About ADT
Ugly dance.
We make rebellious dance.
Since our inception, we’ve expanded the horizons of contemporary dance in this country. Our work asks big questions, unearth untold stories and shake the very core of our identity. We create cutting-edge choreographies where the ancient and the contemporary collide.
Led by Artistic Director Daniel Riley and Executive Director Nick Hays, ADT is made up of an ensemble of professional dancers, supported by a dedicated team of staff, ADT centres artistry, care and collective creativity.
We are based on Kaurna Yerta and take our work across South Australia, Australia and the world.
Our History
ADT was founded in 1965 by Elizabeth Cameron Dalman AM CdOAL, with the aim to ‘open the horizons for provocative contemporary dance’. A rebellious outlier in a cultural landscape devoid of contemporary dance, early reviews stated that the company’s ‘ugly dance’ impressed and enthralled audiences from its earliest performances.
The company has been led by visionary Artistic Directors including, Jonathan Taylor (1977-1985), Anthony Steel & Lenny Westerdijk (1986), Leigh Warren (1987-1993), Meryl Tankard (1993-1999) and Garry Stewart (1999-2021).
The company is currently led by Daniel Riley, A Wiradjuri man from Western New South Wales. Daniel is the first Blak director of a non-First Nations dance company in Australia.
ADT’s history is being preserved in a digital archive by a team of researchers led by Dr Maggie Tonkin, Professor Rachel Fensham and Associate Professor Cheryl Stock. Click here to access the archive, which has been supported by an Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Grant.
Explore the Archive
1965
Dr Elizabeth Cameron Dalman AM CdOAL founds ADT
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'Inside' by Elizabeth Cameron Dalman. Photo by Jan Dalman
1977
Australian Tour 1984
1987
Tu Tu Wah, Singapore, 13 September 1992
1993
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Meryl Tankard with dancers during the choreographic process for Furioso
1999
2022
Elizabeth Cameron Dalman OAM and current Artistic Director Daniel Riley
Artistic Director
Daniel Riley
Executive Director
Nick Hays
Artistic Associate
Brianna Kell
Executive Producer
Viviana Sacchero
Production Manager
Lachlan Turner/ Lateral Flux
Learning Manager
Adrianne Semmens
Associate Producer & Company Manager
Andrew Searle
Marketing and Communications Manager
Anthony Nocera
Current Ensemble
Joshua Doctor, Yilin Kong, Zachary Lopez, Karra Nam, Patrick O'Luanaigh and Zoe Wozniak
Jayne Boase, Chair (Ngarrindjeri and Bungandidj)
Kristen Eckhardt, Deputy Chair
Dean Cross (Worimi)
Dr Tracey Dodd
Kate Hitchin
Jennifer Layther
Katie McLeish
Chris Mercer
Jo O’Callaghan
Get in touch
Australian Dance Theatre
57a Queen Street, Norwood SA 5067
Kaurna Country
adt@adt.org.au
08 8373 7733
Click to download
Development Manager
Australian Dance Theatre, Australia's oldest contemporary dance company, is seeking an experienced Development Manager to join our team and build meaningful relationships with the community that supports our work.
This is a role for someone who genuinely loves the art of thanking and asking – who understands that donor relationships are not just administration, but the heart of sustainable philanthropy. You'll be someone who finds joy in finding moments of connection between supporters and our artists, and ensuring everyone feels genuinely valued and part of ADT's story.
Working closely with our Executive Director, Artistic Director and Board, you'll nurture a culture of philanthropy across ADT.
We're looking for someone with:
- Proven experience in fundraising, ideally in the arts – you know how to cultivate, ask and thank donors in ways that feel personal and genuine
- • Excellent written communication skills
- • Experience working with board committees and volunteers
- • Strong relationship-building skills
- • Strategic thinking about building a sustainable supporter pipeline
- • Experience planning and running fundraising events and campaigns
While arts experience is desirable, we're open to people from other sectors who have a strong track record in philanthropy, who are passionate about dance and the power of the arts to transform communities.
You'll be joining ADT at an exciting time as we capitalise on the success of our 60th anniversary in 2025, continuing to present bold dance, nurturing the next generation of choreographers through our LOFT program, and continuing our commitment to First Nations artists and audiences.
This role is based at our home venue, The Odeon, in Norwood, Adelaide. This is a part time (0.8) role, the salary is approximately $85,000, pro rata. This is all negotiable for the right candidate.
To apply, please send your CV and a cover letter addressing the selection criteria to Nick Hays, Executive Director, nick@adt.org.au.
Applications close Monday 19 January 2026.
Government Partners
Corporate Partners
Dance is hard. We're not interested in making it harder. We've developed a framework that enables us to embed care, respect and psychological safety across every area of our operations. Acknowledging the tricky terrain our work often navigates, this framework enables us to create awesome work while putting our artists, creatives and team first.
Learn moreADT is a busy place. We've got a lot going on. Some might say too much. We think too much is a good thing. Head to our media centre below
Media Centre