"I really loved the freedom of expression, and just realising that... I don't need to use my mouth if I wanna tell a story."

Daniel Riley, from the Wiradjuri nation of Western NSW, first began his training in tap dance before joining QL2 Dance in Canberra.

Daniel has danced with companies both in Australia and in the UK, most notably dancing with Bangarra Dance Theatre for twelve years. He has choreographic credits with Bangarra, Sydney Dance Company, Queensland University of Technology, and Third Row Dance Company in the UK, amongst many others. He is currently an Associate Producer at ILBIJERRI Theatre Company.

In this episode, Daniel looks back at his time at QL2, and discusses his passion for youth dance, black storytelling, and choreography.

A transcript of this interview can be found here.

Text and interview by Patricia Hayes Cavanagh who is an Australian Youth Dance Festival, Youth Ambassadors. This season was presented in partnership with Ausdance Victoria, in conjunction with the Australian Youth Dance Festival (AYDF). Youth Ambassadors were mentored in the process of writing and undertaking interviews. Additional episodes feature: Adam Wheeler, Anna Kenrick, Adam Rutherford, Cadi McCarthy, Aparna Nagesh, and Isabella Stone. For more information about this special season click here.

Archive

Dalisa Pigram

‘We value everyone equally, but you know, of course each person has a role to play in the team that's been created, but no one is, you know, less valuable than another.’

Daniel Riley

‘My daughter Billie, she was in rehearsal today. My son Archie grew up the first two or three years of his life, like, on tour with me when I was with Bangarra Dance Theatre and just being in the artistic environment and being surrounded by people is such a beautiful gift, I think, that I can give to them as well.’

Antony Hamilton

‘When I'm making dance and when I think about choreography or art, I often relate my early childhood experiences to the things that I make now as well.’

Alice Topp

‘I guess for a lot of people, ballet is still very much an evolving, developing language. I think people think it was probably stuck in a time and hasn't progressed. But modern ballet is very challenging and arresting and it's finding new ways of working with an old structure.’