History of the AYDT
Established in 1984
The National Youth Dance Theatre was established 1984 with the aim to bring the joy of dance to school aged youngsters interested in exploring movement and performance. We encourage boys as well as girls to try our programme which gives each individual the chance to perform twice a year, dancing to popular current music and learning the ìcoolî moves that keep dance interesting and enjoyable.
Our senior dancers have performed in a variety of professional engagements including opening ceremonies for major sporting events such as the Grand Finals of the Australian Football League, the National Basketball League, the Bledisloe Cup at Stadium Australia and for the Sydney Swans. We proudly featured in each state among the many artists gathered to welcome home the Commonwealth Games athletes to their home cities.
The Dance Theatre was featured in the Sydney Riverside Theatre production of Porgy and Bess. Our dancers have captivated audiences at Australia's foremost Christmas special, Carols by Candlelight with well known Australian guitarist, Tommy Emmanuel and have also presented in performance with some of Australia's most respected and well loved entertainers including Rhonda Burchmore, Debra Byrne, Darryl Cotton, Thomas Edmonds, Kamahl, Catherine Lambert, Norman Yemm and singer songwriter Bruce Woodley of The Seekers.
Our dancers regularly participate in charity events throughout the country, including performances for the Australian Institute of Classical Dance, The Wish On A Star Foundation, the Peter McCallum Cancer Institute with well known performers Frank Holden and Denise Drysdale and at Sydney Sings for the Hope for the Children Foundation with Rhonda Burchmore and Barry Crocker.
All levels within the dance theatre structure perform twice yearly in association with the Australian Youth Choir with performances given at Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Sydney Town Hall, Perth Concert Hall, Adelaide Town Hall, and Melbourne Concert Hall.
We made our international debut in 1996 with a highly successful tour of the United States, returning in 1998 and 1999, with performances in Philadelphia, New York, London and Los Angeles. The 1999 tour included performances at a gala concert at Carnegie Hall, New York with well known Australian entertainers, Lana Cantrell and Thomas Edmonds. Whilst overseas our dancers also undertook special workshops with the Alvin Ailey School of Dance in New York, the Edge in Los Angeles, and at the Laban Centre in London.
In 2007 The Dance Theatre was invited to travel and perform in Jakarta by the International Nature Loving Association. It was an honour to be invited and our dancers were delighted to participate in a wonderful cultural exchange.