Major revamp for SDC studios

 

Sydney Dance Company has announced a “revitalisation” of its home at Pier 4 as part of the landmark redevelopment of the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct under the NSW Government.

Pier 4 has been SDC's home since 1985, with the historic Wharf now synonymous with Sydney Dance Company. The studios have been home to generations of renowned dancers, choreographers and performances as well as hundreds of thousands students.

The redevelopment will include:

• Studio 5, The Neilson Studio (made possible thanks to the generous support of the Neilson Foundation): A unique, purpose-built studio overlooking Sydney Harbour Bridge, a multi-purpose space for artistic endeavour and community outreach.
  
  
• Four upgraded dance studios, where new work is created by the Company and independent artists. Young dancers are trained and participants both young and old are taught to dance.
  
  
• Studio 2, The Joan Barrie Studio (A Generous Gift From Catriona and Simon Mordant): the Company’s main rehearsal studio.
  
  
• Studio 4, The Wales Family Studio: The Company’s Pre Professional Year trainee dancer studio State-of-the-art digital technologies. Gym and physiotherapy facilities. Production facilities to support the presentation of the company's work.
  
  
• Reconfigured café and foyer space.
  
  
• Refurbishment of the administration offices.

Working with Create NSW (the NSW Government's arts policy and funding body) and key Government stakeholders, SDC has launched its largest and most successful Capital Campaign to achieve philanthropic support to help fund the redevelopment of its studios and facilities. The campaign has already achieved $5.5 million of its initial $7 million target and is well on the way to reaching this goal thanks to the extraordinary commitment and generosity of donors including the foundation support of the Mordant, Neilson and Wales families.  

SDC board member Catriona Mordant said, "We have admired the Sydney Dance Company for many decades and under the passionate artistic direction of Rafael Bonachela and being a board member under Karen Moses's leadership we are delighted to support the revitalisation of SDC's home at The Wharf. My mother Joan Barrie was involved in dance all her life and it is fitting that with Simon and my support, Studio 2, being the company's main rehearsal studio, will be named after her."  

Tony Wales of The Wales Family Foundation said, “The Wales Family is thrilled to be able to support this project, the artistic vision of Rafael Bonachela and his passion for nurturing the next generation of Australian contemporary dancers. Sydney Dance Company has been at the forefront of defining contemporary dance for decades and we are proud to contribute to this legacy by ensuring that the strong tradition of pushing the boundaries of creativity continues for generations to come.”

While the redevelopment is underway, the Company and the Studio classes will move to a custom designed studio in Ultimo, in inner city Sydney. Sydney Dance Company will continue to provide a wide variety of popular dance classes along with short courses and workshops. Performances will continue to be held at the Roslyn Packer Theatre.