ABSOLUTE HONESTY

RAFAEL Bonachela first met the man who was to become his good friend and artistic collaborator when he came to Australia from Spain in 2008 as a guest choreographer for Sydney Dance Company, before he had been appointed as the company’s leader. It was about five years before the pair began working together.

Rafael

What was your first impression of Nick?

I remember this really funny, smiling person. I really only started talking to him in the last week I was there because the time was so intense for me. He invited me to meet some friends. He was really sweet, welcoming, and had made an effort to talk to me and make a friendship. So when I came back I got in touch and that was the beginning of the friendship.

Tell us about your first collaboration?

It was after at least three or four years of living in Australia that I went from knowing Nick to working with Nick. It was partly because he was such a dear friend, we were really best mates. He also already had a wonderful ongoing collaboration with [choreographer] Shaun Parker. I was