Party Pacha

Renowned European club franchise Pacha has finally arrived in Sydney for the summer. And what an entrance it was! By Lachlan Bennett.

Described as Cirque du Soleil crossed with clubbing, internationally renowned entertainment experience Pacha is more than just an ordinary night out.

Providing a visual and sensuous extravaganza that combines acrobats, dancers and psychedelic light shows, Pacha will continue its recently launched Sydney residency at the Ivy throughout December, before climaxing at an all-out party on New Year’s Eve.

Every Saturday until then, the Ivy will be transformed by a range of roving and spontaneous performances, creating an all-encompassing and unique night each week of music, dance and hyper-reality.

“We have a pretty full program of out-there acrobatics and spectacular costumes,” said Pacha Sydney co-creative director, Ignatius Jones.

“The performances [surround] the audience, so everywhere the audience looks they’ve got something pretty wild to look at, whether it’s up in the air or on either side.”

Indeed, showcasing entertainment in the most unexpected places and pushing the boundaries of performance are all part of Jones’ modus operandi.

“All the things that have made my career are putting shows on where shows were never meant to be,” he says.

“It’s basically about working out what works in those spaces and what is theatrical.”

Jones professional credentials include the creative director of the Sydney Olympics opening ceremonies, creative director of Vivid Light Festival and the artistic director of the Sydney Mardi Gras parade in 2011 and 2012.

Jones describes Pacha Sydney as a sexy gothic burlesque that captures the essence of the city.

Sydney is the latest city to bear the Pacha name. It was founded by Ricardo Urgell in the Spanish beach town of Sitges in 1967, before the opening of Pacha Ibiza in 1973.

Pacha has since developed an international reputation, attracting flocks of tourists to Ibiza and having a presence in over 20 cities including London, New York, Buenos Aiers, Munich, Moscow and Madrid.

The Ivy’s facilities – Sydney’s only rooftop pool bar, along with several restaurants and ten bars – make it the ideal host of Pacha Sydney.

“As one of Australia’s best entertainment venues, Ivy is the perfect location for Pacha,” said Urgell.

“We share the same vision and production values for our large-scale shows,”

Sneaky Sound System is headlining Pacha Sydney this Saturday, along with Denzial Park, Black Angus, Mo’Funk and much more.

[Images] The launch of Pacha Sydney. Photos: Courtesy facebook.com/pachasydney

Pacha Sydney is on Saturday nights throughout December at Ivy Sydney. Tickets from www.pachasydney.com