The cycle DANZA Y DIÁSPORA. Spanish creators of the world is a series of meetings with Spanish creators who have developed their careers outside Spain. The vital and professional processes of the different participants in the cycle, Rafael Bonachela, Ana Laguna, Nazareth Panadero, Goyo Montero, Sol León and Ángel Corella shake our knowledge of belonging and culture. Their experience shows that conventional discourse conceives culture, in general, and dance, in particular, as phenomena circumscribed to the scope of the territory. As an expression of culture, dance, moreover, is associated with difference, durability and popular anchorage.

Rafael Bonachela opens the first meeting of the series Dance and Diaspora from the Instituto Cervantes in Sydney. Currently artistic director of the Sydney Dance Company, the choreographer from Barcelona has spent almost his entire career outside Spain, training in London and later joining the Rambert Dance Company, where he would remain as associate choreographer until 2006. After having choreographed pieces for numerous companies around the world, Bonachela took the helm of the Sydney Dance Company in 2008, where he has been reaping success both personally and for the Australian group for more than two decades.

The aim of Danza y Diaspora is to highlight the creative work of our creators living abroad, insisting on their capacity of artistic influence in their close and universal environment. Currently, Rafael Bonachela is undoubtedly a creative and management reference in Australia. It can be said, without any embarrassment, that he is the spiritual father of the Sydney Dance Company, beacon of Australian choreography and contemporary dance.

Image: Pedro Greig