On the 28th May Sydney Dance Company will present the world premiere of Rafael Bonachela’s newest work momenta in its hometown of Sydney before embarking on a national tour of NSW, QLD, NT & WA. For more details go to https://www.sydneydancecompany.com/performance/momenta/
As the weeks pass and opening night approaches, two of SDC’s newer company members, who are featuring in momenta, Ngaere Jenkins and Piran Scott, answered some questions for Dance Australia. As both Ngaere and Piran danced overseas before joining SDC they talk about how it’s going so far, what audiences can expect from momenta and offer advice to young dancers about moving overseas for your dance career.
Ngaere Jenkins. Photo by Pedro Greig
Ngaere Jenkins
1. What does being featured in the upcoming world premiere of momenta mean to you?
I’m really happy to be here! To be part of the process and soon the celebration of everyone’s endeavour. After creating then rehearsals of stimuli, sensations, connection and dancing I’m eager to see how the work will exist in performance. There’s a strong bond between the dancers and then also with Raf. It’s a bond rich from years of working together so it’s been a privilege to have been welcomed into the space this year to watch and collaborate on Rafael’s new work.
2. What can audiences expect to see in Rafael Bonachela's momenta?
momenta has a hum to it. A hive of interactions, glitches between behaviours and time. The dancers individual energy and movement discipline is utilized to display a beautiful disposition between one another.
Nicks Wales’’ music is driving and percussive but also flows tenderly at times with the rise, falls and curves of the choreography.
There’s also a silky solo by Dean Elliott that reflects a re-grounding into some of the elemental creative tasks from the process. Keep an eye out for that one.
3. What has been your experience so far of working in the studio with Rafael Bonachela on momenta?
Entering a creative process for the first time with the company it’s been lots of learning about what type of movement Raf is visualising. Observing how movement is shaped between him and the other dancers.
Sometimes phrases take shape slowly after various tasks and layering, other times movement erupts spontaneously. Raf catches it and it is woven into the work and married to a piece of the score. So much choreography is churned out so quickly so it’s been a great challenge keeping up with it all.
4. You've danced abroad professionally prior to joining SDC in 2023. What has making the move to Sydney, Australia been like for you so far?
I’m lucky in that my family are not too far away in New Zealand which is always a settling thought if I’m missing my home. The Sydney weather is just beautiful, and I love my neighbourhood of Glebe.
The company is super fast paced with ideas, notes and choreography whizzing around and the dancers going full steam. Each day I’m inspired by their work ethic, endurance and desire to execute with quality and authenticity to then enjoy some banter at lunch over a caramel slice from Mrs Jones downstairs.
5. Do you have any advice for young dancers or early career professionals about moving overseas in your dance career?
There’s no one way to navigate change but how lovely to remember that by moving into spaces beyond your own you evolve as a human. Be open, curious and also stand comfortably in the entity of your whakapapa and whenua back home. Learn about the land you are on and the true custodians.
Kindness goes a long way too.
Piran Scott. Photo by Pedro Greig
Piran Scott
1. What does being featured in the upcoming world premiere of momenta mean to you?
Being featured in any work by Sydney Dance Company is an honour and a privilege.
2. What can audiences expect to see in Rafael Bonachela's momenta?
Audiences can expect the powerful physicality that we have come to know of Rafael’s work, but there is also a moment to discover the internal process and the delicate sensitivity through engaging in human movement.
3. What has been your experience so far of working in the studio with Rafael Bonachela on momenta?
Working with Rafael has been engaging and inspiring. This is my second year in the company and my first full length creation process with him after working on shorter works, I Am-ness and Somos together last season. The growth and development over this period have been immense, not only in the studio and on stage, but also in the everyday company ethos.
4. You've danced abroad professionally prior to joining SDC in 2023. What has making the move to Sydney, Australia been like for you so far?
Yes, I worked professionally within companies in Germany and Switzerland for over 10 years. I am from Mackay, Queensland and always wanted to return to Australia. Living in Sydney, with my wife who is also in the company, has been a wonderful experience and a dream we always wished for. We definitely prefer the beach to the snow.
5. Do you have any advice for young dancers or early career professionals about moving overseas in your dance career?
I would say go for it, don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Try new things, become versatile, with your craft but also in life and experience. I always return to the old Irish blessing my mother wrote to me when I was about to leave for Germany at 22 years old: ‘May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back’.