the most of every moment, that every moment counts; we must hold tight what we hold dear. hope that you enjoy every moment of Impermanence and the duet from ab [intra]

Rafael ArtisticBonachelaDirector

Rafael Bonachela is a Choreographer, Artistic Director and Curator whose career has seen him successfully span high art and popular culture, working across a range of art forms, including contemporary dance, art installations, pop concerts, musicals, film, commercials and fashion.

Bonachela was born in La Garriga near Barcelona (1972) where he began his early dance training before moving to London to join the legendary Rambert Dance Company where he danced from 1992 to 2004.

In 2008, Rafael premiered his first full-length production 360° for Sydney Dance Company. Less than six months later he was appointed Artistic Director, making international headlines and heralding a new era in Australian contemporary dance. His vision for the Company embraces a guiding principle that sees commissioned dance works by Australian and International choreographers alongside his own critically acclaimed creations.

In 2022, Cartier announced Rafael as a new Friend of the Maison. From his internationally recognised talent as both a dancer and choreographer, to his commitments supporting a new generation of emerging artists and choreographers, Bonachela embodies values cherished by Cartier: strength of character, virtuosity and the ability to find beauty wherever it may lie.

Bonachela’s work is strong, sober and sharp. The exploration of pure movement is where he finds his unmistakable style. The result is an incandescent dance that springs from the power of movement, in which energy and muscle strength combine with a great emotional

Yousensitivity.canread

more of Rafael’s biography here

The announcement was made on the occasion of Cartier’s High Jewellery Gala in Australia, in which Bonachela choreographed an exclusive duet – performed by Sydney Dance Company – to celebrate the powerful emotion of Cartier’s High Jewellery creations.

As a Friend of the Maison, Bonachela will continue collaborate with Cartier on various events and performances.

“We are delighted to announce our partnership with Rafael,” said Alban du Mesnil, Managing Director of Cartier Oceania. “As a man of passion, open-mindedness and creativity, Rafael’s bold approach to life – conveyed through his professional choices as Artistic Director of Sydney Dance Company, and his free-spirited style – is intrinsically aligned with Cartier’s core values.”

Rafael Bonachela said, “Fostering artistic expression is at the core of Cartier’s commitments. It is extremely important to me to be aligned with a Maison that has this focus at the centre of everything that they do. As a choreographer my goal is to inspire, uplift and move audiences with the power and beauty of dance - Cartier shares these same values when it comes to their rich history and iconic creations.”

Sydney Dance Company welcomes Cartier as Major Partner and Artistic Director Partner. Together, they look forward to a vibrant future of collaboration, celebrating art and beauty wherever it may lie.

In 2022, ofasRafael Bonachela,DanceofArtisticannouncedCartierDirectorSydneyCompany,anewFriendtheMaison.

Photo: Pedro Greig

Choreography Rafael Bonachela

Music Original score by Nick Wales featuring Klātbūtne by Pēteris Vasks

Lighting Design Damien Cooper

Production & David Fleischer Costume design Rhys Kosakowski and Chloe Leong thanks Presenting Partner SIGNATURE made possible with generous support from Sydney Dance Company’s Commissioning Fund donors.

Impermanence

Composer Dessner

Music

Lighting

Stage

Costume

Dancers Hurrell,

Impermanence, a by Bonachela, Bryce Dessner’s with Chester Music Ltd, Wise Music Group)

With generous support from: The Neilson Foundation

Antoinette Albert, Don & Veronica Aldridge, The Berg Family Foundation, Paul Brady & Christine Yip, Jillian Broadbent AC & Olev Rahn, Jane & Andrew Clifford, Manuela Darling, Chum Darvall AM & Sonja Woodwell, Susie Dickson & Martin Dickson AM, Helen Pagnin & Angie Ellis, Bahar Etminan & Herbert Appleroth, John Griffiths & Beth Jackson, Janet & Michael Hayes, Alicia K Kemp, Joan Lyons, Jules Maxwell, In memory of Nola McCullagh, Janet McLachlan, Didy McLaurin, Catriona Mordant AM & Simon Mordant AO, Paris Neilson & Todd Buncombe, Rebel Penfold-Russell OAM & Ian Low, Dominique Robinson, Bernard Ryan & Michael Rowe, Jeanette Sandford-Morgan OAM, Penelope Seidler AM, Ezekiel Solomon AM, Allegra Spender & Mark Capps, Bianca Spender & Sam McGuinness, The Ian Wallace Family Bequest, Kathy White and Carla Zampatti

CommissioningFoundation.

Partners:

The Concertgebouw (Amsterdam), Araluen Arts Centre, Art House Wyong, Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre, Canberra Theatre Centre, Capitol Theatre Tamworth, Civic Theatre (City of Newcastle), Darwin Entertainment Centre, Frankston Arts Centre, Glasshouse Port Macquarie, Griffith Regional Theatre, Lighthouse Theatre Warrnambool, Mildura Arts Centre, Orange Civic Theatre, Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre, Theatre Royal Hobart & Ulumbarra Theatre (Bendigo Venues & Events).

Impermanence is presented in association with the Australian String Quartet. This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and Theadvisory body.ASQacknowledges

musicians

Sharon Grigoryan – cello and Rachael Tobin – cello, who have been part of the development and recording of this work.

Choreographer Rafael Bonachela

Music recorded

Australian String Quartet

Dale Barltrop – Violin Hiew Violin Christopher Cartlidge Viola Michael Dahlenburg Cello

Impermanence Composition for String Quartet and Electronics by Bryce Dessner

Additional Electronics David Chalmin

Another World – song by Anohni with arrangement for live quartet by Bryce Dessner. Use of Anohni’s Another World is with kind permission of Kobalt Music Publishing. Another World is written by Anohni and administered by Kobalt Music Publishing. Recording produced by Anohni, Antony and The Johnsons, Trade Remote Control Records.

Photo: Pedro Greig

Our Partners

Platinum Partners

A special Platinum Partners enduring for Sydney Dance

The Balnaves Foundation

Jane & Andrew Clifford Crown Resorts Foundation

Julian Knights AO & Lizanne Knights

Take A Step & Take A Seat dancers. acknowledged for visionary support of our Take A Step Take A Seat Campaigns. have enabled the transformation of our physical space and underpinned our creativity for decades to Step NSW Government The Neilson Foundation The Wales Family Jane & Andrew Clifford Catriona Mordant AM & Simon Mordant AO

The late Carla Zampatti AC

Julian Knights AO & Lizanne Knights Brett Clegg & Annabel Hepworth

Pam & Doug Bartlett Grant & Mark Tallis

The Alexandra & Lloyd Martin Family Foundation Karen Chris Paxton Reid Foundation Zuber Brady & Christine Yip Cullman Fund & Richard Freudenstein Mark Hassell

The late Carina Martin In memory of Nora McCullagh David Wolf & Alden Toevs Rafael Bonachela

A newrevolutionaryexperience

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