Sydney Dance Company Shines Brighter than Ever in 2015

Sydney Dance Company continues on its trajectory of success with another stellar year of business performance in 2015. The Company has announced that in one of its biggest years yet – comprising 98 performances from a program of 22 works in repertoire – they have also achieved impressive growth across all areas of the operation, capped off by a seventh consecutive year of fiscal responsibility. On the stage, the Company commissioned 14 new works in 2015, and eight scores; brought William Forsythe's acclaimed masterpiece Quintett to Australian audiences; opened the prestigious Movimentos Dance Festival in Europe; collaborated with Richard Tognetti's Australian Chamber Orchestra; made a return to Hong Kong for the first time in 25 years; and secured an invitation to premiere their acclaimed New Breed program (a partnership with Carriageworks) internationally in Germany, calling attention to the breadth of Australian talent and choreographic voice. Shining brighter than ever, Sydney Dance Company collected all four awards in the Dance category of the 2015 Helpmann Awards, for their double bill season Frame of Mind. The Company has since collected a further three Green Room Awards for the same show, and is a key contender in the upcoming 2015 Australian Dance Awards. Behind the scenes, Sydney Dance Company's education program reached new heights in 2015, presenting 142 school matinees, workshops and master classes to 8,458 young people and their teachers, including almost 2,000 young people and their teachers in regional Australia. Closer to home a total of 168,000 visits to the Company's Walsh Bay premises - making it one of Sydney's most popular arts destinations - including 70,000 visits to their highly praised public Dance Classes and school holiday workshop programs. MEDIA RELEASE For immediate release May 2, 2016 Sydney Dance Company The Wharf, Pier 4, 15 Hickson Road, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia Sydney Dance Company's end of year results include 26% growth in total audiences, 16% growth in turnover and 28% growth in school audiences, backed by a seventh consecutive year of solid financial performance and a seventh consecutive year of surplus. Sydney Dance Company Chairman Andrew Messenger says, "With 14 new commissioned dance works from artists at all stages in their careers, as well as new commissions in music and design, Sydney Dance Company is a major contributor to the Australian arts landscape. We make that contribution in an economically responsible way and with an eye to delivering exceptional quality performances and participatory experiences to our audiences. Sydney Dance Company is the flag bearer for Australian contemporary dance on the national and international stage. The ongoing recent success of the company is a tribute to Rafael Bonachela, the dancers and our exceptionally hardworking management, production and administration teams." Executive Director Anne Dunn echoed Mr. Messenger's comments, adding, "It is extremely rewarding to have seen Sydney Dance Company continue on its positive trajectory in 2015. Whilst maintaining a strong fiscal performance supporting the surety of the Company into the future, we have also worked incredibly hard to deliver a successful artistic program, resulting in significantly increased ticket sales. Sydney Dance Company has continued to invest in the development of international relationships and it was fantastic to see such strong demand and support for the Company on the world stage this year. We were particularly pleased to continue to support the next generation of Australian dancers and choreographers in 2015, through our education, traineeship, scholarship and New Breed programs, the last of these presented in partnership with Carriageworks. The Company was incredibly proud to take out the four Dance category awards at this years' Helpmann Awards, including two awards for our presentation of William Forsythe's masterpiece Quintett, which we were honoured to premiere in Australia." Sydney Dance Company recorded a surplus of $515,376 for the financial year ended December 31 2015, enabling further contribution to the Company's cash reserve targets, which are a key goal of the Sydney Dance Company's current fiveyear strategic plan. A copy of Sydney Dance Company's 2015 Annual Report can be viewed at https://issuu.com/sydneydancecompany/docs/syd0018_annual_report_r14_singles_l, and is available for download at https://www.sydneydancecompany.com/about/annual-report/ . Follow Sydney Dance Company at www.facebook.com/sydneydanceco | www.twitter.com/sydneydanceco | www.instagram.com/sydneydanceco | www.youtube.com/sydneydancecompany |#SDCOnTour SYDNEY DANCE COMPANY 2015 KEY STATISTICS 98 performances 14 international performances 142 education activities 22 works in repertoire 14 new commissions 8 music commissions 26% growth in total audiences 16% growth in turnover 28% growth in school audiences 62,975 total audiences MEDIA RELEASE For immediate release May 2, 2016 Sydney Dance Company The Wharf, Pier 4, 15 Hickson Road, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia 8,458 school workshops and matinee attendees 68,453 attendances at our popular open class program A total of 168,000 visits to our Walsh Bay premises - making it one of Sydney's busiest arts destinations Shows in 14 towns and cities across Australia A surplus of $515,376 ENDS Image: Sydney Dance Company performances 2015, clockwise from top left: Quintett, Frame of Mind, Inside There Falls, Reign, Conform, Les Illuminations. Photos by Peter Greig. MEDIA CONTACT For information, images or interviews contact: Sydney Dance Company Publicist, Julie Clark, email juliec@sydneydancecompany.com ABOUT SYDNEY DANCE COMPANY Sydney Dance Company is Australia's leading contemporary dance company, presenting new works in Sydney, around Australia and internationally, under the Artistic Direction of Rafael Bonachela. Since 1985 the Company has been resident in purpose-built studios at Pier 4 in Sydney's Walsh Bay, minutes from the city's famed Harbour Bridge. Its studios house the largest public dance class program in Australia, attracting nearly 70,000 participants each year. A legendary force in contemporary dance in Australia, Sydney Dance Company will celebrate its 50th year in 2019.