PPY22 Revealed Program

Rafael Bonachela Artistic Director

What an exciting and successful year our 2022 Pre-Professional Year cohorts have had!

It is truly a pleasure for me to witness them complete this year with a full quota of faceto-face learning and studio hours, after the many disruptions over the past few years. This talented and dedicated group of dancers can be immensely proud of what they have achieved this year and they certainly squeezed in a lot.

I am pleased to welcome you here to join me in celebrating these bold and committed dancers as they take the stage for PPY22 Revealed Tonight, they will perform a short excerpt of my 2015 work Variation 10, followed by the work of choreographers Melanie Lane, Sam Coren, James O’Hara and Cloé Fournier.

Thanks must go to our artistic staff for their inexhaustible expertise, dedication and care: Head of Training Linda Gamblin, Course Coordinator Omer Backley-Astrachan, Training Associate Juliette Barton, Rehearsal Associate Charmene Yap, and Yoga teacher Jolie Brook. Without them, this course would not be possible.

I also acknowledge and express sincere gratitude to our donors for their ongoing support which enables us to nurture this next generation of young artists.

To all Pre-Professional Year 2022 graduates, I wish you the best of luck and look forward to bearing witness as you thrive in the industry

Bonachela Artistic Director

Rafael

Front cover photo by Daniel Boud Photo on left page by Pedro Greig

Linda Gamblin Head of Training

2022 marks the ninth year of Sydney Dance Company’s Pre-Professional Year and as we approach a decade of this course, we reflect upon the legacy we have begun to build. This year has been nothing short of new opportunities. The Pre-Professional Year strives to create a voice in the industry that permeates thoughtful inquisition and interpersonal discovery. We have begun to witness our alumni carry their voices, adding to the dialogue of the emerging dance industry.

I want to thank to our Pre-Professional Team, Course Coordinator Omer Backley-Astrachan and Training Associate Juliette Barton. Their collaboration has been invaluable for guiding the growth and individuality of each young artist, together they uplift the vision of this course.

I extend my gratitude to Artistic Director, Rafael Bonachela, who has long supported pre-professional education on many deep and considered levels. Tonight we present an excerpt of Variation 10, originally choreographed by Rafael Bonachela, restaged by Rehearsal Associate Charmene Yap and Juliette Barton. Through their direction and guidance, the performers have navigated with grace the intricate idiosyncrasies of the choreography.

We are honoured to introduce four newly commissioned choreographic works. PPY1 present a work by Melanie Lane, a reimagining of folk dance, ritual and the embodiment of storytelling. PPY2 present three works by choreographers Sam Coren who transports us to the world of 3045, Cloé Fournier displaying what it means to be human, and James O’Hara presenting a mesmerising choreographic and musical collaboration. The depth of compassion each the choreographer brings to the each development is what makes the year so rewarding and positions all of us to grow beyond capacity.

Finally to the dancers of the Pre-Professional Year cohorts. I thank you for sharing this space with us, for your curiosity, for your spirit. We learn as much from you as we give. I thank you for your trust in this process as you have grown through your challenges and epiphanies. It is your vision and values that builds our community.

Linda Gamblin Head of Training

Photo by Wendell Teodoro

arrival in s.a.r.s.h Sam Coren

Welcome to s.a.r.s.h city, The No.1 sentient artificial recreation sector for humans! With a variety of areas, experiences and services to choose from, there is no better place to escape from year 3045

Sam Coren Composer Felicity Groom Lighting Design Alexander Berlage Costume Design Alice Joel

Choreography

Cast

Mairi Armour, Ronan Armstrong, Carmelita Buay, Sofia Chavez-Hyde, Isabella Ciappara, Juliet Collard, Sophia Fell, Lillian Fearn, Audrey Goth-Towney, Luella Hogan, Emma Langfield, Stefani Lois, Koko Mukai, Avalon Ormiston, Sarah Peressini, Mia Polinelli, April Stubbs, Charisse Timermanis, Lucy Tobin.

Melanie Lane

IVY is a re-imagined folk dance for the future.

From ecstasy to collective ritual, celebration to spell-making, IVY draws from folkloric dances that draw communities together, encode history, tell stories and manifest the mythic.

Choreography

Melanie Lane

Μusic Glass Teeth, Positive Centre Forever Optimum, Positive Centre Chominciamento di gioia, Anonymous, Stevie Wishart & Sinfonye

Lighting Design

Costume Design

Cast

Alexander Berlage

Bronte Hilder

Jannah Allen, Wareya Anuyahong, Paige Carr, Lily Cole, Alisha Douglass, Thomas Evans, Eliza Flowers, Tayla Gartner, Mia Hamilton, Hannah Joseph, Rebekah Kennedy, Stephanie Lykissas, Lucinda Mann, Layla Meadows, Maya Miller, Lou Lou Mitsis, Angus Onley, Samuel Osborn, Xanthe Pheeney, Cleopatra Pryce, Eva Puata, Sabine Roberts, Scout Robinson-Gale, Alani Siswoyo, Keisha Sunderland, Laura Taylor, Cameron Turner, Chloe White, Arlie Williams, Ally Young.

Excerpt of

I am delighted that the Pre-Professional Year 2 dancers will be performing a short excerpt of my work Variation 10, originally choreographed for the Company dancers in 2015.

Variation 10, based on Britten’s Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, allows an expansion from duets to the ensemble, and provides a continued opportunity to celebrate Britten’s legacy.

For Variation 10, my inspiration comes directly from the music, a remarkable work. Listening to it, it is impossible not to feel the changing colours in tonality, the changing worlds, and the changing pace and feeling. To find a piece of music that allows me to shift from intensity and passion to something delicate and playful, all that is present in the music: it is a joy, and so easy to work with. It’s almost as if it were made to be danced.

Sydney Dance Company dancers Jesse Scales, Sam Young-Wright and Cass Mortimer Eipper and ACO2 musicians in Variation 10 (2015)

Photo by Pedro Greig

All of this [That] Cloé Fournier

What is That?

A list of Life. A series of moments. The imprint of our every second. “Ça” or the fullness of the human heart.

“Ça” translates to “that”. “Ça” and much more than that. “Ça” for the nothingness of being. “Ça” or the complexity of the episodic existence that makes this act of being. That: An exclamation of the body in a myriad of states.

Screaming or trying to say something when no one is listening. From winning the day to losing face. Our loneliness.

The comfort of somebody’s arms. The quest of loving and being loved. Humming a loss. We lust after life and death. Hypocrites to our pains and sorrows. Stillness in motion.

Where is the Joy? Joys of plenty. Joys of little.

I laugh at the cup being neither empty nor full. Irony.

Tout ce [- ‘sa]: that shit. Did I say ‘shit’? Excuse my French.

Mairi Armour, Ronan Armstrong, Carmelita Buay, Sofia Chavez-Hyde, Isabella Ciappara, Sophia Fell, Lillian Fearn, Audrey Goth-Towney, Luella Hogan, Emma Langfield, Stefani Lois, Koko Mukai, Avalon Ormiston, Sarah Peressini, Mia Polinelli, April Stubbs, Charisse Timermanis, Lucy Tobin.

I thank the artists of Pre-Professional Year 2, composer James Hazel and the Sydney Dance Company Pre-Professional Year team for their care and generosity in contributing to the construction (and unraveling) of this [evanescent] [transient] [disposable] monument / ritual / celebration / performance / gathering / departure / arrival.

All movement and sound were born from a moment of meeting and sharing between us all; everything heard, seen, and felt was and is created through a collaboration between James Hazel, myself and the dancers that were present during the development of this work. Thank you, artists of Pre-Professional Year 2 for filling the spaces between, within and around us, with all that you are, have been, and becoming.

O’Hara

Pre-Professional Year Class of 2022

PPY1

Photo by Pedro Greig

Pre-Professional Year Class of 2022 PPY2

Photo by Pedro Greig

(PPY1)

This year of Pre-Professional training with Sydney Dance Company’s program has been filled with a range of emotions and adjustments. Through the variety of choreographers we work with, I have discovered the kinds of processes that attract and inspire me which is beneficial to then reflect on the kind of choreographic process I utilise and seek for myself. I’ve also found that this course requires such genuine motivation which has taught me a lot about how I work and my aspirations.

One of the major aspects of this course for me is the number of students I am moving and learning with. It really shifted my perspective on collaboration, patience, and observing/seeking inspiration from my peers which honestly feels amazing.

Wareya Anuyahong (PPY1)

This year has impacted my life in such a positive way. The Pre-Professional Year has not only given me the experience I wanted for myself coming into the year, but I’ve also made friends for life. I have learnt more about myself as a dancer and as a person. I’m so grateful for the people I’ve met and the places I‘ve been able to perform.

Jannah Allen

Pre-Professional Year 2022

Pre-Professional Year has changed the way I approach dancing and shaped a new perspective for me on what it means to be a dancer. This year under the mentorship from the faculty at Pre-Professional Year, I had the freedom to explore how I genuinely dance, helping me develop a greater understanding of how to embrace movement. The course has given opportunities to work with world renowned industry professionals, learning significant insights into the industry and I enjoyed being part of these collaborative processes. The faculty at Sydney Dance Company are incredibly supportive and invested in each of us individually, so that we can achieve our goals with a path that is uniquely ours.

Pre-Professional Year has given me the space to realise that staying vulnerable is a risk we have to take if we want to experience connection. Connection to ourselves, one another and the environment we inhabit.

Mairi Armour (PPY2)

Ronan Armstrong (PPY2)

Pre-Professional Year 2022

Through the Pre-Professional Year I have discovered the importance of improvisational practices as not only a tool for creative composition and collaboration but further, a gateway for bodily mindfulness and artistic agency. I’ve come to better embrace selfjudgment through an environment conducive to my learning and growth, exploring the freedom to feel both vulnerable and empowered as an artist. I’ll miss the intimacy with dance that this course has provided for the last two years, but I’ll always be thankful for how it has equally challenged and intrigued me, and in many ways, has further stimulated my love for contemporary dance.

Heading into this year I was filled with mixed emotions. Pre-Professional Year is my first year of fulltime training, I was extremely excited, but also nervous as I had to leave my support from home. With gratitude, I can say the PreProfessional Year has given me a lifetime of experiences. The training and guidance we have encountered has allowed me to put all my focus into what I love every day, but of course didn’t come without some serious personal challenges.

Placing myself in such a vulnerable state everyday has given me the opportunity to learn who I truly am, helping me gain the confidence I wanted in my dancing as well as in life. The loving and kind community within the course has made this year even more enjoyable. My peers and I have strived to uplift each other, as well as be the person so many of us needed to lean on. In short, I have loved every minute this year, deciding to join the Pre-Professional Year is one of the best decisions I have ever made.

Carmelita Buay (PPY2)

Paige Carr (PPY1)

Pre-Professional Year 2022

During my two years in the Pre-Professional Year I have learnt the importance of selfreflection, and with that self-appreciation. Knowing that your own worth needs to come from within. Pre-Professional Year has allowed me to overcome challenges in a way that I feel supported by those around me, but more importantly I feel supported by myself.

Ciappara (PPY2)

The last two years of the Pre-Professional Year have been an experience full of exploring, connecting and grooving with the most beautiful people who I will miss very much next year.

What I love about contemporary dance is that it holds space for me to improvise and move in ways that are in tune with my present state of mind. As I indulge in sensation during movement, I feel a greater sense of control over my emotions and thoughts. Through this I am able to enhance or change the way I am feeling.

I have found comfort in discovering that dance doesn’t have to be confined to the studio but is something I can do anytime and anywhere. Whether that be alone or in the presence of an audience.

Soften, release, notice and breathe. You are the best at being you.

Sofia Chavez-Hyde (PPY2)

Isabella

Pre-Professional Year 2022

Cole (PPY1)

The body and mind are two separate entities, the body subconscious and the mind conscious. When we dance, we must learn to surrender to the subconscious, as our bodies already hold knowledges that are only discovered through self-enquiry and thoughtfulness, rather than preconceived ideas of movement. The self-awareness I have gained through this practice now manifests through all aspects of my life, changing the person I am today.

Collard (PPY2)

Pre-Professional Year has been an eye opening time of self-discovery. I have felt my growth as not only a dancer but as an artist. The course has given me several invaluable experiences with many renowned choreographers, shaping my individuality and maturity as an artist. Working with these choreographers has also enabled me to collaborate with all facets of the dance industry. I am forever grateful for the support and inspiration from my mentors and peers.

Lily

Juliet

Pre-Professional Year 2022

This year of the Pre-Professional program has allowed me to embrace the diverse world of contemporary dance. Being trained by many industry professionals throughout the year has unveiled multiple pathways in the contemporary dance world. I have truly learnt about my own personal movement vocabulary and how to use it as a tool in creation and collaboration with my peers. I am looking forward to further expanding on my own skill practice and relationships with those around me.

(PPY1)

The wind and the concept of art itself have danced this year, sweeping me up in their embrace. Seeking answers brought more questions and seeking clarity brought thick fog. However I learnt to acknowledge these questions, rather than to solve them. I learnt that not all queries have a response and not all journeys have a destination. I learnt to enjoy the fog’s hazy companionship and to sit amongst it, allowing it to envelop me. I was challenged and faced with beasts as not only an artist but as a human. I found moments to dance in the silence between words and was caught in a never-ending dance with myself and the wind. As an outcome of the year, I would not say I have more answers, but I have more questions to ask, more answers to seek and more journeys to travel.

Alisha Douglass (PPY1)

Thomas Evans

Pre-Professional Year 2022

During my first year in the Pre-Professional Year not only did I discover the subject of dance but through dance the curation of life. I came to understand the comfort of true choice. To feel the fear of knowing control. I learnt not only how to direct my body but also to be directed by it. I was entranced by the art of true movement, the force of change, and from change – balance. From that place came a true gift, the gift of knowing others. I have never felt more grateful for my encounters. This course has not only taught me dance but the power of humanity.

Sophia Fell (PPY2)

Lillian Fearn (PPY2)

Pre-Professional Year 2022

(PPY1)

The past twelve months has opened my understanding, widening my gaze and perception of dance. It has helped me to really listen to my body’s needs and wants; rather than what my head tells me to do, letting go of the control for a moment and allowing my body to move how it desires to move, and what she is trying to tell me through this. I learnt ways to find the conversation between my mind, body and spirit. The year has taught me how to collaborate with a diverse cohort of individuals. Challenged me to release old ways of rigid thinking and replace these with the idea that dance is anything you make it to be, dance is movement of the body, and as beings we are constantly moving, the world is constantly moving and really there is no such thing as stillness. So really, dance is all around us.

Tayla Gartner (PPY1)

Pre-Professional Year has opened my mind to the versatility of the contemporary dance industry. It has made me realise that dance is so widespread, there are so many options to explore and there will always be a place for you.

At difficult moments it has taught me to trust in myself and my efforts. This has allowed me to stay present and be able to absorb the incredible knowledge made available to us from the fabulous teachers we get to work with.

It has taught me to learn what I like as well as what I dislike and that both are valuable lessons. I am excited to keep on exploring the dance world with an open mind and supportive community behind me.

Eliza Flowers

Pre-Professional Year 2022

During my time in the Pre-Professional Year I have reshaped my view of myself as a dancer and of the dance world as a whole. The open space and opportunities provided have allowed me to flourish into an even better version of the person I was at the start of the year. The Pre-Professional Year has inspired me to not only enter the professional dance scene as a dancer, but as a person who wants to make change within the industry.

Delving into the Pre-Professional Year this year I have adapted a new understanding of myself both physically and mentally. There were many times I would finish class feeling emotionally/ mentally challenged, I quickly realised this was the push from my teachers to think more inquisitively, to question what I already knew about contemporary dance by trying something different which was often extremely hard but very rewarding. I have loved the way the course has exposed me to such an array of teachers, all of whom gave me a unique class experience in which I could take away skills that will guide my own career. I have been strongly reminded that the person I am makes me the dancer I am. I feel lucky that to have been surrounded by such a great group of people that have created a dance environment where I feel both pushed and supported.

Audrey Goth-Towney (PPY2)

Mia Hamilton (PPY1)

Pre-Professional Year 2022

For me dance has been shaped as a craft where there is no more or less important way to move. Practicing variation provides the most growth within a dancer. I reached an epiphany about movement being harder to create when I have tension in my body and was able to discover moving with a clear intention will result in clarity and ease.

The Pre-Professional Year for me has been an endless cycle of self-discovery and growth. I have been able to discover a holistic and sustainable practice with a greater understanding of how multifaceted contemporary dance can be. The immersion of this whirlwind of opportunity has encouraged me to have the agency to find my own place. It has been a truly transformative year.

Luella Hogan (PPY2)

Hannah Joseph (PPY1)

Pre-Professional Year 2022

Throughout this year of Pre-Professional Year I have rediscovered my love of dance and redefined my relationship with this beautiful art form. This course has challenged my fixed perception of dance as I have been exposed to new ways of expression and choreography, expanding and evolving my view of contemporary dance. The many incredible mentors, choreographers and fellow dancers have offered inspiration and helped to develop how I can create and move. I am so thankful for the countless opportunities I have been offered and will forever hold this amazing experience close to my heart.

For me, the Pre-Professional Year was a chrysalis stage of self-transformation, affording myself to be completely vulnerable in a safe space created by our incredible teaching team and fellow dancers; I am emerging as a more empathetic human. It hasn’t gone without challenges, but I couldn’t be more thankful as Pre-Professional Year has changed the way I go forth in creating work and learning how to work with others. Forever learning, and forever growing.

Rebekah Kennedy (PPY1)

Emma Langfield (PPY2)

Pre-Professional Year 2022

The Pre-Professional Year has allowed me to gain a new perspective and approach to dance, and the arts industry as a whole. It has been a year of self-discovery and exploration, working with industry renowned artists and choreographers. The supportive environment has encouraged me to push myself out of my comfort zone, whilst also establishing a strong sense of self, and embracing my individuality. The Pre-Professional Year has opened my eyes to the endless opportunities within the world of contemporary dance.

Pre-Professional Year has been an eye opening experience for me to learn about the industry and all the different avenues there are for professional work. I have been so grateful to have found a place in dance that nourishes you to simply find yourself and nothing more. The freedom to explore your artistry is something that is so unique to the Pre-Professional Year. I’m so grateful to have found amazing friends and a family here.

Stefani Lois (PPY2)

Stephanie Lykissas (PPY1)

Pre-Professional Year 2022

Prior to the Pre-Professional Year, I felt my understanding of contemporary dance was linear, however this year I have now discovered the variety and complexity this form offers. Some things I loved, some I found quite challenging however I was able to really discover what I liked and how I enjoy moving. I’ve found that I’ve grown to become both a resilient dancer and person, developing the tools to support my mind and body that I’ll carry along with me from now on.

Layla Meadows (PPY1)

My oh my PPY

I started off shy I’ve been sleep deprived So many cries My oh my PPY

In colossus we went siiiiahhhiii iii I do a leap and ooo I fly Yoga yoga ouch my thighs So many highs But now we have to say goodbye My oh my, My oh my, My oh my, PPY

Lucinda Mann (PPY1)

Pre-Professional Year 2022

(PPY1)

This year has gifted me so much more than I could have ever anticipated. I have been given the freedom to grow as an individual, and I have been challenged to question everything I thought I knew about being a dancer. I came into this year with the mindset of physical improvement, but now at its conclusion I have realised that there are fountains of wisdom waiting to be discovered and my thirst for this knowledge knows no bounds.

Lou Mitsis (PPY1)

I loved Pre-Professional Year because it was about so much more than just dancing, it was about literally everything.

This course is so immersive and can honestly be really random, I have so much love for every element of it. I have had so much fun this year and am so grateful for the gorgeous people in the Pre-Professional Year, especially all the amazing teachers we have had the opportunity to work with. I can’t wait to see what another year brings especially after all I have learned and experienced so far.

Maya Miller

Lou

Pre-Professional Year 2022

A word that comes to mind after my second year of this course is risk-taking. Daring to be vulnerable, daring to believe in yourself and daring to challenge doubt and preconceptions.

Having the privilege to work with diverse artists from week to week was inspiring and also confronting at times. These challenges made me realise what I stand for and my worth as an individual.

Before finding yourself in movement I think you must find yourself as a person which the Pre-Professional Year has helped me know more. I know this course has given me a strong backbone to face what lies ahead in this industry.

This year I have learnt to allow my personality and versatility to show through my dancing. I look at dance very differently after this yearmy perspective has been broadened after being exposed to the diversity of dance. I use dance to connect to my curiosity and individuality and have learnt that there is always something to investigate either about the physicality of dance or what it can bring theoretically into my life and how it can spark inspiration and curiosity.

Avalon Ormiston (PPY2)

Samuel Osborn (PPY1)

Peressini (PPY2)

Training in Sydney Dance Company’s PreProfessional Year has facilitated a very positive and nurturing environment, which has taught me to dance more intuitively with my body. As a result, I feel I am more in tune with myself physically, mentally and emotionally.

Pheeney (PPY1)

The Pre-Professional Year has opened my eyes to see how diverse the contemporary dance world is and after the 12 months spent here, I feel that I have been able to successfully develop my own practice, broadening my horizons to a much more fulfilling and exciting career. I am so grateful for the lessons I’ve learnt and the experiences I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of with my peers and am so excited to see where this will take me in 2023.

Sarah

Xanthe

Pre-Professional Year 2022

Thanks to the Pre-Professional Year, I am entering the world as a whole and engaged individual. Ready and hungry for more. My biggest take away from this year is that I am more than ‘just a dancer’. I am someone with a unique set of skills that is resilient and consistent. The Pre-Professional Year has prepared me to step out into the world as professional, equipped with the knowledge and network to support me for many years to come. My biggest take away from this year is that I have the power to make choices. To consciously and continually choose how I exist within my environment. I am beyond keen to graduate and have the Pre-Professional Year team on my side as I enter the world next year

Pryce (PPY1)

This year has been quite a journey for me and I’ve loved every moment. I’ve experienced growth from the challenges and everything I’ve learned so far has played a huge part in finding myself as an artist. Considering I’ve come from a dance background with hardly any technical training, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time in all our ballet classes we’ve had this year. It has really pushed me out of my comfort zone and encouraged me to keep putting myself in environments that challenge me and make me grow. I’ve learned to manage my time better and also work as a team with others from a range of genres, abilities and interests. I am not just a better performing artist because of the Pre-Professional Year, but a better version of myself as a person.

Mia Polinelli (PPY2)

Cleopatra

This year has been a complete transformation of the way I view dance. I have uncovered so many new and interesting ways to explore my artistry, infusing individuality into my dancing. Seeing the growth of not only myself but also those around me has been absolutely fulfilling and I can’t wait to see how far everyone will go.

Sabine Roberts (PPY1)

For me, this year has been truly transformative! The Pre-Professional Year has allowed me to develop spiritually, physically and emotionally, providing me with an abundance of gratitude, not only as an artist but as an individual. This experience has ignited an inner personal respect and developed meaning within all aspects of my life. My continuing passion and appreciation for dance, personal growth, selfreflection and discovery has allowed me to understand and explore the not only the minute limitations and boundaries of the body but also unlock the body’s extraordinary greatest capacity and potential.

For me, the Pre-Professional Year has been filled with laughter, passion, revelations, friendship, and love. Being surrounded by the most amazing group of artists in such a stunning location, PPY22 will be a year I cherish forever.

Eva Puata (PPY1)

Pre-Professional Year 2022

This year for me has been simply magical. The world that the Pre-Professional Year course showed me in the last year, is a world I never want to leave. It’s beautiful and tricky and full of so much love. Love revolving around the aspects of dance, and love that surrounds each person in the course. I have found new dimensions within myself, that I believe made me a braver person, open to receiving whatever the industry throws at me. My time in the Pre-Professional Year has truly been the most exhilarating experience and I am forever grateful for my time at Sydney Dance Company. <3

Pre-Professional Year has taught me the importance to exist as an honest and genuine human-being, unapologetically. This is a lesson that I’ve carried through my mindset for it to show through my physicality. I know (and more importantly feel) that my body goes way beyond how it looks and rather how I treat it to use it as a vessel for passion and curiosity. I feel appreciative to be a part of such an open environment, surrounded by a loving and supportive cohort. I’ve never found something to be so purposeful for not only myself as a dancer but also for life in general. My perspective of contemporary dance continues to expand and shift by breaking the boundaries of “normality”. I no longer believe that there is a right or wrong that exists within the world of contemporary dance and for that I am truly grateful.

Scout Robinson-Gale (PPY1)

Alani Siswoyo (PPY1)

(PPY2)

During my time in the Pre-Professional Year I have been able to develop a better understanding of myself as the course has provided me with a safe space that welcomes self-growth and change. During these two years in the Pre-Professional Year I have also met so many amazing choreographers and dancers that have helped shape my understanding of the contemporary dance industry.

The Pre-Professional Year has helped me grow and learn so much about myself, my artistic abilities and the dance industry. We are constantly being provided with many opportunities to work with numerous industry professionals which I believe is something not many people get to experience. The PreProfessional Year has shifted my perspective and outlook on contemporary dance and has made me realise how much I want to pursue dance as a career.

April Stubbs

Keisha Sunderland (PPY1)

My perception of contemporary dance has changed since joining the Pre-Professional Year, allowing me to consistently discover my own movement style and learn so much, just by watching my peers. I have become so comfortable and confident, knowing that I am still growing in knowledge, alongside so many other established dance artists. Being in this space has also enabled me to connect with others that has created and nurtured great relationships with many choreographers and teachers.

The culture in the Pre-Professional Year has held the space for us all to be vulnerable and explore ourselves as we mature as people and artists. In this safe environment I have built deep and meaningful friendships of which have been the backbone in supporting me through the challenges of training and life as a dancer.

Laura Taylor (PPY1)

Charisse Timermanis (PPY2)

Pre-Professional Year 2022

(PPY2)

This year has given me the space explore dance beyond physical movement but all the forms it can exist within. One thing I didn’t anticipate was the incredible community I would find along the way. I feel like the PreProfessional Year has equipped me with the skills to seek independent work and to continue exploring my own artistic voice

Turner (PPY1)

My outlook on movement and expression has been completely subverted through an intricate exploration of choreographic and improvised forms. I have discovered a new horizon of movement pathways that have assisted me in developing my skill set, allowing me to fully immerse myself in the art form which has only fuelled my passion for movement and selfexpression through dance.

The unique aspects of contemporary dance and choreographic exploration proved challenging to me initially, however it deeply enhanced the feeling and curiosity within my movement. I have discovered a broader range of skills and techniques which has led to a rich variety of expressive forms and a never-ending source of inspiration that I will be able to draw from moving forward in my pursuit of dance and movement.

Lucy Tobin

Cameron

The Pre-Professional Year has been an eyeopening experience, extending both my creativity and technicality to establish a holistic practice of contemporary dance. With such a diverse range of teachers and choreographers, I have developed a deeper understanding of where my passion lies within the art form. I am grateful for the opportunity to carry the many lessons I have learned surrounding this into my future dance endeavours.

Arlie Williams (PPY1)

I feel as though that the Pre-Professional program is not just a dance course with many creative opportunities, but the program is also a personal development course with immense resources and support throughout the process. I found that collaborating with choreographers of different backgrounds has sparked a creative interest beyond what I could’ve foreseen. I’ve become more confident in my artistry as a dancer, but also as a person.

Chloe White (PPY1)

Pre-Professional Year 2022

Young (PPY1)

I find the Pre-Professional Year has given me a wide range of movement and choreographic processes by the established collection of teachers/choreographers offered in the course. It has enabled me to remain committed to an industry professional level of dance while also having freedom to explore and develop as both a dancer and a young adult. I’m now able to source from different ideas to generate my own creativity and look forward to where the year’s conclusions takes me.

Ally

Photo by Wendell Teodoro

Pre-Professional Year Alumni

Sydney Dance Company celebrates our Pre-Professional Year graduates entering the industry in a broad spectrum of employment. Our aim is to empower young dancers as they embark on their own unique journey, be it within the realm of contemporary dance or outside of it. Sydney Dance Company’s Pre-Professional Year alumni have gained employment with the following contemporary dance companies, productions and independent directors in the last eight years:

Australian Dance Theatre (Adelaide)

Australasian Dance Collective (Brisbane)

Atamira Dance Company (New Zealand)

Ballet Junior De Geneve (Geneva, Switzerland)

Baltic Art Form (London, UK)

Bangarra Dance Theatre (Sydney)

Catapult Dance (Newcastle)

Chunky Move (Melbourne)

Cirque du Soleil (Montreal, Canada)

Colette Sadler (Berlin, Germany)

Configuration Co (Sydney)

Crystal Pite/Kidd Pivot performances with STRUT Dance (Perth)

Dance North (Townsville)

Dresden Frankfurt Dance Company (Frankfurt, Germany)

Dunera Synchronicity (Sydney)

DV8 / Lloyd Newson (London, UK)

Eileen Kramer (Sydney)

Force Majeure (Sydney)

Fresco Dance Company (Tel Aviv, Israel)

Inala Live (London, UK)

ITDansa (Barcelona, Spain)

Ivan Perez (Heidelberg, Germany)

Kristina Chan (Sydney)

Martin del Amo (Sydney)

Metamorphosis Dance Company (Madrid, Spain)

Moulin Rouge (Paris, France)

Narelle Benjamin (Sydney)

Ochre Dance Company (Perth)

Ohad Naharin / Decadance performances with STRUT Dance (Perth)

Omer Backley-Astrachan (Sydney)

Opera Australia (Sydney)

Poetic Disaster Club (The Hague, Netherlands)

Punchdrunk / Maxine Doyle (International)

Sara Black (Sydney)

Scottish Dance Theatre (Dundee, UK)

Shaun Parker & Company (Sydney)

Sydney Dance Company (Sydney)

Sydney Experimental Arts Ensemble (Sydney)

The Farm (Gold Coast)

Theo Clinkard & Company (Brighton, UK)

Twisted Element (Sydney)

Wayne McGregor Dance Company (London, UK)

West Side Story (New York City, USA)

William Forsythe / One Flat Thing Reproduced performances with STRUT Dance (Perth)

Photo by Pedro Grieg

With Special Thanks

Carriageworks and Sydney Dance Company acknowledge the Gadigal as the original custodians of this land and pay our respects to the Elders. We acknowledge the significance of Redfern as a place of change, resistance, resilience and refuge, and as the birthplace of Black Theatre in this country. We hold that history and honour it everything we do.

Sydney Dance Company partners with Carriageworks to present PPY22 Revealed through the ongoing support of the NSW Government through Create NSW and the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts.

Sydney Dance Company thanks Carriageworks for its support of PPY22 Revealed

Carriageworks

Carriageworks is the largest multi-arts centre in Australia commissioning Australian and International artists to make monumental new work that intersects with contemporary ideas. Reflecting the diverse communities of urban Sydney, Carriageworks’ artist-led program is ambitious, radical and always inclusive.

We thank and acknowledge Hermès Australia for its generous support as the PPY22 Revealed Production Partner.

We would like to thank all our Education Partners for their generous support and acknowledge those who have given anonymously. A special thank you to Tim Fairfax AC for his visionary support of Sydney Dance Company’s Training Associate role. We would also like to acknowledge the commitment and support of the Doug Hall Foundation Scholarship, The Wales Family Scholarships, Mary Zuber Scholarship and The Hephzibah Artist Development Program.

Make a gift today

You can help to nurture and inspire future generations of dancers and audiences by making a tax-deductible donation to Sydney Dance Company. As our Partner, you will know that your gift of any size is hugely appreciated and will make a truly transformational impact. For more information, please call: 02 9258 4882 or email: philanthropy@sydneydancecompany.com

Photo by Wendell Teodoro