Sydney Dance Company celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2019: a half century which Artistic Director Rafael Bonachela is celebrating with a program of works by four Australian choreographers, including a major production at the end of the year by Gideon Obarzanek called Us 50.

Rafael Bonachela and Gideon Obarzanek with SDC alumni Kip Gamblin, Linda Ridgeway, Sheree Zellner (formerly da Costa), Lea Francis and Bradley Chatfield. Photograph © Pedro Greig

Acknowledging the 250 or more dancers, dozens of composers and designers, as well as the previous Artistic Directors, Suzanne Musitz, Jaap Flier, Graeme Murphy and Tanja Liedtke (who tragically died shortly after being appointed to the role), Bonachela said: “The cumulative efforts of these artists have been to build a company which has for 50 years defined contemporary dance in Australia and offered transformative experiences to audiences here and around the world.”

“I have chosen to celebrate this important milestone by commissioning a range of Australian voices – a tribute and continuance to the extraordinary investment that Sydney Dance Company has made to the Australian cultural landscape over five decades.”

Speaking to Limelight, Bonachela said...