Daniel Riley

Delving into Dance

Daniel Riley, Artistic Director Australian Dance Theatre (ADT). Image Credit: © Jonathan VDK

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‘I think there's something about contemporary dance that people are fearful of, afraid of what they think personally. It's like, ‘oh, no, I don't get it’. ‘I don't want to try’, or, ‘I thought it was this, but maybe that's wrong.’ Maybe it is wrong, but that's okay. Contemporary dance is really opening a door to an intimate kind of personal connection as well as, what do you think that is? It's okay that we all think something different. We don't have to all think the same thing all the time.’

Daniel is a choreographer, dancer, teacher and creative from the Wiradjuri nation of Western NSW, and is currently Artistic Director of Australian Dance Theatre.

He began his dance training at Quantum Leap, ACT and since graduating from Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in 2006 has danced for Leigh Warren & Dancers (2005-2006), New Movement Collective UK (2014), Fabulous Beast Dance Theatre UK (2014), Chunky Move (2019) and was a senior artist with Bangarra Dance Theatre (2007-2018).

The Third, photograph by Jonathan VDK

In 2019 Daniel joined ILBIJERRI Theatre Company as an Associate Producer (2019-2020), and became the company's Creative Associate (2020-2021). His time with ILBIJERRI allowed him to partake in an Executive Leadership Program where he gained executive level skills to lead and run an arts organisation in the future.

In 2020 he was appointed as a Lecturer in Contemporary Dance at the Victorian College of the Arts, where he launched and led Kummarge, a self-determined mentoring program for First Nations dance students. In 2021 he worked for Moogahlin Performing Arts as Birrabang Miil (outside eye) for the Yellamundie@HOMENaarm Festival and joined the cast of Stephanie Lake Company’s Manifesto for the first major creative development.

He has worked as an independent dancer, director, teacher, advocate, choreographer and sat on the Board of Chunky Move (2019-2022).

Daniel’s choreographic credits include Victorian College of the Arts: WAX (2021), RISE (2020), Louisville Ballet, USA: Tonal (2020), Sacred Shifts (2015), Melbourne International Arts Festival: Tanderrum (2019), Dancenorth: Communal Table (2019), Bangarra Dance Theatre: Dark Emu (2018), Miyagan (2016), BLAK (2013), Riley (2010), Sydney Dance Company: Reign (2015), QL2 Dance: Hit the Floor Together (2013, 2018), QUT: Twelve Ascensions (2013), Thirteen Ascensions (Twelve Ascension Rework) (2018), Third Row Dance Company UK (2014).

His film credits as Director and Choreographer include: mulunma – Inside Within (2021) for RISING Melbourne & Yirramboi, and ACT V (2021), for The Australian Ballet’s Bodytorque Digital 2021. As performer: Dan Sultan: Under Your Skin, Stephen Page (Bangarra Dance Theatre): Spear in which he worked as Director’s Attachment.

He has been nominated at the Australian Dance Awards (2010, 2013) and for National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Deadly Awards (2010, 2012 & 2013). Daniel is highly experienced in conducting masterclasses, facilitating workshops and teaching professional company class for a range of organisations, educational institutions and dance companies across Australia and around the world.

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You can find a transcript to this episode here. You can also find another Delving into Dance interview with Daniel here.

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DanceX Season

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DanceX Season | DanceX Season |

This season has been supported by The Australian Ballet for the DanceX season taking place in Melbourne, Australia from 20 October – 1 November 2022.

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Additional episodes feature Alice Topp, Dalisa Pigram and Antony Hamilton.