We explore German electro pioneers 48Nord and Australian Ballet’s resident choreographer Tim Harbour’s latest creation.

Munich-based rockers turned balletomanes, Siegfried Roessert and Ulrich Mueller of 48Nord, are not your average head bangers. Since 1998 their unique brand of multi-genre electronic experimentalism has been on the front lines of improvised and composed musical modernism, but perhaps surprisingly this pioneering soundworld has proven to be an ideal partner for modern choreography.

Specially created scores by 48Nord have been commissioned by some of world’s top ballet and contemporary dance troupes, including Sydney Dance Company. “We like to operate at the edges,” Roessert tells me as we discuss the German duos latest choreographic collaboration with Australian Ballet resident choreographer, Tim Harbour. Together they have created a new work, Filigree and Shadow, for the company’s annual celebration of modern ballet, 20:21, which opens its Sydney season later this week.

Ulrich Mueller (left) and Siegfried Roessert (right) of 48Nord

You’ve worked with dance and ballet extensively in the past. Why do you think your music has such a synergy with movement?

As we have already composed and produced music for a variety of dance pieces,...