The Australian Ballet’s Identity is the sum of two parts which cannot be considered equal, nor should they be. Daniel Riley’s THE HUM spans millennia, whereas Alice Topp’s Paragon looks back over 60 years. Both are world premieres and as different in their choreographic styles as they are in their scope.

Daniel Riley’s THE HUM performed by The Australian Ballet and Australian Dance Theatre. Photo © Daniel Boud

Wiradjuri man Daniel Riley proves yet again that he was the perfect choice for the new Artistic Director of Australian Dance Theatre, which is collaborating with The Australian Ballet on THE HUM. Like Tracker – Riley’s other major work this year – THE HUM is about connectivity and the sharing of knowledge and experience. While Tracker looked at intergenerational connection within Riley’s own family, here we bear witness to the connection between peoples. It is a coming together of civilisations and humanity to create a new dance form through shared knowledge.

In the initial stages of the work’s development, 13 dancers from The Australian Ballet were welcomed to Kaurna Yerta/Adelaide, where they came together with six ADT artists to walk on Country....