Torben Sylvest

Composer / Sound Design

Torben’s unique musical voice grows out of his passion for building worlds. By collaborating with artists with important things to say and sensitively crafting scores he helps to develop and facilitate urgent narratives.
He is a leading figure in UK hip-hop dance theatre with internationally touring works. His past collaborators include some of the most exciting choreographers and companies working in dance today: Scottish Dance Theatre, National Youth Dance Company, Compañía de Danza del Teatro Mayor, Danza Contemporanea de Cuba, James Cousins, Matthew Robinson (VERVE & National Welsh Dance Company).

Torben has scored extensively for Botis Seva, whose collaboration ‘BLKDOG’ won the 2019 Olivier Award for Best New Dance Production. He also worked with Botis Seva to produce a number of short films including the award-winning ‘CAN’T KILL US ALL’, commissioned for the BBC and Art Council England’s Culture in Quarantine programme (2020).

Most recently, his collaboration with Ivan Michael Blackstock won the 2023 Olivier Award for Best New Dance Production.

Torben has worked with a number of up-and-coming London-based vocal artists, producing the breakout single ‘Creeping’ for the critically acclaimed Obongjayar.

Photo credit: Ben Williams