Michelle Ryan Returns to Queensland as Keynote Speaker at QShowcase: Arts Market + Conference
Restless Dance Theatre Artistic Director Michelle Ryan returned to her home state of Queensland last week to deliver the keynote address at QShowcase: Arts Market + Conference, presented by Stage QueenslandQTouring.
Bringing together presenters, producers, artists and arts professionals from across Queensland, QShowcase is an opportunity for the performing arts sector to connect, exchange ideas and consider the future of touring and the arts.
For Michelle, being invited to speak was particularly meaningful. Born and raised in Townsville, Queensland, she reflected on a career that has taken her across Australia and around the world, and on the unexpected journey that ultimately led her to Restless Dance Theatre.
Coming home to Queensland
“Coming back to Queensland always feels a little bit like coming home.”
Michelle’s keynote was both a reflection on her own journey and a broader conversation about what it means to lead, create and find purpose within the performing arts.
From her early life in Townsville to her international career as a dancer, choreographer and artistic leader, Michelle’s journey has continually challenged expectations about what an artist, a leader and a dance company can be.
Today, as Artistic Director of Restless Dance Theatre, Michelle leads one of Australia’s leading inclusive contemporary dance companies, working alongside disabled, neurodivergent and non-disabled artists to create ambitious contemporary dance and dance theatre.
Her keynote provided an opportunity to reflect on how those experiences have shaped her approach to artistic leadership, inclusion, disability and the arts, touring and creative practice.
Finding an unexpected path
Michelle spoke about the unexpected journey that brought her to Restless and the profound impact of working alongside the company’s artists.
For more than 13 years, Michelle has led Restless through significant artistic growth, national and international touring, new collaborations and the development of work that challenges traditional ideas about dance and virtuosity.
Reflecting on this journey, Michelle said:
“Over the last thirteen and a half years, the extraordinary artists of Restless have restored my faith in people. They have reminded me of the importance of creativity and community, the celebration of difference, and the power of seeing possibility where others see limitations.”
For Michelle, inclusion is not separate from artistic excellence. It is part of the creative process itself.
At Restless, neurodiverse and disabled artists work together to create contemporary dance that asks audiences to reconsider assumptions about bodies, movement, ability and what it means to be an artist.
Inclusive arts and the future of performing arts
Michelle’s work at Restless sits at the intersection of artistic excellence and inclusion.
Through her leadership, Restless has developed a distinctive approach to contemporary dance that values different ways of moving, thinking, communicating and creating.
This approach challenges the performing arts sector to think differently about:
- Who gets to be an artist
- Who gets to lead
- Who gets to participate
- What audiences expect from contemporary dance
- How disability can influence and expand artistic practice
- What touring can look like when accessibility and inclusion are embedded in the process
These conversations are increasingly important as the Australian performing arts sector considers how to create more sustainable, accessible and representative futures.
For Restless, inclusive practice isn’t a trend or an additional program. It is fundamental to the company’s artistic identity.
Touring, connection and possibility
Touring has played an important role in Restless Dance Theatre’s history, allowing the company’s work and artists to connect with audiences across Australia and internationally.
From major Australian arts festivals to international presentations, Restless continues to demonstrate that inclusive dance can sit confidently within the broader contemporary performing arts landscape.
Michelle’s experience of touring has also shaped her understanding of connection.
Touring isn’t simply about taking a performance from one place to another. It creates opportunities to exchange ideas, build relationships, encounter different communities and share new perspectives.
QShowcase provided another opportunity for those conversations to take place, bringing together people working across the performing arts and touring sector.
Celebrating difference and seeing possibility
At the heart of Michelle’s keynote was a message that has long been central to Restless Dance Theatre: difference can be a source of creativity, not a limitation.
Working with disabled and neurodivergent artists has continually expanded Michelle’s understanding of what contemporary dance can be.
It has also reinforced the importance of creating environments where artists are supported to bring their whole selves, experiences and perspectives into the creative process.
This philosophy extends beyond the stage.
It influences how Restless develops artists, works with communities, delivers public dance programs and creates pathways for disabled and neurodivergent people to participate in and pursue careers in the arts.
Continuing the conversation
We are grateful to Stage Queensland and QTouring for inviting Michelle to be part of QShowcase and for creating a space for meaningful conversations about the future of the performing arts.
Events like QShowcase are an important reminder of the value of coming together as a sector — to share experiences, challenge assumptions and imagine what is possible.
For Michelle, returning to Queensland was also a reminder of how far a creative journey can take you.
From Townsville to stages and studios across Australia and around the world, her journey continues to be shaped by artists, communities and the belief that there is always more possibility to discover.
And, as Michelle’s experience at Restless has shown, sometimes the most unexpected paths can lead to the most meaningful places.
We look forward to continuing the conversation about inclusive arts, disability and dance, artistic leadership, touring and the future of contemporary dance theatre.
About Michelle Ryan
Michelle Ryan is the Artistic Director of Restless Dance Theatre, Australia’s leading inclusive contemporary dance company. An award-winning artist and leader, Michelle has been Artistic Director of Restless since 2013, leading the company through major national and international projects while championing inclusive artistic practice and creating opportunities for disabled and neurodivergent artists.
Learn more about Michelle Ryan
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Explore Michelle Ryan’s QShowcase Keynote
Want to explore Michelle’s keynote in more detail?
View Michelle Ryan’s QShowcase presentation slides to discover more about her journey, inclusive artistic practice, leadership and the work of Restless Dance Theatre.