Sydney Dance Company 2021: Performing like there was no 2020
Sydney Dance Company has announced its 2021 Annual Program, which includes the world premiere of the masterful collaboration between Rafael Bonachela and Bryce Dessner, Impermanence; the return of the awarded contemporary classic, ab [intra]; and New Breed, which presents the best in emerging Australian choreography. In addition, the company will be touring to more locations across Australia in 2021 than ever before.
Sydney Dance Company artistic director, Rafael Bonachela, stated, “Following the excitement of our 50th anniversary in 2019, when 2020 began we certainly didn’t expect that events would unfold as they did. Like all of us, Sydney Dance Company has had a challenging year, but we are still here and still moving forward.
“After the heartbreaking disappointment of cancelling Impermanence a matter of days before opening night, we are absolutely delighted to announce that our first Sydney season in February will be its world premiere. The COVID shutdown inspired me to extend Impermanence to make it a full-length work. A response to the uncertainty we all face, Impermanence sees the dancers joined onstage by our dear friends, the exceptional Australian String Quartet, playing Bryce Dessner’s exquisite score live. How poignant that a work originally influenced by the fragility of existence is the first to be staged after the devastation of the pandemic.
“We are also thrilled that the global smash hit, ab [intra], returns for a special encore season in September and that the year concludes with exhilarating new work in the eighth edition of New Breed. I can’t wait to share all of these works with you in 2021.”
Sydney Dance Company 2021 Season Details:
Season One: Impermanence
The Sydney Dance Company ensemble performs this emotionally charged piece with the Australian String Quartet, set to music by contemporary composer, Bryce Dessner. Best known as a founder of American rock band, The National, and for his film scores for The Revenant and The Two Popes, Dessner was initially inspired by the tragedy of the Australian bush fires and the Notre-Dame fire in Paris.
16 – 27 February
Roslyn Packer Theatre Walsh Bay Single tickets from $39-$110
Season Two: ab [intra]
Rafael Bonachela’s dynamic masterwork, ab [intra], returns for a very special encore season in September after a sell-out European tour in 2019.
7 – 11 September
Roslyn Packer Theatre Walsh Bay Single tickets from $39-$100
Season Three: New Breed
This is the eight edition of New Breed, continuing the commitment by Sydney Dance Company, Carriageworks and The Balnaves Foundation to emerging choreographers and the diversity of choreographic ideas within the Company.
22 November – 11 December
Carriageworks, Sydney Single tickets $35-$45
National Tour
Travel and border restrictions permitting, Sydney Dance Company will perform in more Australian cities and towns in one year than ever before. The program includes a national tour of Impermanence, which will perform in 16 towns and cities across six states and territories from May to August 2020, with Federal and NSW State Government support. In a first for Sydney Dance Company, the dancers will be joined onstage by the Australian String Quartet in two thirds of these locations, performing Dessner’s new score live.