PPY25 Revealed is presented on the land of the Gadigal. Carriageworks and Sydney Dance Company acknowledge the Gadigal and all First Nations peoples and pay respect to Elders past and present. We acknowledge their ongoing custodianship of the lands and waters and thank them for protecting the coastline and its ecosystem for time immemorial.
Welcome to PPY25 Revealed. It’s so wonderful to be back at Carriageworks again, an iconic and inspiring hub for choreographers, dancers and audiences alike. Sydney Dance Company is so excited to present this season, rounding off an incredible year and the culmination of intensive technical training and creative development.
I take immense pride in witnessing the journeys of our PPY students. Seeing them step onto the stage for PPY25 Revealed is a reminder of the dedication and passion that defines this program.
Sydney Dance Company is deeply committed to supporting a space for the next generation of Australian dance artists. PPY is more than just training, it is an immersive experience that challenges, inspires and prepares dancers for the realities of a professional career. A special thank you to Head of Training, Linda Gamblin, and the entire team. The impact of their commitment resonates in the achievements of our alumni, who continue to thrive in the dance industry in Australia and internationally.
I would like to acknowledge our esteemed donors and training partners and thank them for their support of Sydney Dance Company and the Pre-Professional Year program.
The contributions of the following scholarships: The Wales Family, the Doug Hall Foundation, Mary Zuber, Kay Freedman and
the late Ian Wallace and the James N Kirby Foundation have been essential in allowing us to improve access for aspiring dancers within our program.
Thank you to Tim Fairfax AC, whose longstanding generosity plays a pivotal role in supporting our Advanced Training team who deliver this unique program.
And thank you to the Hephzibah Artist Development Program and the Tanja Liedtke Foundation for supporting guest choreographers and creatives that we welcome into the program each year.
I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Richard Cilli, Emma Harrison, Thomas E. S. Kelly and Zee Zunnur for their incredible works and to the performers who embody them with such conviction and artistry. Together, they exemplify the strength and imagination of Australia’s contemporary dance industry; a collective creativity that continues to enrich our cultural landscape.
As our students evolve into the next generation of artists, there is no doubt that their courage and curiosity shine a light on an exceptionally bright future.
Rafael Bonachela Artistic Director
Each year, through the unfolding process of the Pre-Professional Year, we are reminded that dance is not only about technique and performance, but about the discovery of self, of artistry and of the meaningful connections we create with those around us. Witnessing the culmination of this journey on stage is always extraordinary, and this year’s students have surpassed all expectations. PPY25 Revealed captures this transformative moment brilliantly, inviting audiences to share in the depth, courage and beauty of their collective journey.
Tonight, we proudly share four newly commissioned works created by choreographers who generously share their stories and insights, offering the audience and the performers a glimpse into their worlds, rich with vulnerability, resilience and creative truth. At a time when the arts continue to evolve in exciting and unpredictable ways, we are deeply grateful for their dedication, generosity and unwavering commitment to their craft.
We sincerely thank our choreographers Richard Cilli, Emma Harrison, Thomas E. S. Kelly and Zee Zunnur. Together with original compositions by Peter McAvan, Thomas E. S. Kelly and Amy Flannery, the works embody a shared spirit of creativity and innovation that has profoundly shaped this year’s program, illuminated magnificently by Lighting Designer Karen Norris and Costume Designer Harriet Ayres.
My heartfelt thanks goes to Artistic Director Rafael Bonachela for his continued support
and leadership. This year, Rafael has gifted us the opportunity to learn and perform an electrifying excerpt from Lux Tenebris, featuring an original composition by Nick Wales. Recognised around the world, this extraordinary work demands precision, strength and artistry, qualities the performers tonight have embraced with deep respect and gratitude.
Guiding an intensive year of training and artistic growth is the incredible PPY team; Course Coordinator Tobiah Booth-Remmers, Training Associates Madeline Harms and Juliette Barton, Learning Associate Lexy Panetta, Conditioning Manager Felicity McGee and Learning Administrator Eugénie English. I am deeply grateful for their unity as a team and the genuine care they show each student, guiding them through the ever-evolving landscape of art and life with reassurance and encouragement.
And to the performers tonight, your perseverance, persistence and dedication have led us to this moment. As you take to the stage, you do so as trailblazers of a brighter tomorrow. With your bold vision, unwavering passion and commitment to new thought and action, you are paving the way for a future full of possibility. I hold deep respect and admiration for each of you, both as artists and as people.
Linda Gamblin Head of Training
Zee Zunnur
The Other Angels is seeded and devised from my movement practice Morphology, inspired by shape-shifting invertebrate creatures and their superpowers through vibrations, ruptures and tension. This movement practice sees dancers totally maximising the extremities of their morphing bodies as a method of storytelling, conjuring lucid episodes of hunting and haunting. You will witness this band of guttural creatures weave through a chaotic array of experiences. A perfect nightmare unfolding.
Taking this moment to acknowledge the generous support and guidance from the PPY team Linda, Madeline and Tobiah, and of course to the main stars of this evening, the PPY dancers. I’ve been inspired by your commitment and growth. Thank you for journeying on this haunting guttural ride with me. I wish you all the very best for your future dancing endeavours.
Choreography
Composer
Lighting Design
Costume Design
Zee Zunnur in collaboration with the performers
Peter McAvan
Karen Norris
Harriet Ayers
Cast PPY2 Full Company
Voices of spring were in chorus
Each voice was singing a song I could not sing in that chorus Until I wrote me a song I wrote my song and joined the throng. - Moondog
Choreography
Composer
Lighting Design
Costume Design
Richard Cilli in collaboration with the performers
Sidewalk Dances (Fourteen Moondog Pieces) by Joanna MacGregor
Karen Norris
Harriet Ayers
Cast PPY1 Full Company
Choreography
Composer
Lighting Design
Costume Design
Bring them in now, big smiles, leads up! In this dog-eat-dog world, are you the total package?
Through the glamour of pageants and competitive dog shows, Top Dog unpacks tall poppy syndrome, questions of pedigree, and who gets to stand in the spotlight. Coined in the 80s and felt just as strongly today, we explore why it’s cringe to care, the stakes of competition, who has the grit to win, and the unwritten rules that decide who is allowed to compete in the first place.
I want to thank the PPY2 dancers for their bravery and commitment to the process of making this work, for being excellent collaborators, and for being cringe. It has been an inspiration to witness the artists you’re becoming. Thank you to my stunning creative team Amy, Karen and Harriet for bringing the work to life. Thank you also to Linda, Tobiah, Madeline and the rest of the team at Sydney Dance Company for trusting me with holding part of the journey for this next generation of fantastic artists, and for all that you do for this program.
Emma Harrison in collaboration with the performers
Amy Flannery
Karen Norris
Harriet Ayers
Cast PPY2 Full Company
Gibumm tells the story of sky beings travelling across the sky to gather and create new songs and dances. These are special songs, dances and stories only delivered through dreams.
As the dark moves across the land, the moon rises high and light beams connect the sky to the land, the sky people begin to travel down to gift these new stories before returning back up to the moon.
Choreography
Composer
Lighting Design
Costume Design
Thomas E. S. Kelly
Thomas E. S. Kelly
Karen Norris
Harriet Ayers
Cast PPY2 Full Company
The driving force behind Lux Tenebris is how light and darkness affects us all. How it shifts our moods and our memories of specific periods in our lives. It explores the physical sense of light and darkness, overlaid with the emotional connections to those contrasting worlds.
Originally debuting in 2015, Lux Tenebris was choreographed by Sydney Dance Company’s Artistic Director Rafael Bonachela.
Choreography
Restaged by
Composer
Lighting Design
Original Costume Design
Costume reimagined
Rafael Bonachela
Juliette Barton and Madeline Harms
Nick Wales
Karen Norris
Aleisa Jelbart
Harriet Ayers
Cast PPY2 Full Company
Karen Norris is a lighting designer of Moriori Māori and Australian descent, known for her evocative, collaborative approach to storytelling through light. Her work spans theatre, dance, and interdisciplinary performance with a deep focus on First Nations led projects and stories rooted in place, memory, and resistance. She has designed throughout Australia and Europe, returning to Australia to work with some of the country’s most dynamic artists and companies.
Recent credits include The Visitors (Sydney Theatre Company & Mooghalin), Choir Boy (National Theatre Parramatta), Barbara and the Camp Dogs (Belvoir), Swim, Winyanboga Yurringa, Sunshine Supergirl (Andrea James), and Set Piece (Anna Breckon and Nat Randall). She has collaborated with Urban Theatre Projects, ATYP, Performing Lines, Mooghalin, Blakdance to name a few.
Karen’s lighting designs for dance include works for Bangarra (The Dreaming, SKIN, Yuldea, Terrain, LORE, Dance Clan), NAISDA, The Australian Ballet (Dance X), Gapu Ngupan Asia TOPA, Atamira Dance Company (NZ), as well as independent artists including Narelle Benjamin, Vicki Van Hout, Sue Healey, Kristina Chan, Thomas E. S. Kelly, Liz Lea, Jasmin Sheppard, Rhiannon Newton, Martin del Amo, Raghav Handa, Marilyn Miller and Katina Olsen.
Her work is guided by cultural connection, experimentation, and a deep respect for collaboration.
Harriet Ayers is a costume designer and maker with a background in costume construction. She has worked across film, TV, theatre and dance alongside respected costume professionals, including pattern makers and designers from around the world. Through her multi-disciplinary experience throughout the costume industry, Harriet has developed a unique, technically informed design practice.
Collaborating with the PPY team for the second year running, Harriet has drawn inspiration from historic, sci-fi, and contemporary costume to deliver this range of designs.
Being asked to reflect on my years in PPY is an equally daunting yet beautiful thing. It’s a bittersweet realisation that my time here is coming to an end, but an opportunity to appreciate all that I’ve learnt. I am filled with immense gratitude when I look back at who I was when I first stepped through the doors, compared to who I am now. I’ve experienced growth beyond what I thought possible, that I don’t believe I would’ve found anywhere else than in the nurturing and inspiring environment that is PPY.
PPY has been an enriching, eye-opening and transformative experience for me. Not only have I learnt about the breadth of contemporary dance, improvisation and techniques, I have also learnt so much about myself as an individual and dancer. This course has given me an opportunity to grow my passion for dance and to enhance my selfconfidence inside and out of the studio. I feel as though the past two years have formed the foundations for how I will continue to move through the world. PPY has enabled me to grow my physical strength and technique, as well as my creative voice and unique artistic experience. I will forever be grateful for the nurturing and vibrant learning environment at PPY and for the space to collaborate with incredible peers and teachers.
PPY has been a year of transformation, a space where I’ve learned to trust my instincts, embrace vulnerability, and find confidence in the unknown. It has taught me to move with curiosity rather than fear and to push past my limits no matter how uncomfortable it makes me. I loved how physically challenging this year was. I discovered how much strength, discipline, and resilience I truly have. I’ve learned so much about my body, my artistry, and the balance between effort and ease. Through every moment of growth, the hard days and the breakthroughs, I’ve found new layers of myself as both a dancer and a person. I’m grateful for the people who have shared this journey with me and for the sense of community that has shaped who I am today. I’ll carry this experience forward with gratitude, courage, and a deeper love for the art form that connects us all.
Dance can be found in everything: in a lilting tune, in a shaking leaf, in the beating of waves on sand. Whether it’s music that drives movement or a single word to draw inspiration from, this course has revolutionised the way I think about dancing and movement in general. PPY has helped me lay bricks in a path I always dreamed of following, one with crossroads and alternate routes, but with a thousand rewarding destinations.
PPY is such a unique and rewarding environment.
It’s not often you have the privilege of collaborating with your peers in the dance studio day in and day out.
When I first arrived, I anticipated refining my technique, challenging rehearsals, and focused ballet classes. Since then, I’ve definitely experienced all of the above but have also left with more than I could have ever asked for.
This program has not only strengthened my love for dance but has also encouraged me to pursue art in everyday life, beyond the studio.
I’m excited to follow my peers in their own journeys and am forever grateful for the influence they have had on me.
PPY has been pivotal in my dance training. A year of breaking down walls, building new skills, and connecting with industry professionals I’ve looked up to for years. This year has deconstructed many of the things I thought I knew about dance and taught me just how vast the possibilities are as an artist; how many rules wait to be broken and possibilities that wait to be explored. My curiosity and hunger have been nurtured in ways for which I am beyond grateful, I’m left eager to discover all that lies beyond my comfort zone.
Every step is wild, vital, alive. Each moment unique and precious. Dancing in this space where personal expression is everyone’s conviction has made me grateful that a place like this can exist in the world. Thank you to everyone in the PPY team, you have led me towards artistic enlightenment, which I will never be able to describe in words but might get close to when I dance.
As I reflect upon my year of training at Sydney Dance Company’s PPY, I am deeply grateful for the knowledge, artistry, and inspiration that have shaped me throughout this journey. Entering the course, I carried uncertainty of the path my future in dance might take. Now, supported by an extraordinary group of mentors, teachers, and peers, I feel confident that I am finding myself as a contemporary artist. This year has allowed me to uncover new layers of my personal movement and recognise the boundless possibilities that contemporary dance offers. Through rigorous training and creative exploration, I have strengthened my individuality, resilience, and motivation qualities that now form the foundation of my artistic practice.
During PPY I have learnt to understand and embrace my body and how I move, becoming part of the contemporary industry, and built friendships that will last for years. I have been changed as a dancer and a person over my two years and I will forever be grateful for my teachers, my supporters, and my friends.
Thinking spherically Standing presently Existing wholly Listening openly Expressing authentically Moving intuitively Feeling deeply Grounding frequently We find pleasure.
Prior to starting my journey at PPY, my values as an artist were quite scarce. I wasn’t fully aware of the power and ability I had through self-expression and performative storytelling. Many months later and I now understand that this incredible passion of mine can be used to help myself and other people understand the ways of this complicated world.
The best way I can describe my time in PPY so far is; eye opening, absorbent and unforgettable. This course has helped to open my eyes to what this industry has to offer and the different avenues there are to follow. I have truly felt like a sponge this year absorbing all the incredible memories and information we have received from everyone who has walked through the studio doors. This year has been incredible, from the newfound friendships and memories, to all the incredible words of wisdom and knowledge provided to us this year.
PPY has given me a refreshing perspective on movement through the biomechanic and creative lenses. Learning from a diverse range of renowned artists and mentors has broadened my artistic vocabulary, expanded my boundaries and deepened my feeling and thinking process around the expression of movement. My journey this year has ignited passion, explored vulnerability and nurtured an environment of curiosity. My gratitude extends to my talented peers and mentors for this unforgettable experience.
This past year in PPY has been beyond anything I imagined, full of challenge, growth, and joy. I’ve been continually reminded of the roots of why I love to dance, while being pushed to the edges of what I know to explore new possibilities for our art form. I love pushing myself to new levels of both technique and artistry, and this year has truly enabled that. Learning from such a diverse range of teachers every week and sharing every moment alongside close friends has been a transformative experience that I cherish. This year has reaffirmed my love of dance, and I’m excited for all that’s still to come.
Two years ago, I came into this course as a very shy and anxious person. Promising myself I would fake it till I make it, I put on a big mask of confidence that carried me through the first couple weeks until we all found our footing. Now, two years later, I don’t have to fake it anymore. PPY has brought out a genuine confidence inside me and a love for vulnerable performance that can be silly and cringe and weird. I’ve really found a love for the theatrical side of contemporary and I owe it to the array of incredible teachers that come in the studios to share their practice each week. If there’s one thing I will take away from my time at PPY it’s that DANCING IS FUN!!!! Yes, it can be serious and intense and hard, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be fun and silly and that’s the thing that keeps all of us going.
PPY is a course that has helped me transform my movement, encouraging me to explore the endless possibilities of dance and giving me the space to grow not only as a dancer but as a person. Everyday learning, creating and collaborating with a variety of brilliant choreographers who have shared infinite amounts of knowledge and advice has given me an experience like no other. PPY has not only developed my technique but my creative mind, giving me the space to explore freely, curiously and without judgment, encouraging me to grow as an artist. Thank you to everyone in PPY who has made this year so memorable giving me experiences and lessons I will forever be grateful for.
My year at PPY challenged my mindset, exposed me to a different culture, and shaped me in ways I had never imagined. The guest choreographers and extra classes expanded not only my technique but also my understanding of what it means to move, create, and commit fully as a dancer. Growth demands relentless perseverance and effort, so the rewards for me were moments of artistic freedom, newfound resilience, and even the daily joy of crossing the Sydney Harbour each day! I am so grateful for it all.
PPY has transcended the meaning of dance. What is, what has been and what could be. It has opened the gates to a contemporary world I never knew existed and guided me to discover a version of myself that has pushed boundaries: curious, intuitive, experimental. As artists, we learn to discover, create and shape meaning for ourselves, and if there was one thing I have learnt this year, it’s that this exploration is infinite.
Transformative, abundant, curious, beautiful, ugly, confronting. So much growth and discovery this year as a human and artist.
Thank you PPY for being the safe space that gave me the courage to step into the unknown and learn more about myself. The vulnerability, deep questioning, authenticity and passion that can happen in the studio is nothing short of magical. Experiencing this has opened my eyes to a whole new way of being and has left me not only with more knowledge about dance, but more knowledge about life. I owe so much to my teachers and peers who inspired me and pushed me out of my comfort zone every day. My capacity for movement and thinking has expanded more than I ever dreamed of and I feel so very grateful.
I LOVE DANCING.
The past two years in PPY have been nothing short of transformative. I came into this space unsure of myself, carrying doubt, but was met with a community that encouraged me to lean into my questions, my instincts, and my voice. This course has challenged me in ways I didn’t expect but also offered deep support and space to grow at my own pace. I’m incredibly grateful to have moved through this time surrounded by beautiful people and learning alongside them, witnessing their journeys, and sharing in each other’s discoveries. The people I’ve encountered and the support provided in the course have made this experience richer than I ever imagined. The lessons and experiences on movement and self-discovery I’ve learnt through my time at PPY are ones I’ll carry with me long after this chapter closes.
In contemporary dance, we defy gravity not to escape the earth, but to better understand it.
PPY has changed my perception of contemporary dance and has allowed me to explore the possibilities this beautiful art form has to offer.
This program has further allowed me to understand that for a dancer, it’s not just about steps; it’s about the energy felt within the body. It’s an internal electricity, a vibration that flows from the centre of our being and radiates outwards through movement.
I am so grateful to have experienced my first year of this program and am so eager to continue to explore the endless possibilities PPY has to offer.
PPY has been a lesson of discovery and challenge. When I began, I viewed stepping into a course that would just refine my dancing, but I came to quickly realise that it was something far more. A deep exploration of self, both artistically and personally.
I learned how to sit with discomfort, moving through vulnerability and to trust in the unknown. This year has made me see how growth can happen in the moments where I feel stretched beyond what I thought I could manage.
What I will treasure most is the freedom I have found in expression which has a wide range of possibilities that has altered the way I create, think, and move. This year has been a reminder that dance is not only about technique, but about connection. Whether it is to myself, to others, or to the artform itself.
This year at PPY has taken me to a new place in my artistic journey, with the vast and diverse range of experienced choreographers giving me a unique perspective on how I approach my individual dance practice. Training full-time with Sydney Dance Company has shifted my mindset and provided an entrance into the infinite number of directions that I can take in the professional world.
PPY has been a discovery of digesting information, finding new openings, and unimaginable growth. I no longer see dance as a two-dimensional practice, that is separate and disconnected from the world. I see it as a practice of how I, as an artist, and the rich history of dance can merge and connect with the real world. To viscerally feel and connect to this with audiences, is something I can only thank my years at PPY for.
PPY is an experience I will be forever grateful for. I’ve learnt so much this year about contemporary dance and the industry, but most importantly I’ve learnt a lot about myself as an artist and as a person. This year has challenged me to step outside of my comfort zone and not to be so apologetic and shy about my dancing. I’ve learnt to embrace discomfort and try new things even if it scares me. I have learnt to not compare someone else’s successes to mine and to always be true to myself as an artist and a person.
It’s been such a privilege to work with so many influential choreographers and artists this year, they have each taught me so much about movement and artistry within the industry.
I am incredibly grateful to the whole PPY team for their support and guidance throughout the year but also my peers and now lifelong friends I have gotten to share this experience with. I have enjoyed dancing and growing with them every day.
This year has enabled me to grow as a dancer and as an adult.
From the very first day the teachers have been inspiring and encouraging and they embrace individuality.
PPY has allowed me to understand many aspects of dance, creativity and movement. The friendships, staff support and opportunities encourage me to learn more about myself and to enjoy each experience given to me.
My journey through Sydney Dance Company’s PPY has been transformative, both as an artist and as a person. The program challenged me to not only grow my technical and creative practice but also in the way I approach artistry as a whole. Being immersed in an environment that values experimentation and collaboration has opened my perspective, allowing me to refine my movement while remaining receptive to new ideas.
Through this, I have come to see artistry not as something that I create, but as something I uncover, a constant unfolding of body, spirit and imagination.
Zoe Karatenislis (PPY1)
This year of PPY has flown by and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities we have been given. To sum up this year, it has been a period of remarkable growth for me, as a dancer, artist and person. This year has helped me transform my perspective in dance and myself, helping me find confidence and courage to go beyond my comfort zone. It has allowed me to explore how my body can move in different ways and different types of movement I can create. I cannot believe how lucky I am to come to dance each day, in the beautiful studios and getting to collaborate with talented artists, choreographers and peers, who all inspire me every day.
There is a special kind of tranquillity that comes with dancing on the wharf at Sydney Dance Company, where the water, light, and energy of the space seem to move with you. I feel incredibly grateful to have started my full-time journey in a place filled with so much inspiration, surrounded by the Company and teachers who have shared their knowledge, artistry, and generosity. This year has taught me to slow down, to listen, and to appreciate the value of dance not just as performance, but as a way of grounding and expressing myself. PPY has reminded me that growth is not only about mastering steps but about finding confidence, curiosity, and resilience as a young person and artist. I will carry these lessons forward with me, both in the studio and in life.
PPY became a place of unravelling and becoming. In every challenge, I found possibility and a new kind of strength. Dance shifted from something I tried to perfect into something I could trust, an inner rhythm that carries me forward.
I leave with gratitude, with courage, with a heart more open than when I began, with the strength to grow through each challenge, and the openness to keep learning through every step.
My time in PPY has been a constant reminder of resilience, curiosity, and growth. Each day demanded something new from me, and in giving to the process I’ve discovered more about who I am — both as a dancer and a person. I’m grateful for the chance to carve out this chapter, one that feels like the beginning of many more.
I have come to believe that you cannot truly acknowledge your progress as an individual until your hard work materialises, but I think it is equally important to understand how it may be discouraging to not see the results constantly through training. PPY has really enabled me to open up to the idea that every day is progress, and that we really are moulding our future selves at each and every moment. Invaluable experiences and knowledge absorbed through our mentors is something I hope to eventually pass on in the future.
PPY is a space for questioning, for risk and for growth.
A place to challenge, to move beyond form, to explore with intention.
For commitment to curiosity and embracing uncertainty.
I am forever grateful for PPY!
When I began this course, I felt certain about the direction my career would take — I was confident and sure of my path. But PPY has completely transformed that perspective.
I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to explore so many new ways of moving, creating, and connecting through dance. The guidance and wisdom of the teachers I’ve met along the way have truly opened my eyes to a broader world of possibilities.
At the start of the year, it felt like there was all the time in the world to grow, learn, and dance alongside my friends. I honestly can’t believe how quickly it’s come to an end.
Though it’s a little overwhelming trying to figure out what comes next, I take comfort in knowing that our teachers believe in us and are cheering us on every step of the way.
Being a part of Sydney Dance Company’s PPY has truly been a very special and rewarding experience. Having trained in classical ballet since I was four years old, stepping into this program has opened a whole new world for me and allowed me to grow as both a dancer and a person. It has given me the chance to develop my artistry, explore contemporary dance in depth, and challenge myself in many ways.
The inspiring coaches and choreographers have guided me with care and encouragement, and I am so grateful for the knowledge, creativity, and passion they have shared. Every moment has been filled with learning and discovery. I am also thankful to the admin and office team, who have always been so supportive and kind.
I feel very fortunate to have shared these two years with such an incredible cohort of dancers. I have built special friendships and made wonderful memories.
This program has not only shaped me as an artist but has also given me the confidence to take the next steps in my journey, and for that I will always be grateful.
Ella Newman (PPY1)
This year has been a journey of becoming, both as a dancer and as a person. Growth has found me not only in movement but also in myself, my mindset, my beliefs and my values. PPY has opened me to new perspectives and ways of seeing the world, helping me discover who I am and who I want to be. It has given me the chance to build connections within myself and with others that I know will last a lifetime. Most of all it has reminded me of the joy of movement, a joy that continues to shape who I am.
Poppy Nowlan (PPY2)
PPY has far exceeded my expectations, giving me an experience more profound than I ever imagined. To be in such an incredible environment where I was encouraged to explore uncharted pathways beyond my comfort zone has been invaluable. To see, think, move and create in ways I hadn’t before has deepened my journey of self-discovery, both as an artist and person.
Learning from an incredible range of directors, artists and dancers from around the world was both rewarding and inspiring. Through these diverse experiences I discovered a true passion for contemporary dance, allowing my to delve deeper into one of my greatest joys.
The amazing PPY staff have been a constant source of support, not just in our training and education, but also in the small, meaningful moments, whether it was chatting about career paths or debating our favourite ice cream flavours! I’ll deeply miss dancing in the stunning waterfront studios, learning, growing and creating alongside my classmates has been a privilege. I leave PPY with a full heart.
Ines Omodiagbe (PPY2)
Summarising the past two years with PPY in a few words is definitely not easy. Where do I begin?
Being in this space has ignited a stronger passion for dance than I ever thought possible. Now whilst I still struggle to answer the simple question: “What is contemporary dance?” I’ve learnt that it’s not because I don’t know what the style entails, but rather there aren’t enough words to fully express the beauty that it holds. Contemporary dance is beautiful not just for its form, but what it embodies. It expresses what words often cannot and lies in vulnerability over perfection.
I hold so much gratitude to have been a part of such an inspiring community that embraces the longing for creativity and curiosity over the perfect “turn out” or “pointed toes”. With all that I’ve learnt within these two years, I am excited to continue challenging myself as an artist. Thank you PPY for all that you’ve done.
Honestly, this may have been one of the most challenging years of my life. A new state, new home, new people, new environment and only just 18. So much change in such little time. PPY gave me the opportunity to expand my dance knowledge and change what I thought I knew about myself along with it. This year has brought me challenges and wins, laughs and cries and most importantly a realisation of what dance can actually be. I’ve realised how many shapes and forms dance can take and learnt to absorb as much as I can from each. I’m so grateful for each and every moment that I have experienced this year and loved every second of it.
Alia Peerbaye (PPY1)
We walk together, We breathe together, We move, together, Connected.
A string of connection between our bodies and minds, as we discover our limbs for the first time, over and over again. We learn to fly, to feel alive and alien. My body moves in words I never knew could be sung.
There is beauty and intrigue in the still, the grotesque, and the ridiculous. My voice is ever-changing, My language is forever evolving, My knowledge is expanding, And I emerge anew
Madison Smith (PPY2)
I’m super grateful for the immersion and depth of dance that PPY has offered me and the mentors who entered through the Sydney Dance Company doors each day. This year I learnt a lot and was challenged a lot, evolved as a dancer and grew even more as a person. I feel incredibly privileged to have spent time on the wharf doing what I love in a space that nurtures us as creatives. To be able to do something every day that makes me feel so fulfilled was the most surreal experience. The place and people of PPY will hold a special part in my learning, but most importantly, the greatest lessons were self-discovery, resilience, and the ability to show up for myself. This chapter has shaped me, and I carry all that I’ve gained from it into everything yet to come.
James Snashall (PPY2)
Throughout the last two years, I have worked with and learned from some of the most brilliant dancers and makers, exploring their creative practices, techniques, and creating with them. Further, being able to learn alongside 23 of the most wonderful peers has been so inspiring.
I want to say a massive thank you to all the staff and teachers that I’ve been lucky enough to interact with and learn from. They are truly what makes PPY so magical.
Looking back at who I was on day one, I’m so proud of my growth as a dancer and as a person. I’m continually learning about how broad and exciting the contemporary dance world is. There truly is something for everyone.
I’m very grateful for the experience, challenge, and support, and opportunities to perform that PPY provides, and I am very excited to continue my learning and development, wherever it may take me.
Daniella Sywak (PPY2)
Over the last two years so much has changed. In my life and in my movement. The PPY journey has not only been inspiring but also challenging, and the challenge is how we are able to keep going and truly transform ourselves. Alongside the challenge there is passion. And to me, passion is the one thing that matters in dance. Without it, we as dancers are nothing. Utilising this passion however isn’t easy, and through these past two years I’ve been needing to grow it and foster it into becoming something important and into something I’m proud of. Leaving PPY to go start my new journey is nerve racking because I wonder how my passion will be challenged and fostered? What will the outside dance world hold for me?! The future is so uncertain so I’ve just been so grateful for PPY. It has given me two years of insight and support into the beautiful art form of contemporary dance.
And in the words of Martha Graham, “Great dancers are not great because of their technique, they are great because of their passion.”
These past two years at PPY have been the richest, most rewarding, and extraordinary experiences I’ve had so far. Sharing a space with so many open-minded and loving people has been nothing short of amazing. I’m forever grateful for the opportunity to collaborate, challenge, play, and learn within this course, and to have worked with so many incredible choreographers in such a short time.
PPY has taught me that I’m fully capable of reaching further than I thought possible, and of exploring and experiencing movement in countless ways—helping to shape who I am as a dancer. #ppy4eva
This past year in PPY has been beyond anything I imagined, full of challenge, growth, and joy. I’ve been continually reminded of the roots of why I love to dance, while being pushed to the edges of what I know to explore new possibilities for our art form. I love pushing myself to new levels of both technique and artistry, and this year has truly enabled that. Learning from such a diverse range of teachers every week and sharing every moment alongside close friends has been a transformative experience that I cherish. This year has reaffirmed my love of dance, and I’m excited for all that’s still to come.
Attending PPY has provided me with a diverse toolbox I can constantly refer to for the rest of my life, pushing myself to ask questions and embody a range of perspectives. It has helped shape who I am as a human, artist and dancer, opening my eyes to the avenues of dance as art and how it can be transferred between peers, colleagues and non-dancers alike. The environment at PPY has fostered the ability to be authentically myself, as well as the opportunity to experiment with who I could be. Forever grateful for PPY, as I continue to fall in love with dance and its possibilities.
“What is contemporary dance?”
I asked myself this last year, and I’ll ask it again. In fact, I’ve asked myself almost every day of PPY. This course has revealed the mutable nature of dance across my perception—sometimes clear, sometimes elusive—and in doing so, it has become so much more than a study of movement. It has shown me not only how to move, but how to move others, and what it is that truly moves me. It is the friends I am surrounded by, an atmosphere fuelled by creativity, the people who support not just my practice, but me as a person. It is in moments of stepping back and feeling the weight of how far we’ve grown: as a family, a cohort, a dancer, an artist, and as one person still discovering where she might go next.
Charlotte Whelan (PPY2)
Two years at PPY, oh how time does fly. Many mornings bones a-creaking, afternoons spent loudly shrieking.
Learnt to count in many ways, 3, 3, 2, 3, 1, left us in a daze.
Fringe got shorter, played my guitar. Pranced with friends, poised at the barre.
Where I’m going, where I’m from, I do not know, ahhh what’s next to come?
But rest assured that PPY, those glory days, remembered as alumni.
Lia Williamson (PPY1)
This past year has been a pivotal step in my growth as both an artist and a person. PPY has widened my perspective of the world of contemporary dance, equipped me with new skills I can carry forward, and blessed me with new friendships. Working with inspiring mentors that challenge our premeditated thoughts and beliefs has been both motivating and transformative. I am truly so grateful for this opportunity, which has allowed me to grow, learn, and further connect with myself as an artist and individual.
If I said I wasn’t scared about what the future holds or where I’m meant to go next, I’d be lying. We’ve never had a clear roadmap, no one telling us exactly what to do or where to go, and certainly never that it would be easy. Instead, we’ve learned to trust ourselves, to be present, and to absorb every moment along the way.
Movement is the source of everything. It’s where we find our voice, make connections, and learn to thrive. Over the past two years, I’ve learned lessons I’ll carry with me, lessons that will continue to guide me as we all take a leap of faith into the world.
This is an emotional goodbye to something that has shaped so much of who I am. I am forever grateful.
Emma-Jane Newton (Chair)
Larissa Behrendt AO
Jillian Broadbent AC
Michael Dagostino
David Friedlander
Emma Gray
Andrew Hagger
Alexa Haslingden
Sandra McCullagh
Bianca Spender
Gitanjali Bhalla
International Patron
Dame Darcey Bussell DBE
Founding Patron
Dancers’ Circle
Julian Knights AO
Ambassadors’ Council
Sarah Myer, (Chair), Victoria Balnaves, Pam Bartlett, Judy Crawford, Chum Darvall, Jaycen Fletcher, Mandy Foley, Rebekah Giles, Bradford Gorman. The Hon. Don Harwin. Samuel Joyce, Alexandra Knights, Skye Leckie OAM, Amelia Liveris, Jules Maxwell, Andrew Muston. Peter Reeve. Ruth Ritchie. Keinwen Shephard, Stephen Thatcher, Bee Wood, Adam Worling, Susan Wynne, Mary Zuber.
Artistic Director
Rafael Bonachela
Executive Director
Lou Oppenheim
Executive Assistant
Amy Burrows
Director, Producing
Katy Green Loughrey
Senior Producer
Dominic Chang
Associate Producer - Ensemble
Kerry Thampapillai
Associate Producer - Wharf
Michael Sieders
Director Finance and Administration
Kate Di Mattina
Accountant
Melissa Sim
Payroll Assistant
Carina Mision
Director Training and Education
Polly Brett
Head of Open Programs & Learning
Samantha Dashwood
Dance Class Manager
Ramon Doringo
Learning Manager
Justine Ocampo
Learning and Community
Engagement Coordinator
Jacqueline Cooper
Learning Administrator
Eugenie English
Head of Training
Linda Gamblin
Training Associate
Juliette Barton (Maternity Leave)
Madeline Harms
Learning Associate Lexy Panetta
Pre-Professional Year Course Coordinator
Tobiah Booth-Remmers
Conditioning Studio Manager
Felicity McGee
Customer Experience and Venue Manager
Sue Neilsen
Customer Service Assistant
Ellie Cevik
Director Philanthropy and Partnerships
Fiona Crockett
Head of Philanthropy
Katharine Seymour
Philanthropy Manager
Lachlan Bell
Trusts and Foundations
Manager
Madeleine White
Philanthropy Coordinator
Bianca Mulet
Director Market Development
Olivia Blackburn
Marketing Manager
Kylie Boyd
Digital Marketing Specialist
Rebecca Nash
Marketing and Communications Coordinators
Gabriella Lay
Rohan Furnell
Head of CRM and Business Intelligence
Thida Kyaw
Ticketing Specialist
John Calvi
Technical Director
Guy Harding
Company and Resident Stage Manager
Simon Turner
Production Coordinator
Tony McCoy
Head of Wardrobe
Mary-Ellen Baxter
Production Manager
Shane Placentino
PPY25 Revealed
Costume Supervisor
Harriet Ayers
PPY25 Revealed Stage Manager
Mackenzie Obryne
Rehearsal Director
Richard Cilli
Rehearsal Associate
Charmene Yap
(Maternity Leave)
Mia Thompson
Balnaves Foundation
Artist in Residence
Raghav Handa
Dancers
Lucy Angel
Finn Armstrong
Mathilda Ballantyne
Timmy Blankenship
Mali Comlekci
Ali Dib
Liam Green
Sonrisa Hubbard
Morgan Hurrell
Ngaere Jenkins
Sophie Jones
Naiara de Matos
Ryan Pearson
Eka Perunicic
Piran Scott
Sam Winkler
Trainee
Amelia Russell
Head Physiotherapist
Ashlea-Mary Cohen
Company Doctor
Dr. Michael Berger
Sports Doctor
Dr. James Lawrence
Psychologist
Dr. Sallie Grey
Wellness Coach and Nutrition
Kirsten Wenbourne
Guest Teachers and Choreographers
Omer Backley-Astrachan
James Batchelor
James Boyd
Thomas Bradley
Jolie Brook
Robert Bruist
Max Burgess
Shane Carroll
Tristan Carter
Penny Chivas
Mitchell Christie
Eliza Cooper
Sacha Copland
Jill Crovisier
Tra Mi Dinh
Franky Drousioti
Dean Elliott
Riley Fitzgerald
Kallum Goolagong
Cathie Goss
Samantha Hines
Rebecca Jensen
Olympia Kotopolous
Surekha Krishnan
Lucky Lartey
Lee-Anne Litton
Nita Little
Vincent Loermans
Siobhan Lynch
Genki Matsuyama
Lisa Maris McDonell
Gabrielle Nankivell
Casey Natty
Tony Osborne
Thomas Page
Hugo Poulet
Courtney Radford
Remy Rochester
Alejandro Rolandi
Viktoria Rosek
Elizabeth Ryan
Georgette Sofatzis
Garry Stewart
Tess Sturmann
Mia Thompson
Jakki Tobin
Melissa Toogood
Kassidy Waters
Miranda Wheen
Chloe Young
Victor Zarallo
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. PPY Alumni have gained employment with the following internationally renowned dance companies and productions listed below. This list does not include the many diverse independent collaborations and choreographic projects our alumni have contributed to.
Australasian Dance Collective (Brisbane)
Australian Dance Theatre (Adelaide)
Bangarra Dance Theatre (Sydney)
Catapult Dance (Newcastle)
Chunky Move (Melbourne)
Cirque du Soleil (Montreal, Canada)
Crystal Pite/ Kidd Pivot performances with Strut Dance (Perth)
Dance North (Townsville)
Dresden Frankfurt Dance Company (Germany)
DV8 / Lloyd Newson (England)
Emanuel Gat Dance (Marseille, France)
Force Majeure (Sydney)
Form Dance Projects (Western Sydney)
Fresco Dance Company (Tel Aviv, Israel)
GöteborgsOperans Danskompani (Gothenburg, Sweden)
Hamilton (International)
ITDansa (Barcelona, Spain)
Ivan Perez (Heidelberg, Germany)
Karul Projects (Gold Coast)
Legs on the Wall (Sydney)
Lucy Guerin Inc. (Melbourne)
Moulin Rouge (Paris, France)
National Ballet of Marseille (Marseille, France)
New Adventures / Matthew Bourne (London)
Ochre Dance Company (Perth)
Opera Australia (Sydney)
Opera Ballet Vlaanderen (Antwerp, Belgium)
Poetic Disaster Club (Groningen, The Netherlands)
PR-Evolution Dance Company (Budapest, Hungary)
Punchdrunk / Maxine Doyle (International)
Shaun Parker & Company (Sydney)
ShELFISH Productions (The Netherlands)
SOL Dance Company (Israel)
Stephanie Lake Company (Melbourne)
Strut Dance (Perth)
Sydney Dance Company (Sydney)
Sydney Experimental Arts Ensemble (Sydney)
T.H.E Dance Company (Singapore)
Tasdance (Launceston)
The Catchment Dance Collective (Sydney)
The Farm (Queensland)
Theo Clinkard & Company (Brighton, UK)
Wayne McGregor Dance Company (England)
West Side Story (New York City, USA)
Sydney Dance Company partners with Carriageworks to present PPY25 Revealed through the ongoing support of the NSW Government through Create NSW and the Australian Government through Creative Australia.
Sydney Dance Company thanks Carriageworks for its support of PPY25 Revealed.
We would also like to thank all of our generous supporters of the Pre-Professional Year course. A special thank you to Tim Fairfax AC for his visionary support of Sydney Dance Company’s Training Associate and Learning Administrator roles. We’re also deeply grateful for the opportunities provided by the following scholarships: The Wales Family, the Doug Hall Foundation, Mary Zuber, Kay Freedman and the late Ian Wallace and the James N Kirby Foundation. Their commitments have been essential in allowing us to improve access for aspiring dancers within our program. Thank you to the Hephzibah Artist Development Program and the Tanja Liedtke Foundation for supporting guest choreographers and creatives.
The generosity of the Sydney Dance Company family is vital to ensure that people of all ages can continue to experience the transformative power of dance.
From new commissions to national and international tours, outreach activities to professional pathways, your tax-deductible donation has a huge impact on our artists, audiences and dance participants of all ages.
Make a fully tax-deductible donation to Sydney Dance Company by scanning the QR code.
Please get in touch at philanthropy@ sydneydancecompany.com if you would like to discuss your giving at any time.
Sydney Dance Company GPO Box 1598
Sydney NSW 2001
Carriageworks is one of Australia’s most significant creative industry hubs, renowned for its dynamic cultural events, performances and exhibitions. Housed in a historic railway workshop in Sydney on Gadigal Land, Carriageworks offers a vibrant platform for contemporary art, theatre, music, dance and more, collaborating with leading local and international artists to foster innovation and creativity in its distinctive industrial setting.
Sydney Dance Company
Sydney Dance Company, celebrating more than 50 years of defining contemporary dance in Australia, is a non-for-profit organisation supported by Creative Australia and Create NSW and the generosity of donors. Actively creating and touring new work both nationally and internationally under the Artistic Directorship of Rafael Bonachela since 2009, the Company maintains an ensemble of 17 professional dancers. In 2014, Sydney Dance Company launched the Pre-Professional Year course providing worldclass professional training in an unparalleled environment. 2025 marks the 12th anniversary of Pre-Professional Year.
Sydney Dance Company is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO #45863).