Danza del Arte presents Sui Generis: A high energy fusion of live music and dance

Sui Generis is an exciting evening of live music and dance. The first half of the program features special guest, iconic Australian composer Elena Kats-Chernin playing live with voices from the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs.  This half of the evening will also showcase a new composition from award winning emerging Composer Wesley Stormer. The centerpiece of the evening is the brilliantly energetic work Water Mirror composed and played by Taiko virtuoso and longstanding member of Taikoz, Ryuji Hamada. Water Mirror recently debuted at the Parramatta Riverside Theatre as part of the Sydney Fringe and was nominated for the Sydney Fringe award for Dance.

Award winning Chilean – Australian choreographer Paulina Quinteros, recipient of the Sir Robert Helpmann and Peggy van Praagh Awards for choreography, presents Sui Generis (‘Unique’ in her native Spanish).

Sui Generis represents a choreographers dream to work with live music and original composition. As the daughter of two accomplished classical musicians, Quinteros was immersed in music throughout her childhood.  In Sui Generis Quinteros collaborates with two stylistically different composers, the iconic and internationally renowned Elena Kats-Chernin and Japanese virtuoso Ryuji Hamada from Taikoz.

When asked in conversation, about working with Paulina, Kats-Chernin responded, “She is very clear and very creative with lots of ideas, and I love that, because someone else’s ideas trigger my own ideas.”

Paulina Quinteros’ describes her motivation in making his work in the following terms, “Sui Generis was conceived from my desire to create work in collaboration with artists from different artistic disciplines. Too often artists work within a single genre i.e. musicians work with musicians, dancers work with other dancers, and so on. However, if it were for me, I would fill the rehearsal studio with composers, musicians, designers, singers, acrobats, painters, writers, actors and of course dancers.”

Sydney Morning Herald dance critic Jill Sykes has said of Paulina’s works, “Bold, brave ventures ranging from acrobatic to balletic.”

Paulina is a graduate from WAAPA. After graduation she joined Paul Mercurio’s Australian Choreographic Ensemble (ACE). Paulina has won both the Peggy van Praagh award for choreography and the Sir Robert Helpmann award for Professional Choreography.

She has created numerous works for festivals and companies including The Australian Ballet, Queensland Ballet Company, The Australian Dance Awards, Carnivale , Bondi Ballet, VCA, WAAPA, UNSW. In 2016 she launched Danza del Arte as a Dance Company with a mission to present original work featuring professional dancers working with emerging artists proving mentoring and support.  

Elena Kats-Chernin AO is one of the most cosmopolitan composers working in Australia, having reached millions of listeners worldwide through her prolific catalogue of works. As a leading composer she has been commissioned by the Australian Chamber Orchestra, The Sydney Symphony Orchestra, The Adelaide Symphony, Queensland Symphony and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. Elena has composed music for ballet companies, theatre companies, film and TV programs, including Deep Sea Dreaming music for the 2000 Australian Olympic Games.

Ryuji was born and played taiko in Yokohama, Japan, he was appointed a full member of Taikoz in 2015. As a taiko performer Ryuji has toured nationally and internationally, collaborating with many esteemed artists and musicians, most notably Anandavalli, Sandy Evans, Kaoru Watanabe, Yoko Fujimoto, Yoshikazu Fujimoto, Chieko Kojima, and composer Lachlan Skipworth and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

Sui Generis will be performed on 5 November at 7:30 at Everest Theatre in the Seymour Center. Tickets are $55 and may be purchased here. To see a video teaser of the performance, click here!