Rafael Bonachela

was born in Barcelona, Spain. He trained at the London Studio Centre and danced with Lanonima Imperial before joining Rambert Dance Company in 1992. In April 2003, he was appointed Rambert's Associate Choreographer. Also in 2003, he was a finalist in the Critics' Circle National Dance Awards in the Best Contemporary Choreography category. In September 2004 Rafael won the first ever Place Prize award for choreography, audience vote award and the New York Bloomberg choice award, for his piece E2 7SD.

His first dance work for Rambert, Three Gone, Four Left Standing was premiered in 1999 at Sadler's Wells. To date, he has choreographed nine works for Rambert dancers, including 21, a multi-media work produced in collaboration with Kylie Minogue's creative team. Rafael was awarded the prestigious Choo San Goh Award towards the creation of his current Rambert work Curious Conscience. His piece, Irony of Fate, which was choreographed in 2004 and forms part of the Rambert repertoire was awarded 3rd place in the 19th International Choreographic Competition in Hanover in March 2005.

Since 2002, Bonachela has extensively worked with Kylie Minogue, choreographing her award-winning Fever tour, the Top of the Pops Awards and various music videos.

Recent dance commissions include works for: Dies de Dansa Festival (Barcelona), Transitions Dance Company, English Chamber Orchestra, Dance Works Rotterdam, Hip, Union Dance, PROBE, David Hughes Dance Company, Gloucestershire Youth Dance Company, In To To and VERVE. He has also created dance and film works for a variety of clients including MTV, The Kills, Primal Scream, Liset Alea, Juliet, Jaguar Automobiles, Siemens, Mobile and Hugo Boss.

Rafael has completed four dance films: Nowhere Better Than This Place in collaboration with director Livia Russell, The Kreutzer Sonata and Muse with director Tim Meara. He also choreographed 21 that included a seven-minute film featuring and inspired by Kylie Minogue.

In 2006 Rafael is launching Bonachela Dance Company.

For more information please visit www.rafaelbonachela.com.