‘I really want to ground ADT on Kaurna Country.’ Daniel Riley on taking the reins

Wiradjuri man Daniel Riley will be the sixth Artistic Director of Australian Dance Theatre in 56 years, and the first First Nations artist in the role.

Wiradjuri dancer, choreographer and contemporary dance teacher Daniel Riley has received a wave of support since the news broke last week that he will succeed Garry Stewart as the next Artistic Director of Australian Dance Theatre (ADT).

‘I have such a strong community and a strong network of supporters, both First Nations and non-First Nations, and they have shown so much excitement and love and support for me taking up this role – but they also all recognise the enormity of something like this, to be the first First Nations Artistic Director of ADT. And the messaging that that sends through the industry is important and it should be recognised,’ Riley said.

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Richard Watts is ArtsHub's National Performing Arts Editor; he also presents the weekly program SmartArts on Three Triple R FM, and serves as the Chair of La Mama Theatre's volunteer Committee of Management. Richard is a life member of the Melbourne Queer Film Festival, and was awarded the status of Melbourne Fringe Living Legend in 2017. In 2020 he was awarded the Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards' Facilitator's Prize. Most recently, Richard was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Green Room Awards Association in June 2021. Follow him on Twitter: @richardthewatts