In 2026, Sydney Dance Company is igniting new artistic collaboration, presenting bold, choreographic ideas in an empowering year set to celebrate the evolving landscape of contemporary dance.
The year will reflect the company’s legacy, while simultaneously forging a future defined by creative expansion and fearless exploration. The company will deliver two Sydney seasons, national and international touring, and a suite of programmes dedicated to supporting independent artists and providing audiences with access to astounding experiences.
Season one kicks off in June, with triple bill ‘Engine’ at Sydney Opera House. The triple bill brings together the work of three extraordinary choreographers. First is ‘The Journey Itself Is Home’, from Artistic Director Rafael Bonachela and featuring music from GRAMMY Award-winning Bryce Dessner.
Then, there’s ‘The Mass Ornament’ by Berlin-based Spanish choreographer Fran Diaz, who will make his Australian debut and bring his acclaimed choreographic language to Sydney Dance Company with a hypnotic work featuring music from Henryk Górecki.
Completing the triple bill is the return of viral sensation ‘Love Lock’ from Australian/Javanese choreographer Melanie Lane. It’s a reimagined folk dance of the future, drawing on collective experiences of diverse cultures, an accelerating world, and disappearing lands.
Throughout August and September, Sydney Dance Company will host a celebratory public programme, marking the 40 years of residency at Walsh Bay Arts Precinct.
Then, season two’s ‘Current’ is at the heart of the 40 Years At The Wharf celebrations. ‘Current’ will transform Sydney Dance Company’s Neilson Studio into an intimate, up-close performance space. There’ll be new works from Australian choreographers Raghav Handa, Jenni Large, and Azzam Mohamed, woven together with the Australian premiere of Bonachela’s ‘E2 7SD’.
The fifth edition of INDance opens in April, presenting works from Christopher Gurusamy, Emma Harrison, Jenni Large and Oli Matheisen. It continues to present bold works from independent dance makers.
Major new initiative ORBIT launches in November. It’s a partnership between Australian Dance Theatre (SA), Dancehouse (VIC) and Sydney Dance Company, touring nationally and seeing four existing, independent dance works remounted and performed across three states.
Nationally, the company will tour two main programmes across New South Wales, Western Australia and the Northern Territory, including Bonachela’s ‘Spell’, Tra Mi Dinh’s ‘Somewhere between ten and fourteen’, Fran Diaz’ ‘The Mass Ornament’ and Melanie Lane’s ‘Love Lock’.
“2026 will be a truly momentous year for Sydney Dance Company, a milestone that will be unforgettable. It’s a year of reflection, celebration, reinvention… and empowerment,” Sydney Dance Company Artistic Director Rafael Bonachela says. “From world premieres to stirring collaborations, 2026 celebrates the richness and diversity of our art form in Australia today, a season that empowers artists and audiences alike to see, feel and imagine anew.”
