Sydney Dance Company’s triple bill Continuum is a celebration of transformation and the invisible forces of nature that connect us all. Three distinct reflections on humanity, light and our place in the cycle of existence. Contrasting contemporary dance works that explore the full spectrum of human experience.

Spell

Rafael Bonachela’s new work unfolds in five powerful “spells,” the first beginning in silence before haunting, almost biblical music fills the space. The stage almost entirely dark, as solo dancers emerge one by one, repeating elongated back arches, sharp angles, rapid shifts, and movements low to the ground. As the ensemble grows, neon blue light cuts across the space and the dancers appear in cherry-red costumes, each distinct in design. A curtain partially drops, releasing black plastic ribbons that two performers glide through, moving so close they are like extensions of each other’s bodies. Fluid, continuous, and perfectly timed, the choreography builds under hypnotic strings and ends with the pulse of a heartbeat. The soundtrack features music by Ólafur Arnalds, Bryce Dessner, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins and Alice Smith, with costume and set design by Kelsey Lee and lighting by Damien Cooper.

Somewhere between ten and fourteen

In sharp contrast, Tra Mi Dinh’s work bursts with high energy. There’s a distinctive street-style feel to the work, accentuated by the aqua blue long pants, sleeveless tops and white sneakers, softened by Aleisa Jelbart’s silky costume textures. Set to Tilman Robinson’s dense techno beat, the piece becomes an ode to change, with fast, frantic movement and an autotronic edge to the choreography.

Unungkati Yantatja – one with the other

Arguably the most powerful piece of the night. Presented in association with Omega Ensemble, bringing together Stephen Page and esteemed composer William Barton.

Jacob Nash’s striking set features a single boomerang suspended high over the full width of the stage. The Omega Ensemble performs live alongside the dancers, accompanied by the unique pairing of a clarinet and yidaki (digeridoos), blurring classical and traditional music.

Stunning costume design by Jennifer Irwin cloaks the dancers in charcoal, opal and olive tones, recalling scales. The textures echo the rifts of the boomerang overhead. Cooper’s lighting shifts to a rich golden hue, illuminating bodies that clamber, stack and sweep across the floor —crawling, rolling, running and twisting into breathtaking formations.

A convergence of classical and indigenous performance, the work calls to land, sea, sky, and creature.  

Sydney Dance Company Artistic Director Rafael Bonachela says: “Continuum is about connection – across generations, creative expression, and lived experience – and I can’t wait for audiences to experience the beauty and power of these three works together.”

The curated program encourages us to notice the ever-shifting world and reminds us that nothing ever stands still.

4.5 stars

Duration: approximately 120 minutes, including a 20 minute interval.

Playing at Roslyn Packer Theatre (Walsh Bay, Sydney) until 1 November 2025

For tickets visit Sydney Dance Company

Looking for a pre-show bite? Lotus Dumpling Bar is located close by. For more suggestions, check out Bites & Sips.

Lotus Dumpling Bar | Pre-Show Dining