Mary Jane O'Reilly

Mary Jane O'Reilly (born 23 July 1950) is a New Zealand dancer and choreographer. She is best known for co-founding the Limbs Dance Company and the Auckland Dance Company, and choreographing the opening ceremony for the 1990 Commonwealth Games and the millennium dawn celebrations at Gisborne.

Career During her career, O'Reilly has held positions including: Artistic director, Limbs Dance Company (1977–1989) Director of choreography, Commonwealth Games, Auckland (1989–1990) Advisor to QEII Arts Council (1991–1992) Artistic director, Auckland Dance Company (1996–2001) Governor, Arts Foundation of New Zealand (1999–2004) Senior lecturer in dance at the University of Auckland (2001–2004) Artistic director, TEMPO Festival of Dance (2006–2011) Artistic director, Living Room Festival (2012)

Her students have included Mark Baldwin and Douglas Wright.

Honours and awards In 1984, O'Reilly received the Allen Highet Award for outstanding achievement by a mid-career artist.