From letting loose in the lounge room to enthralling audiences on stage, this exhibition captures the experience of lives lived through dance. Drawn from the National Portrait Gallery collection and incorporating the work of contemporary photographers, Dancer reflects the freedom and joy of dance and its power to connect.
Dance has long been a powerful form of cultural expression and storytelling. For First Nations peoples it represents an ongoing connection to Country – interwoven with song, ceremony and story. While many works in Dancer explore this deep cultural significance, this exhibition also maps other histories.
Curated and choreographed in collaboration with Australian dancers, Dancer brings together 52 remarkable works from the National Portrait Gallery’s collection. The exhibition features dance legends such as Irina Baronova, Robert Helpmann, Hélène Kirsova, Graeme Murphy, Gideon Obarzanek, Anna Pavlova, Marilyn Rowe, and Janet Vernon, offering a vibrant showcase of Australia’s dance heritage.
Dancer invites audiences to reflect on how dance uplifts the spirit and brings people together. The exhibition includes a diverse mix of photographs and audio-visual works, representing dancers across generations and backgrounds.
National Portrait Gallery Curator Dr Emma Kindred said, “The joy of dance and movement is a shared experience that transcends cultures and generations. Much like portraiture, dance is an artform that has the power to connect, teach and tell diverse stories. I am excited that audiences across the country will have the opportunity to explore this exhibition.”
David Roche Gallery Director Robert Reason highlighted the exhibition’s local significance: “Restless Dance Theatre in Adelaide is represented through Shane Reid’s photograph of talented dancer Jianna Georgiou. Also featured is Daniel Riley, current Artistic Director of Australian Dance Theatre, depicted by Lorna Sim during his time choreographing Hit the Floor Together with the QL2 dancers. Adelaide has a vibrant dance culture, and we’re delighted to be a venue for this nationally significant exhibition.”
Dancer is more than an exhibition. It’s a moving tribute to the power of dance to connect, inspire and tell stories across generations and cultures.
The exhibition will be on display at David Roche Gallery from Saturday 7 June 2025 to Saturday 16 August 2025. Tickets will be available for purchase via the David Roche Gallery website from June.
Dancer is a National Portrait Gallery touring exhibition, supported by the National Collecting Institutions Touring and Outreach Program—an Australian Government initiative that aims to improve access to national collections for all Australians.
[Pictured: Steven Heathcote 2007, Julian Kingma, type C photograph on paper © Julian Kingma]
Event details:
What: Dancer – A National Portrait Gallery Touring Exhibition
When: Saturday 7 June – Saturday 16 August 2025
Open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am – 4pm (Closed Sundays, Mondays, Public Holidays)
Where: David Roche Gallery, 241 Melbourne St, North Adelaide
Cost: Adult $12 | Concession $10 | DRG Member $9 | Children U12 Free
David Roche Fermoy House tours: 10am, 12noon, 2pm (must be prebooked online)
Cost: Adult: $20 | Concession $17 (includes entry to exhibition)
For more information and events, visit www.rochegallery.com.au/exhibitions/
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