There is something thrilling about watching contemporary dance from only a few metres away. In Sydney Dance Company’s ‘Current’, every breath, footfall, and flicker of expression was visible. Seated close to the stage in the intimate Neilson Studio, I felt less like a spectator and more like I had slipped inside the performance.
Created for Sydney Dance Company’s 40th anniversary at the Wharf, ‘Current’ brought together four compact works, each with its own movement language and atmosphere. Rafael Bonachela’s ‘E2 7SD’ opened the program with an intricate, intensely physical duet. First created in London in 2004, the piece felt fresh and immediate in its long-awaited Australian premiere.
Azzam Mohamed’s ‘OUR(SELF)’ shifted the energy towards rhythm, individuality, and collective expression, while Raghav Handa’s ‘ONE SONG’ drew on Sydney’s stories and restless spirit. Presented as one continuous experience, the works flowed into one another while remaining strikingly distinct.
For me, Jenni Large’s ‘Alpha Mutt’ was the standout. Exploring obedience, dominance, and belonging through the wonderfully unexpected metaphor of the dog, it was playful, unsettling, and completely absorbing. The dancers moved between meticulous control and uninhibited physicality, creating an intriguing tension between discipline and instinct.
Louis-Frere Harvey’s music heightened the work’s darker, more visceral energy, while Aleisa Jelbart’s costumes amplified the personalities and power dynamics unfolding onstage. The combination of movement, sound, and visual design was magnetic. ‘Alpha Mutt’ did not simply ask to be watched; it pulled the audience into its strange and compelling world.
The proximity of the dancers made the entire program especially powerful. Every movement carried weight, and the overall experience felt immediate, immersive, and alive.
‘Current’ is a bold celebration of Australian contemporary dance—intimate in scale, expansive in imagination, and performed with extraordinary precision.
About the author
Yara Vasina is a Sydney-based arts and culture writer with a passion for performance, travel, and discovering the experiences that make a city memorable.
Experience ‘Current’ at Sydney Dance Company from 3–20 September 2026. Buy tickets now.
Disclosure: The Plus Ones were invited guests of Sydney Dance Company.
Image credit: Daniel Boud
