Restless Dance Theatre is a contemporary dance company based in the South Australian capital of Adelaide. Founded in 1991, it comprises young performers with and without a disability. It conducts workshops and tours throughout Australia. Restless Dance Company changed its name to Restless Dance Theatre in 2008.
Restless Dance Theatre is an integrated company that works with young dancers with and without a disability. Restless works primarily but not exclusively with dancers with an intellectual disability However, dancers may also be in wheelchairs, be partially blind and have a physical disability or mental illness. It performed at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Arts Festival.
People with a disability are powerful, expressive and distinctive performers, creating beautiful and dynamic dance theatre. The dancers’ skills are complemented by those of musicians, set, costume and lighting designers, to ensure that the performance is supported by high production values.
In an integrated dance company, the art is made by young people with and without a disability working together. Rehearsals are structured so that the content and the expression of the dance are led by the people with a disability. Restless is a place where it is an advantage to have a disability. Dance is a mode of expression which allows people who may not have a verbal facility to speak eloquently to everyone.
The Guiding Values which underpin the company’s work are:
‘Duets feature apparently effortless feats of balance and support that would tax any dancer. Yet you’re entirely unaware of the varying physical abilities of the individual performers; an impressive achievement in an ensemble where disability might otherwise be regarded as a bridge too far. This has been Restless’ hallmark for some time and Channells has embraced it fully.’ Peter Burdon The Advertiser, November 2010
That the result would be a success, few doubted. But for it to be quite so good, quite so competitive by any standards, makes it something special.... Expressive powers of this quality remind us of the transcending power of the arts. The Advertiser – August 2 2005
Restless Dance Company is without question a leader in the field of youth dance and working with young people with and without a disability. Lowdown Magazine – April 2005
In the choreography of Rebel Rebel, I saw dancers becoming artists for the future. RealTime June-July 2007