Australian Dance Theatre


Australian Dance Theatre, known as Meryl Tankard Australian Dance Theatre 1993–1999, is a contemporary dance company based in Adelaide, South Australia, established in 1965 by Dr. Elizabeth Cameron Dalman OAM. The ADT was the first modern dance company in Australia and drew on the techniques of Martha Graham for its inspiration. Eleo Pomare was an early collaborator and the songs of Peter, Paul and Mary featured strongly in their early works, such as This Train.
The company has garnered 28 industry awards since 2002, was the first Australian company invited to the Edinburgh Festival and is the only Australian company to be invited to perform at Théâtre de la Ville in Paris. The company has toured performances extensively throughout Australia, Ireland, Korea, Canada, USA, UK, The Netherlands, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco, Japan, Spain, Austria, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, Norway and Colombia.

History

The Australian Dance Theatre was founded by Elizabeth Dalman, later Elizabeth Cameron Dalman, in 1965. Dalman sought to "open the horizons for provocative contemporary and cutting edge dance". The ADT was the first modern dance company in Australia, and drew on the techniques of Martha Graham for its inspiration. Eleo Pomare was an early collaborator and the songs of Peter, Paul and Mary featured strongly in their early works, such as "This Train".
Under Meryl Tankard as artistic director from 1993 to 1999, the company was known as the "Meryl Tankard Australian Dance Theatre". Tankard left after disputes with the Board.
The company has toured performances extensively throughout Australia, Ireland, Korea, Canada, USA, UK, The Netherlands, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco, Japan, Spain, Austria, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, Norway and Colombia.

Accolades

ADT has garnered 28 industry awards since 2002, was the first Australian company invited to the Edinburgh Festival and is the only Australian company to be invited to perform at Théâtre de la Ville in Paris.

Artistic directors

The artistic directors have been:
Choreographed by Dalman:
Choreographed by Taylor:
Choreographed by Warren:
Choreographed by Tankard:
Choreographed by Pengelly:
Choreographed by Stewart:
The ADT is funded by the federal government through the Australia Council, the Government of South Australia through the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and a number of corporate partners and sponsors, as well as private donors.