Quintett + Frame Of Mind

An incredible amount of work goes into being a dancer. But it’s not enough to work hard and be talented, you also have to fit into a company and work toward a bigger picture. Current Artistic Director of Sydney Dance Company Rafael Bonachela has put together a group of dancers who excel at that goal. Bonachela’s Frame Of Mind, the second part of this bill and soundtracked wonderfully by The National’s Bryce Dessner, put on display the large group of dancers as a whole, then allowed them to slowly break away and explore much more intimate dancing partnerships while the sparse set, designed to give the impression of a dance studio, cast a muted light over the dancers. 

Though Bonachela beautifully captured his theme of connection, William Forsythe’s Quintett was the better of the two pieces. Blending very balletic moments with the repetition driven by Gavin Bryars’ minimalist masterwork Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet, the dancers drifted around the space, never quite making that illusive connection. Though all five dancers embodied Forsythe’s lithe choreography, Sam Young-Wright was the standout. His control and body awareness drew the eye every time he emerged from the wings. This was the first time Forsythe’s Quintett has been performed in Australia and Bonachela’s dancers have done the great choreographer proud.