While completing his degree at the Victorian College of the Arts, David received a Boston Youth Scholarship, to attend the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival. He began his professional career in New Zealand where, in 1996, he joined the Douglas Wright Dance Company. In the years following, David worked with choreographers Sue Healey, Garry Stewart, Mathew Bergan, and Sandra Parker. In 1998 David began work with Lucy Guerin Company and at almost the same time joined Chunky Move for 'Bonehead'. The latter part of 1998 saw David performing in Lucy Guerin Company's 'Heavy' by night and rehearsing Chunky Move's 'fleshmeet' by day. He won the 1998 Green Room Award for "Best Performance by a Male Dancer" for Chunky Move's 'Bonehead', and "Best Ensemble Performance" for Lucy Guerin's 'Heavy'. He has since performed in Chunky Move's 'Bodyparts', 'Export File' and 'Live Acts', as well as touring 'Heavy' with Lucy Guerin Company to the US.