Sydney Dance Company has announced a world-class revitalisation of their home at Pier 4 as part of the landmark redevelopment of the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct.
Working hand in hand with Create NSW and key Government stakeholders, Sydney Dance Company has welcomed the vision of the precinct rejuvenation, launching its largest and most successful Capital Campaign to achieve philanthropic support to help fund the redevelopment of its studios and facilities.
Sydney Dance Company’s campaign has already achieved $5.5 million of its initial $7 million target and is well on the way to reaching this goal thanks to the extraordinary commitment and generosity of donors including the foundation support of the Mordant, Neilson and Wales families.
“Our vision for the future will see Sydney Dance Company further cement its position as one of the world’s leading contemporary dance companies, expanding our reach and inspiring Australians’ love of dance,” said Sydney Dance Company Chair, Karen Moses.
“Thanks to the NSW Government’s world-class renewal of Pier 4 as part of the redevelopment of the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct and the incredible support and commitment of our donors, we are looking forward to this exciting new chapter for Sydney Dance Company.”
The Company will be moving from the Wharf to a custom designed studio in inner city Ultimo to make way for the construction phase of the project in 2018. Pier 4 has been our home since 1985 with the historic Wharf now synonymous with Sydney Dance Company.
The studios have been home to generations of renowned dancers, choreographers and performances that have brought worldwide acclaim. Over that time we have taught hundreds of thousands of people to dance as students and nurtured and developed our reputation as Australia’s national contemporary dance company.
On the brink of its 50th anniversary in 2019, the redevelopment heralds the next exciting phase of the Company’s history including upgraded dance studios – where new work is created by the Company and independent artists. Young dancers are trained and participants both young and old are taught to dance.
The work also includes gym and physiotherapy facilities to support the wellbeing of our dancers; production facilities to support the presentation of our work; state-of-the-art digital technologies to ensure; that we reach audiences across the world; refurbishment of the administration offices; and reconfigured café and foyer space.
While the redevelopment is underway, the Company and the Studio classes will be moving to a custom designed studio in Ultimo. The Company will continue to provide a wide variety of popular dance classes along with short courses and workshops. The relocation will not affect attendees of Sydney Dance Company’s shows in Sydney, which will continue to be performed at the Roslyn Packer Theatre.
“We are investing heavily in Walsh Bay because we see the homes of many of our Major Performing Arts Groups as special places and that obviously includes Sydney Dance Company. We want this to be a thriving arts precinct and community,” said NSW Minister of the Arts, Don Harwin. “We are looking forward to delivering this project to the people of NSW so that our companies can be the best in Australia and some of the best in the world.”
For more information about Sydney Dance Company, visit: www.sydneydancecompany.com For more information about the Walsh Bay Arts and Cultural Precinct redevelopment, visit: www.create.nsw.gov.au for details.
Image: Walsh Bay Arts Precinct Pier 4 (supplied)