|
Versión española
Rafael Bonachela (La Garriga, Barcelona, 1972) always wanted to be a choreographer. Since his childhood, he made the neighbour get crazy as he staged pieces for all children willing to move. He was born in La Garriga, 30 km north of Barcelona and once his parents had realized there was no other option, he could start his dance training. He began his professional career working for ‘Lanònima Imperial’, but he soon moved to London where he was considered an outstanding dancer while working for ‘Rambert Dance Company’. There, he premiered as a choreographer and his first piece was praised and awarded several times.
The rest is well-known: he has been a choreographer for the most prestigious companies, he has worked for advertising and pop music stars –as Kelly Milogue or Tina Turner -, he established his own company -‘Bonachela Dance Company’-, and he was recently named Director of Sidney Dance Company.
We interviewed him for ‘Ballet y más’ before Bonachela Dance Company’s opening in Granollers on February 26th, 2010.
-How would you define your current situation: BDC, Sidney, choreographing for other companies, for advertising, for pop music… isn’t it too much?
I’m devoted to my profession. It is not a regular job from 10 to 6, it is my life! I have always been very organized and I’m also lucky to have a team that supports me at all levels. If I didn’t, it would be impossible for me to keep pace with everything. I am happy handling several projects simultaneously.
Some years ago, it would have seemed impossible to me to think so ahead in time, now it just seems normal to talk about plans for the 2013/14 season.
-Is “El Mercat de les Flors” still supporting you?
We continue our relationship with El Mercat and they keep on supporting my career. They have co-produced my next piece for Sydney Dance Company - ‘6 Breaths’- which will be premiered in Sydney on March 23rd 2010, and we will bring it to BCN in 2011.
-And what about your experience with ‘IT Dansa’? How was it like to work with young dancers who are not professional yet?
It was a great experience. They are young dancers but they are very well trained and very talented at the same time. They still have that piece in their repertoire, so I believe that the experience was good for both of us.
-Are there any plans for a second choreography?
I met Catherine Allard in BCN last Christmas, and we agreed we both would like to do that very much.
 |
|
The Land of Yes and the Land of No (Foto: I.S.)
|
-‘The Land of Yes and the Land of No’, what shall we expect about it?
The English press has described it as my best piece up to now, which is not bad since I want to get better and better as time passes. It represents a ‘more-human’ and emotional work to me but still between my obsession to communicate through movement and pure dance. I consider the human body as a smart tool to communicate with others.
-We will be there, at ‘your house’ that is also ours, and you will be so far away. What a pity not to be able to be there in ‘Granollers’, right?
Yes, it makes me sad not to be able to be there. I have just started with ‘6 breaths’, my new work for SDC, and it’s impossible for me to be with the audience. However, I’m glad ‘Auditori de Granollers’ is introducing the piece, and you have to take into account that it will be the only time the show will be presented in Spain.
Anyway, I’ll be able to answer questions after the show through a video conference we’re organizing.
-We have already seen you in several interviews for the Catalan TV. Is it a utopia to think that one day you will be more famous in Barcelona than in London?
You never know where life can take you! Thank God there are always people working hard to have dance shown on TV and everywhere else. However, in Spain we still have a long way to go so that choreographers are known and respected because of their work. The country seems to be much more interested in Big Brother or celebrity gossip than anything else.
-What about that project for the creation of a ‘Dance House’ in Ipswich together with Tamara Rojo?
My company –‘BDC’- has been associated to ‘Dance East’ in Ipswich, which opened a great dancing center this year.
-What do you look for in your dancers? What should they have to be chosen as part of your company?
I look for dancers who are smart and have a unique personality. They must be able to have their own opinion and willing to question mine. They have to enjoy being part of the creative process and they have to be opened to dialogue, so that there are more possibilities that help change and progress.
As regards to the physical level, I like those dancers who are strong and have complex coordination ability. I prefer those who don’t fear the possibility to look beautiful but dangerous at the same time.
-Do they have to have a deep classical ballet background?
Most of them have a good classical technique. Some of them were ballet dancers in the past, whereas others do not have nearly any experience. My company is characterized by a mixture of dancers.
-Do you keep yourself updated on the Spanish latest news? Have you heard about INAEM and CONCA latest decisions?
Not really. I had never heard about CONCA before. I’ve been living out of Spain for 20 years now. Apart from that, these last two years I’ve been travelling between Australia and London and I have almost not been in Spain at all.
-The ministry plans to turn CND into a classic ballet company, keeping Nacho Duato. What is your opinion on this matter?
I knew something was going on, but this is the first time I’ve heard about this change.
-Do you know ‘Corella Ballet’ and their repertoire? Also, what do you think about Ángel dancing so few with ABT to focus on his new company?
I don’t really know much about this, so I don’t have an opinion.
-There have been complaints in Cataluña regarding CONCA and its members, possible conflicts of interest, the secret experts’ commission, different residence agreements with town halls, decisions that have been made on different companies, such as David Campos’s, Maria Rovira’s ‘Trànsit’, etc. Have you been able to follow these issues?
As you can see, I’m not really updated on the Spanish government/dance situation, and that’s why I can’t have an opinion on these matters. On the other hand, I have always said there’s very little dance in Spain.
-To finish with the interview, can you tell us about your future plans?
I have a 4-year contract with ‘Sydney Dance Company’, so I have three more years to go and I want to focus on this opportunity I have of directing and choreographing seventeen dancers.
Acknowledgments: We thank Leticia R. Montenegro (Buenos Aires, Argentina) for fine tuning this English version.
|
