Canberra Dance Theatre (CDT) has a history of connecting professional dance art with community dance.
CDT grew out of the National University Dance Ensemble (NUDE), established by Graham Farquhar in 1970, which in 1977 was under the leadership of Diana Shohet, Lorna Marshall and Graham Farquhar.
Our Patron
Professor Graham Farquhar AO, FAA, FRS, NAS is one of the founders of Canberra Dance Theatre.
While taking his first science degree at the Australian National University he also studied dance with the Bryan Lawrence School of Ballet in Canberra. He continued to dance and in 1970 founded National University Dance Ensemble while pursuing a distinguished career researching plant physiology.
In 1978, he co-founded Canberra Dance Ensemble with Lorna Marshall, and Diane Shohet, being joined on their departure by Stephanie Burridge as the first Artistic Director.
Professor Farquhar is a fellow of the Australian Academy of Science and of the Royal Society and a Foreign Associate of the National Academy of Sciences. He has over 300 research publications and is a leading Australian Citation Laureate. Graham was awarded the Prime Minister’s Prize for Science in 2015, the Kyoto Prize in 2017, and was named Senior Australian of the Year for 2018.
Artistic Directors
Dr Stephanie Burridge
1978 to 2001
Diana Shohet and Lorna Marshall
1977 to 1978
Amalia Hordern
2002 to 2006
Meg Millband
2007 to 2009
Liz Lea
2010 to 2016
Jacqui Simmonds
Since 2020
(Artistic Coordinator from 2018-2019)
Life Members of Canberra Dance Theatre
Life membership of CDT has been awarded by the Board to individuals who have given exceptional service to CDT and our community over the years.
Dr Stephanie Burridge
Artistic Director
1978 to 2001
Amalia Hordern
Artistic Director
2001 to 2006
Meg Millband
Artistic Director
2007 to 2009
Liz Lea
Artistic Director
2010 to 2016
Philip Piggin
Company Director
2002 to 2010
Russell Cunningham
Thor Diesendorf
Kay Johnston
David Keany
Diana Sandeman
Priscilla Ruffell
Bren Weatherstone
CDT Artists and Collaborations
Since the beginning, CDT has brought together significant Australian dancers, choreographers, musicians and designers, including:
- Dr Stephanie Burridge
- Dr Elizabeth Cameron Dalman OAM
- Kai Tai Chan
- Julia Cotton
- Patrick Harding-Irmer
- Anca Frankenhauser
- Beth Shelton
- Anna Smith
- Dr Cheryl Stock OAM
- Andris Toppe
- Wendy Wallace
- Bernadette Walong
- Graeme Watson
- Tammi Gissell
- Sue Healey
- Amalia Horden
CDT has been associated with a very long list of other dance artists, including (big breath):
- Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Dance Theatre Student Ensemble
- Adelina Larsson
- Aida Amirkhanian
- Aku Kadoga
- Alison McLean
- Angelina Taylor
- Annette Douglas
- Aradia Ross
- Bernadette McLachlan
- Cadi McCarthy
- Cameron Macmaster
- Cameron Wilson
- Dr Cheryl Stock OAM
- Phillip Adams
- Chi Long
- David Corbett
- David Keaney
- Diana Shohet
- E. Upton
- Elizabeth Sentfleben
- Fiona George
- Glen Murray
- Fiona Wort
- Full Circle Sacred Ceremonies
- Gail Mellis
- Gary Lang
- Glenda Cloughley
- Graham Blanco
- Graham Jones
- Gretel Burgess
- Hannah Rechter
- Hayley Schmidt
- Hee Raa Yoo
- Jamie Bell
- Jane Dudley
- Jane Ingall
- Jane Thomson
- Jennifer Barry
- Jo Perry
- Judith Clingan
- Kai Tai Chan
- Karen Strahan
- Kate Kelsey
- Kellie Phillips
- Kerrie Murphy
- Kerry Ann Maguire
- Kirrily Lucas
- Kirsty Hilson
- Kylie Griffiths
- Jade Dewi Tyas Tunggal
- Lailah Masiga
- Lee-Fay Low
- Lesley Wheeler
- Licette Gus
- Lorna Marshall
- Meg Millband
- Merle Ketley
- Mirramu Dance Company
- Monica Wensing
- Niki Shepherd
- Patrick Harding-Irmer
- Paul Saliba
- Philip Piggin
- Julia Cotton
- Rachael Hilton
- Rachel Lewis
- Rachel Wylde-Brown
- Raymond Sawyer
- Rita Markwell
- Russell Page
- Sandra Inman
- Sue Davies
- T. Twigg
- Theresa Pattugalen