Blank Canvas (ATOM Study Guide)

Blank Canvas is an in-depth documentary on Spanish-born Rafael Bonachela, artistic director of the Sydney Dance Company. The film focuses on a journey, which began in poignant circumstances, that Bonachela took to arrive in Sydney in 2008.

On 4 May 2007, the Sydney Dance Company announced that Tanja Liedtke, aged twenty-nine, would begin as the new artistic director on 2 October 2007, taking over from Graeme Murphy, who had held the role since 1976. Tragically, in August of that same year, she was killed in an accident.

Beginning from this point, Blank Canvas explores the urgency to find a new artistic director for the company. As a measure of this necessity, Noel Staunton, Chief Executive Officer of the company, engaged three internationally recognised choreographers to each create a work during 2008 from a blank canvas.

While the film initially explores the work of each participant, it was Bonachela who applied for the position of Artistic Director. He was appointed to the coveted role of Artistic Director of the Sydney Dance Company at the end of 2008.

The film then gives attention to the creation of 'We Unfold' – Bonachela's first work as Artistic Director. More than this, Blank Canvas offers an insight into Bonachela's creative verve and his vision for his role as Artistic Director – and more specifically, how he works with individual dancers.