Michelle Ryan – Artistic Director

Michelle has enjoyed a career that has spanned over 30 years in the arts. Michelle joined Meryl Tankard in Canberra and Adelaide as part of Meryl Tankard’s Australian Dance Theatre for Seven and half years, followed by projects in Europe as Tankard’s assistant. Michelle was also a founding member of Splintergroup and worked at Dancenorth for five years in various capacities.

Michelle returned to performing in 2011 as a guest artist for Alain Plattel Out of Context for Pina by Les Ballet C de la B followed by Take Up Thy Bed and Walk by Gaelle Mellis in 2012. She performed in London at the Unlimited Festival, at the Melbourne Malthouse Theatre and the Adelaide Festival Centre in Torque Show’s Intimacy. The production won the 2015 Australian Dance Award for Independent Dance and Michelle was awarded the Adelaide Critics Circle Award for her performance. Michelle also worked with Meryl Tankard and Hedone Productions on the multi award winning film, Michelle’s Story directed by Meryl Tankard which premiered at the 2015 Adelaide Film Festival and won the People’s Choice Award for Best Short Film and the 2016 Australian Dance Award for Best Film. The film was screened on ABC TV in March 2016.

Michelle was appointed Artistic Director of Restless Dance Theatre in 2013 and has created numerous works for the company including Intimate Space, Seeing Through Darkness , Guttered and Exposed . The major works for the company have been presented in festivals both nationally and internationally to critical acclaim. Michelle celebrates diversity in all elements of her work.

In 2015 Michelle was inducted into the South Australian Woman’s Honour Roll.

Michelle was the recipient of the 2020 Australia Council for the Arts Dance Award.

 


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