Australia Dancing - Canberra Dance Theatre (1977

Canberra Dance Theatre (1977 - )

Chapman, Paul: Tara Bendall lifted by dancers in Stephanie Burridge's 'Unceremonious Processions', Canberra Dance Theatre, 2003

Website | Research Materials | Other Resources

Founded in Canberra at the Australian National University in 1977 as NUDE (New University Dance Ensemble), also briefly called Canberra Dance Ensemble, Canberra Dance Theatre is the Australian Capital Territory's longest surviving dance company. Its first prominent artistic director was Stephanie Burridge who directed the group from 1978 until 2002. Under Burridge Canberra Dance Theatre presented works by a varied group of Australian choreographers including, in addition to Burridge herself, Phillip Adams, Kai Tai Chan, Julia Cotton, Elizabeth Cameron Dalman, Patrick Harding-Irmer, Beth Shelton, Anna Smith, Bernadette Walong and Graeme Watson.

In 2002 Burridge left Australia to take up a position as lecturer in dance in Singapore after which Amalia Hordern and Philip Piggin became joint artistic directors. Under Hordern and Piggin the group celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2003. Following Hordern's relocation to Melbourne in 2007, Meg Millband was appointed artistic director, a position she held until 2009. In January 2010, Liz Lea was announced as the incoming artistic director.

A selective list of the repertoire of Canberra Dance Theatre from 1978 is available on the company website which is available as a link at the top of this page.

Research Materials

Ephemera | Manuscript | Picture | Website | All

Other resources

Find more about Canberra Dance Theatre in:

Articles - New York Public Library Dance Collection
Pictures - Picture Australia
Internet - Google