Dive into Delight: Club Origami Returns to Sydney Dance Company
Immersive dance-theatre for pre-schoolers returns to Sydney, inviting little ones to co-create with paper and movement.
After its hugely successful debut in 2024, Club Origami is back at the Sydney Dance Company's Neilson Studio this July, ready to enchant its youngest audience members once more. This internationally acclaimed production offers an immersive dance-theatre experience specifically designed for pre-school aged children, where, as the creators promise, "every miraculous fold" springs forward with new wonders.
Conceived by UK-based artists Makiko Aoyama, Robert Howat, and Takeshi Matsumoto, Club Origami welcomes children up to six years old and their accompanying grown-ups into a truly tactile and wonder-filled environment. It's a space where vibrant dance, live music, and Japanese-inspired design beautifully intertwine, fostering an exploration of both creativity and movement.
This return season, presented in association with UK-based artists collective Seven Circles, features an outstanding Australian cast: Ryuichi Fujimura, Reina Takeuchi, and Gabriel Fischer. Their fresh energy is set to bring new life to the beloved production. A unique aspect of Club Origami is its interactive nature; families are not just spectators but are actively invited to co-create, moving and assembling alongside the performers throughout the show. From simple sheets of paper, creatures, landscapes, and captivating stories emerge, all brought to life with the enthusiastic help of the audience.
Sydney Dance Company Artistic Director Rafael Bonachela expresses his delight at the production's return: "Children are natural dancers, they move before they speak, and their creativity is instinctive. Club Origami celebrates that spirit with unique generosity. It’s a joy to welcome this beautiful work back to the Neilson Studio and to share it with our youngest audiences."
Each 40-minute performance culminates in a relaxed ‘stay and play’ session, providing an opportunity for young minds to continue their adventure in a welcoming and inclusive environment. This innovative approach to engaging young audiences with high-quality contemporary dance is a testament to Sydney Dance Company’s growing early years programming. The positive feedback from previous attendees speaks volumes, with Zara, a past audience member, exclaiming, "Loved this performance. It was perfect for children and I have recommended it to so many people." Another audience member, Ruth, praised the show as "beautifully conceived, produced and performed... every child was engaged... and the 'wild play' in paper at the end of the show was joyous."