Based in:
Sydney NSW
The Descendance Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Dance Theatre was born from the mighty Ngaru Aboriginal Dance Company, Sydney's first professional independent traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Dance troupe established in 1993. Ngaru means "shake a leg", a dance style prevalent in the Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland.
Ngaru had been one of the longest running professional performing Aboriginal dance troupes in Australia. In 2000 the name was changed to "Descendance" to account for the many artists from diverse tribes living in Sydney and joining the company. The motto was "One people all fighting a common cause".
Ngaru had been one of the longest running professional performing Aboriginal dance troupes in Australia. In 2000 the name was changed to "Descendance" to account for the many artists from diverse tribes living in Sydney and joining the company. The motto was "One people all fighting a common cause".
Sean Choolburra originally formed Ngaru in Sydney in 1993; Sean was born in Townsville in North Queensland and has a background from three Aboriginal tribes, Girrma from Tully (father’s side) Kalkadoon from Mount Isa (mother's side) and Kukuyalanji from Cooktown (grandfather’s side). In 1998 Ngaru came under the guidance of the late, great Aboriginal song woman Imelda Willis, and world music pioneer and producer Jose Calarco. Imelda came down from the sleepy seaside Aboriginal mission of Yarrabah in far North Queensland on the invitation of Sean Choolburra.
Imelda took on cultural duties for twelve months before her untimely death in 1999 (may she rest in peace). Imelda had just completed a six month season of traditional dance and song at Ayers Rock (Uluru) before finishing her career in Sydney. Imelda was a gifted songwriter and enhanced the Descendance repertoire with some of her original works to encourage indigenous youths living in the city to make something of there lives, .Imelda’s heritage came from two tribes (Kandju/Cape York) and (Yidindji/Cairns). Descendance was born out of her loving memory to create an independent vehicle and indigenous agency for artists without support or funding, today her daughter Nicole Willis assumes her legacy.
Brolga Award in Tourism Alice Springs
The demand for Descendance around the world and throughout Australia saw it evolve into two companies. One is based in Sydney, and one permanent group living and performing nightly shows in Alice Springs (Central Australia) at The Heavitree Resort. The Alice Springs "Red Centre Dreaming Experience “has been running since 2000 attracting thousands of visitors from all over the world. In 2003 Descendance were presented with a Brolga award in tourism for their outstanding performances and cultural input in Alice Springs, the performances in Alice Springs are done with the consent of the Arente Tribe the traditional land owners of the area.
World Title in Korea 2004
In Sept 2004 Descendance was to claim their ultimate prize on the International stage when they represented Australia at the first cultural style Olympics in Seoul, Korea. The event was billed as “The World Culture Open”, from 70 countries who entered the competition, Descendance took out the World Dance/Peace Prize, the event was organised by UNESCO.
International Touring
Descendance has also completed hundreds of shows across Europe, Asia, Africa and The Americas, opening up work opportunities in over thirty countries performing at the world’s biggest festivals and events, countries include 1. USA,(Hawaii, Orlando, Miami, Los Angles, San Francisco, New York, Baltimore) 2.Canada, (Toronto, Ottawa, Alberta, Vancouver) 3.Korea, 4.Germany, 5.England, 6.Hungary, 7.Singapore, 8.Russia, 9.New Zealand.10. China & Hong Kong 11.France 12.Reunion Islands, 13.Austria, 14.Dubai, 15.Spain, 16.South Africa, 17.Ghana, 18.Belarus, 19.Poland, 20 Lithuania 21.Latvia 22.Estonia 23.Croatia 24.Serbia 25.Bulgaria 26.Italy,27.Scotland, 28.Ireland, 29.Sweden, 30.Denmark, 31.Norway, 32.Thailand 33.Netherlands, 34.Taiwan 35.Japan. Descendance has been one of Australia’s most travelled Dance Company in recent times, indigenous or non indigenous.
Major Events
Descendance has participated in major world events including the Sydney Olympics in 2000, the opening ceremony of the Rugby Union World Cup in 2003, the Soccer World Cup in Germany 2006.; they headlined the United Nations indigenous forum in New York City in 2006, and the International indigenous Forum in Pau (France) 2006.
Since the year 2000, Descendance has participated in many of the major international conventions and corporate events held in Australia and around the world, performing for politicians and international dignitaries in the fields of medicine, technology, science, education, humanities, Arts and other diverse practices.
Client Base
Descendance has worked with some of the world’s leading organizations and clients including Aurora Resorts, United Nations, Hawaiian Airlines, P & O Cruises, Qantas , Virgin Airlines, Amway International, Seoul City Government, Air New Zealand, Etihad Airlines, Korean Air, Australian Grand Prix , Disneyworld Florida, South Corp Wines, Tourism Australia , DFAT , Australian Rugby Union, AMP, Australia Council, Canada Council, Aboriginal Tourism Australia, Channel Seven, Samsung, Australian Government, International Aids Society, BMW, SOCOG, Richard Pratt, David Suzuki, Queens Jubilee Organization, Amnesty International, Greenpeace, International Indigenous Funders, Moscow Circus, Sydney Casino, Northern Territory Tourist Commission, Sydney Opera House, Austrade, Discovery Chanel, many of the major five star hotels, and the worlds leading Event Management companies, In 2005 they became the first indigenous company to become a finalist at The Sydney Business Awards.
Celebrity Performances
Descendance have also worked Internationally and across Australia in movies, documentaries, theatre, TV, radio, community work, cultural centres, worlds leading festivals, recording projects, education institutions, jails and countless political events.
Descendance have accumulated a distinguished resume of live performances, and have been invited to perform for international celebrities such as The Dalai Lama, Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth II, Nicole Kidman, Mel Gibson, Janet Jackson, Desree, Jimmy Cliff, Cate Blanchett, Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Geoffrey Rush, Sylvester Stallone, Olivia Newtown John, Steve Irwin, Keith Urban, The Dixie Chicks, Julio Iglesias, Justin Timberlake, The Black Eyed Peas, Delta Goodram, and Johnny Knoxville and the Jackass Team. They have also given private performances for many of the worlds leading overseas dance companies, ranging from Cuba to Brazil, and Spain to Africa.
Descendance starred in Australia's first full-length laser movie "Reef Dreaming", which was shown at Cockle Bay in Darling Harbour Sydney for three years on a screen of jet-propelled water, producing giant hologram Aboriginal images with laser effects. "Reef Dreaming" went on to be watched by almost a million locals and tourists. A documentary by the Discovery Channel titled “Atlas Australia” screened in a record breaking 170 countries and featured Descendance. Descendance is also a member of the International Dance Council in Greece.
Indigenous Diversity
Descendance has over fifty dancers from diverse tribes across Australia. They range from NSW to Mount Isa, across to Rockhampton, through the Central Desert, Western Australia, up to Cape York, and around the Torres Strait Islands. Descendance cultural program is exclusive to Far North Queensland. Descendance today is helping create work for many other Aboriginal artists in areas outside dance, from modelling, painting and popular music, to writing and acting. Descendance has grown out of necessity for indigenous people of Australia, and has become a refuge for Aboriginal culture needing assistance. Descendance fills Australia's need for a wholesome, exciting, and world class traditional and contemporary performing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Dance Company.
Today Descendance is providing Australia and the world with some of the finest in traditional and contemporary indigenous culture and music.
Fusions
Descendance along with world music artistic director Jose Calarco have begun a new genre of contemporary indigenous performance, this fusion style has never been undertaken by an Aboriginal company before, exciting cross cultural work with other cultures in both dance and live music, including Flamenco, Indian, Middle Eastern, Native American, South American, Asian, Eastern European and African, these cultural exchanges have been invaluable learning experiences for Descendance which have broadened our vision and out look on life.
Work Shops
Descendance also conducts educational workshops in traditional dance, didgeridoo playing, healing techniques, history and law.
Production requirements for descendance performances:
1.Traditional Aboriginal show : We arrive one hour before performance, unless rehearsal is pre arranged, A PA System with 3 Microphones required, 2 on stands for singers, and one floor microphone for didgeridoo. All the show is live, also a dressing room with mirror and drop sheet to prevent ochre on the floors.
2. Torres Strait Island show: We arrive one hour before performance, unless rehearsal is pre arranged. A PA System with 3 Microphones required 2 on stands for singers, one on floor stand for Warrup Drum. All show is live, dressing room with mirror and a drop sheep for floor
3. Contemporary show : we arrive one hour before performance, unless rehearsal is pre arranged. 3 Microphones required 2 on stands for singers, one on the floor for a didgeridoo player, and one playback CD player for pre recorded sound track. Dressing room with mirrors and drop sheet.
4. Flamenco Dreaming : we arrive two hours before performance,(8 microphones), 3 singers on stands, one floor microphone for didgeridoo, one microphone for percussion player, 3 microphones for floor to pick up Flamenco Dancers footwork, a CD Player for pre recorded moments. Wooden Floor a must. Dressing Room with mirrors and drop sheet.
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