Sydney Dance Company (SDC) has already performed its program Ascent in the capital cities of Canberra and Sydney. You can read Michelle Potter’s review of the Canberra premiere here.
But in less than a month their regional tour kicks off, starting in Wyong, NSW before heading to Adelaide, SA. They will then perform in five locations across Victoria; visiting both the Northern Territory and Tasmania before finishing up in regional NSW.
One of the dancers featured in Artistic Director Rafael Bonachela’s new work I Am-ness is Riley Fitzgerald, who has only recently returned to SDC after several years abroad with Ballet National de Marseille. After performing in France and touring Europe extensively to much critical acclaim he has returned to SDC, in part to be closer to family after being separated for so long by travel restrictions.
Riley started his dance journey in regional Victoria at the age of ten when he joined an all-boys hip-hop class. This was followed by training with the Anita Coutts School of Dance, then VCA in Melbourne and the New Zealand School of Dance in Wellington. After completing his training Riley was offered his first contract with SDC in 2019, and has only just started his second – no doubt his peers and colleagues are hoping that he stays a little longer this time!
SDC’s regional tour of Ascent is a great opportunity for dancers and dance enthusiasts across regional Australia to see some top-quality contemporary dance. You can check out their performance schedule here: https://www.sydneydancecompany.com/performance/2023-national-tour/