Sydney Dance Company’s Executive Director Noel Staunton has announced that choreographers Shaun Parker and Reed Luplau will be the first to create works for The Overture Series, a new manifesto to celebrate the work of young choreographers.

Noel Staunton said today that “the Overture Series will showcase a new generation of young, independent choreographers, providing a platform for them to develop and present their work to Sydney Dance Company’s established audience”.

Shaun Parker and Reed Luplau will choreograph their works on the dancers of the Company and stage their short works as an ‘overture’ to the performance of the full length works by international guest choreographers Rafael Bonachela and Aszure Barton, at the Carriageworks in July and October respectively.

“This program will provide the infrastructure and support that is currently out of reach for most emerging artists. The choreographers will have the opportunity to work with the Company’s dancers, with access to premium studio space for rehearsals as well as mentoring, technical production and marketing support.” 

Shaun Parker is the recent recipient of the award for Outstanding Achievement in Dance at the 2008 Australian Dance Awards for This Show is About People, a major work which premiered at the Melbourne International Festival in 2007 and at the Sydney Festival in 2008. Other recent work includes Blue Love, which has just been seen in Melbourne at the Malthouse.

As a dancer, Shaun Parker has performed both nationally and internationally and views dance as a universal language capable of creating strong emotional connection. His new work for Sydney Dance Company will premiere alongside Rafael Bonachel’a 360o at CarriageWorks from July 29..

Reed Luplau is a current member of Sydney Dance Company where his performances have won accolades and numerous award nominations. Reed’s early interest in choreography resulted in a commission to create Misguided, which premiered alongside Graeme Murphy’s Gala Suite as part of the 2007 Season at the Canberra Theatre.  

Reed’s Overture piece will premiere alongside Aszure Barton’s commissioned work at CarriageWorks from October 8.

“The Company plans to expand the Overture Series over the coming years,” says Staunton. “The Series not only fulfils the expectations and requirements of our role as the leading proponent of contemporary dance in Australia but is a great investment in the future of dance in this country”.


Further Information on Sydney Dance Company seasons