TwoFold
Powerhouse Double Bill
This September, Sydney Dance Company presents Twofold, a monumental double bill with the return of Rafael Bonachela’s celebrated Impermanence alongside the world premiere of Melanie Lane’s compelling new work, Love Lock. Showing from 18 – 28 September 2024 at Roslyn Packer Theatre in Sydney, Twofold celebrates the breadth of choreographic dynamism and diversity with two formidable full-ensemble works from these renowned choreographic powerhouses.
A visceral and thrilling exploration of the juxtaposition of beauty and devastation, Bonachela’s critically acclaimed Impermanence first premiered in 2021 before successfully touring nationally and internationally. Featuring an evocative score by Grammy Award-winning composer Bryce Dessner co-commissioned by the Australian String Quartet, the work’s inspiration was drawn from the tragedy of the Australian bushfires and the Notre-Dame fire in Paris. Across the season, the music will be performed live on stage by either the Australian String Quartet or the Partridge String Quartet.
Dessner is best known as a founder of American rock band The National and for his film scores for the Oscar nominated films The Revenant and The Two Popes. For Impermanence, his emotionally powerful score, exquisitely woven through the choreography of the dancers, takes audiences on a journey exploring the transience and fragility of existence, ending with Mercury Prize winner Anohni’s Another World in the closing movement.
The second work within this dynamic double bill is from prolific Australian/Javanese choreographer and performer Melanie Lane. Love Lock, a re-imagined folk dance of the future, draws upon collective experiences of diverse cultures, an accelerating world and disappearing lands.
Love Lock celebrates the binding ability of dance to move, warn and empower, showcasing costume design by celebrated Australian fashion designer Akira Isogawa, layered with texture and colour, and a score composed by UK electronic artist Clark. Lane’s work is known for its exploration of physical and cultural histories, addressing current social mythologies. Her work has been presented at international festivals and theatres in Europe, USA, Indonesia and Australia.
Sydney Dance Company Artistic Director Rafael Bonachela said:
“I’m delighted to bring Impermanence to the stage once more, and to pair this with Melanie Lane’s extraordinary new work, Love Lock. I started working with Melanie in 2017 when her work WOOF premiered as part of Sydney Dance Company’s program New Breed, and we brought it back in 2019 as part of our 50th Anniversary mainstage season. Witnessing Melanie’s evolution as an exceptional choreographer has been an immense privilege, and I am so proud to present this double bill alongside her. With two full ensemble works, it will be a night of epic proportions.”
Choreographer Melanie Lane said:
“It is a thrill to be creating Love Lock with the artists of Sydney Dance Company. The ideas for the work came from the invitation to work with the entire ensemble. It’s an exciting opportunity that offers so much potential to harness the powerful energy of a large group of dancers. It made me think a lot about social dances, folk dances and community dances that celebrate what it means to connect with each other through our bodies and essentially what it means to be human.
“It’s a great honour to create this work alongside Rafael’s brilliant Impermanence. It’s always inspiring to observe his meticulous craftsmanship and passion for the art form. Raf has been a generous and sustained supporter of my work, and it means a great deal to be invited for the second time to work with the company after the creation of WOOF in 2017.”
“It is arguably the single best piece created by and for an Australian dance company for many years” – Adelaide Advertiser on Impermanence
“Impermanence needs to be seen and heard more than once.” – The Australian
“Hugely impressive… WOOF certainly marks out Lane as one to watch.” – TimeOut on WOOF
Impermanence
Choreography: Rafael Bonachela
Composer: Bryce Dessner
Music co-commissioned by: Australian String Quartet
Music performed by: Australian String Quartet, Partridge String Quartet
Music features: Another World by Anohni
Lighting Design: Damien Cooper
Stage Design: David Fleischer
Costume Design: Aleisa Jelbart
Love Lock
Choreography: Melanie Lane
Composer: Clark
Lighting and Set Design: Damien Cooper
Costume Design: Akira Isogawa
Love Lock is generously supported by Sydney Dance Company’s Visionary Patron Brett Clegg and the Clegg Foundation.
