Dance speaks louder

FOR acclaimed choreographer Rafael Bonachela, the upcoming Sydney Dance Company production of Louder Than Words is an embodiment of all that dance can be.

“I hope it will be a powerful demonstration of how dance can say so much and can make audiences feel and think and engage in so many different ways — purely with the body and the incredible power of movement,” he said.

Louder Than Words is also more than just a showcase of movement. It’s a double bill about two distinct choreographic styles, and both of its productions, Parenthesis and Scattered Rhymes, will have their world premieres in Sydney on October 4.

As choreographer for Scattered Rhymes, Bonachela said his production is set to a rich a cappella vocal score composed by Grammy award-winning composer Tarik O’Regan and Australia’s Nick Wales.

“I am loving working with the music, which is so layered and complex and I am also taking some inspiration from the two 14th century texts which the music is set to, by Petrarch and an anonymous English poet,” said Bonachela. The Barcelona native first made his name in London’s Rambert Dance Studio before eventually moving to Australia in 2008 and becoming Sydney Dance Company’s artistic director that same year.

The texts he refers to are Petrarch’s famous Canzionere, interlaced with stanzas from an anonymous poem found in a collation of English love songs dating back to the late Middle Ages.

Yet Bonachela is not the only heavyweight name involved in Louder Than Words. The other half of the double billing, Parenthesis, is choreographed by Andonis Foniadakis, a Greek native who has worked all over the world.

“For me it is very special to be bringing Andonis Foniadakis to Sydney,” Bonchela said.

“He is a rising star and has already worked with some amazing companies in Europe and the USA and now Australian audiences can experience his work for themselves.

“[His work] is intensely physical, frenetic and sensual and really puts the dancers through their paces.”

Indeed, Foniadakis’ work focuses on the relation of duality in an intimate relationship while also exploring the feelings of disorder, discomfort and chaos that results when the balance is disrupted.

The production features a score by French composer Julien Tarride and costumes by Greek fashion stylist Tassos Sofroniou, both of whom regularly collaborate with Foniadiakis.

Bonachela said he was also excited to be working on a world premiere for Sydney Dance Company during its 45th anniversary year.

“I am very conscious of the importance of [the company] to the Australian contemporary dance landscape — there is such an impressive body of work to acknowledge and of course celebrate,” he said.

“As a choreographer I feel very blessed to have these 16 outstanding dancers to work with in the studio, they are amazing and inspire me every day.”

Will there be a national tour of Louder Than Words?

“We are always thinking ahead about touring opportunities for our works and we are talking to international presenters now about touring for the next few years,” Bonachela said.

“I am fairly confident there will be more opportunities to take this double bill to other cities around Australia and the world.”

But for the time being, Bonachela said he was focusing all of his energy on the world premiere.

“I do throw myself in to creating a work, and it takes a huge amount of energy and drive, I work very fast and keeping that pace up can be tough at times,” he said.

“It is equally exciting and exhausting work. The rewards are seeing the work come to life and seeing audiences appreciate it.”

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LOUDER THAN WORDS

WHAT: World premiere production, choreographed by Rafael Bonachela and Andonis Foniadakis

WHERE: Sydney Theatre, 22 Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay

WHEN: October 4–18, various times

INFO + TICKETS: www.sydneydancecompany.com

**This article first appeared in the October issue of the Star Observer, which has just been published. Click here to find out where you can grab your free copy in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra and select regional areas. The November issue will hit the streets on Thursday, October 16.