A NEW Associate Choreographer has begun his role at a prestigious Chiswick dance company this month.

Rambert Dance Company have announced that Rafael Bonachela was offered the choreographer position after the company were impressed by the 31-year-old's talent and ability.

Rafael is currently working for the Company's multi-media presentation, 21, which features dance, music and film, and sees him collaborating with William Baker and Alan Macdonald, Kylie Minogue's creative team.

The presentation, which will receive it's London premiere at Sadler's Wells from May 20th and will then tour the UK throughout the autumn, incorporates a short projected film featuring Kylie Minogue and is performed to a specially written score by young British composer Benjamin Wallfisch.

The choreographer first worked with Kylie, William and Alan, while choreographing the Australian singer's award-winning Fever world tour in 2002. Since working with Kylie, Rafael was asked to choreograph Primal Scream's Miss Lucifer video, which went on to be nominated for the Best Video at MTV Europe Music Awards in May 2002.

Speaking about his new role at the Company, Rafael said: I feel honoured to have been offered this wonderful opportunity at Rambert. It is an important step in my development as a choreographer and will enable me to dance and create with some of the best dancers in the world.''

Rafael was born in La Garriga, Barcelona and trained at the London Studio. He danced with Lanonima Imperial before joining Rambert Dance Company, in Chiswick High Road, in 1992.

His first choreographic work for the Company Three Gone, Four left Standing received its London premiere at Sadler's Wells, in Roseberry Avenue, Islington, in May 1999, and he subsequently created seven pieces for Rambert dancers.

He was given the job by the Company's Artistic Director, Mike Baldwin, who told the Times:

Rafael has been creating work for this company for some time and has also picked up considerable experience from projects outside of Rambert. This has helped him develop his choreographic vocabulary and other skills necessary to produce powerful dance.

I am extremely pleased with his new work 21 and I think we can safely expect great things from this talented young artist.''

Rambert Dance Company, which is the oldest dance company in Britain having been established in 1926, has famously nurtured choreographic talent from within its own ranks. Previous Associate Choreographers include Siobhan Davies and former Artistic Director, Christopher Bruce.

Rafael will continue to dance for the Company, but will also be given the opportunity to work on external projects and develop new work.

May 1, 2003 16:00