Australian Dance Theatre
Encyclopedia
The Australian Dance Theatre (ADT) is a contemporary dance
company based in Adelaide, South Australia established in 1965 by Elizabeth Cameron Dalman,. Dalman sought to 'open the horizons for provocative contemporary and cutting edge dance'.
The company has garnered 21 industry awards since 2002 and is the only Australian company to be invited to perform at Théâtre de la Ville
in Paris
s were: 1977-85 Jonathan Taylor, 1986-87 jointly Anthony Steel of the Adelaide Festival of Arts
and ADT dancer Lenny Westerdijk, 1987-1993 Leigh Warren
(now with Leigh Warren & Dancers
), 1993-99 Meryl Tankard
during which time the company was known as the "Meryl Tankard Australian Dance Theatre". Meryl Tankard left after disputes with the Board, Bill Pengelly was interim Artistic Director until the current Artistic Director, Garry Stewart
began in 1999.
Choreographed by Jonathan Taylor
Choreographed by Leigh Warren
Choreographed by Meryl Tankard
Choreographed by Garry Stewart
Contemporary dance
Contemporary dance is a genre of concert dance that employs compositional philosophy, rather than choreography, to guide unchoreographed movement...
company based in Adelaide, South Australia established in 1965 by Elizabeth Cameron Dalman,. Dalman sought to 'open the horizons for provocative contemporary and cutting edge dance'.
The company has garnered 21 industry awards since 2002 and is the only Australian company to be invited to perform at Théâtre de la Ville
Théâtre de la Ville
The Théâtre de la Ville is one of the two theatres built in the 19th century by Baron Haussmann at Place du Châtelet, Paris; the other being the Théâtre du Châtelet...
in Paris
Artistic Directors
Dalman led the ADT 1965-75. After Dalman, Artistic DirectorArtistic director
An artistic director is the executive of an arts organization, particularly in a theatre company, that handles the organization's artistic direction. He or she is generally a producer and director, but not in the sense of a mogul, since the organization is generally a non-profit organization...
s were: 1977-85 Jonathan Taylor, 1986-87 jointly Anthony Steel of the Adelaide Festival of Arts
Adelaide Festival of Arts
The Adelaide Festival of Arts is an arts festival held biennially in the South Australian capital of Adelaide. Although locally considered to be one of the world's greatest celebrations of the arts, that is internationally renowned and the pre-eminent cultural event in Australia, it is actually...
and ADT dancer Lenny Westerdijk, 1987-1993 Leigh Warren
Leigh Warren
Leigh Warren is an Australian contemporary dance choreographer and Artistic Director of Leigh Warren & Dancers having previously been at the Australian Dance Theatre...
(now with Leigh Warren & Dancers
Leigh Warren & Dancers
Leigh Warren & Dancers is a contemporary dance company based in the South Australian capital of Adelaide. Formed in 1993 by Leigh Warren , the company has toured internationally and won several awards....
), 1993-99 Meryl Tankard
Meryl Tankard
Meryl Tankard is an Australian dancer and choreographer who has a wide national and international reputation....
during which time the company was known as the "Meryl Tankard Australian Dance Theatre". Meryl Tankard left after disputes with the Board, Bill Pengelly was interim Artistic Director until the current Artistic Director, Garry Stewart
Garry Stewart
Garry Stewart has been the artistic director of the Australian Dance Theatre since 1999, following Meryl Tankard.Stewart studied at the Sydney City Ballet Academy and the Australian Ballet School...
began in 1999.
Performances
Choreographed by Elizabeth Cameron Dalman include:- Hallucinations (1966)
- This Train (1966)
- Landscape (1967)
- Sundown (1967)
- Sun and Moon (1968)
- Homage to Boticelli (1969)
- Creation (1969),
- Release of an Oath (1972).
Choreographed by Jonathan Taylor
Choreographed by Leigh Warren
Choreographed by Meryl Tankard
- reworked pieces :
- Songs with Mara
- Kikimora.
- New works
- Furioso (1993)
- Aurora (1994)
- Possessed (1995)
- Rasa (1996), (in collaboration with Padma Menon)
- Seulle (1997)
- Inuk (1997).
- 1998 - subtitled A sampler by Meryl Tankard
Choreographed by Garry Stewart
- Housedance performed on the outside of the main sail of the Sydney Opera HouseSydney Opera HouseThe Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in the Australian city of Sydney. It was conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, finally opening in 1973 after a long gestation starting with his competition-winning design in 1957...
on New Year's Eve 1999 - Birdbrain (the most performed contemporary dance work in the history of Australian dance)
- The Age of Unbeauty – outstanding choreographic achievement for at the 2002 Australian Dance AwardsAustralian Dance AwardsThe Australian Dance Awards recognise excellence in dance in Australia, they are awarded under the auspice of the Australian Dance Council for performance, choreography, design, dance writing, teaching and related professions....
- Nothing
- HELD (a collaboration with U.S. dance photographer Lois GreenfieldLois Greenfield__notoc__Lois Greenfield is a photographer made famous by her ability to capture the human form in motion and her use of it as a compositional element in her art...
) 2004 Adelaide Bank Festival – 2004 Helpmann AwardHelpmann AwardThe Helpmann Awards recognize distinguished artistic achievement and excellence in Australia's live performing arts sectors. The recognized disciplines include musical and physical theatre, contemporary and classical music, opera, and dance, with a comedy category introduced in 2006...
for Best Choreography in a Ballet or Dance Work - Devolution in collaboration with Canadian robotics artist Louis-Philippe Demers (2006) – 2006 Helpmann Awards Best New Australian Work and Best Lighting
- G (Giselle) 2008 Adelaide Bank Festival
- Be Yourself
- Worldhood