JOSE CALARCO PRESENTSJOSE CALARCO PRESENTS

TRADITIONAL & CONTEMPORARY PERFORMANCE

• Winner 2004 World Dance and Peace Prize at the World Culture Open (Korea) UNESCO

DESCENDANCEin

FLAMENCO DREAMING

Artistic Director and creator of Flamenco Dreaming Jose Calarco present’shis multi-cultural traditional & contemporary dance spectacular “FlamencoDreaming” exploring hybrid themes & breathtaking fusions. A maelstrom oflive exotic instruments blended with the timeless sounds of the didgeridoodrive the show into a spiritual, high energy & entertaining dance experiencenever seen before.

The story tells the tale of creation and the tree of life, exploring the roots ofdance and expression, in a synergistic collision of art forms, as Indigenous,Flamenco, & Indian dancers explode onto the stage as the past present andthe future become one, for all cultures are truly branches of the same tree.Descendance promises new and compelling work as it pioneers in the fieldof cross-cultural experiences. Descendance captures the essence & emotionof each culture & presents it in a modern overview.

Jose was at the front of the worldmusic & dance movement in thenineties heading fourInternational Dance Companies,including the Antonio VargasFlamenco Dance Theatre,Flamenco Dreaming, NgaruAboriginal & Islander Dance Co,and now his most celebratedsuccess Descendance Aboriginaland Torres Strait Islander DanceTheatre.

Descendance Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Dance Theatre3 Stanley Street, Redfern East NSW 2016 Australia.

Tel/Fax: +61 2 96997071 Mobile: +61 411 337136Internet: www.descendance.com.au Email: descend@bigpond.com www.descendance.com.au

• Sean Choolburra • Nicole Willis • Ronnie Guivarra• Arthur TurtleTamwoy• Goomblar Wylo • Vivian Anderson • Reuben Doolah • Benelong Carroll • Cindy Drummond• Earl Rosas• Albert David • Beatrice Sailor

• Johnny Murison• Jason Sandy• Dion Drummond• Djahn Doolan • Hartley Williams • Raymond Prior • Uncle Max Eulo • Taryn Drummond• Stephen Sailor• Ryka Sadrick• Thelma Parker • Joshua Thaiday

• George Dow• Peter Williams• Wayne Langlo • Rachel Wallis • Smilar Sinak • Barbara Drummond• Debra Bullio • Pauline Pearce• Inyika Buthman • Matt Brady• Peter Marshall • Jeanette Fabila

• John Owens• JustinParsons• Jacob Dow• Eddie Bousen • Medika Thorpe• Jai Prior • Phil Geia• Wayne Krause • Nadeena Dixon • Yasserie Smith• Phil Smith• Daniel Brown

• Archie Frazer • Darren Compton • Majeda Mo Beatty • Xing Yee Beatty • Frances Williams • Justin Torney• Jason Jai • Damian Bond

COM

PANY

ART

ISTSDESCENDANCE INTERNATIONAL

Stephen Toronto, Canada Tours 2006-2008 Turtle, Jose, Ben Lithuania 2007

Goomblar with Sheik in Dubai 2007 Jose & Earl with local dancers Ghana 2007

Beatrice & Cindy with Zulu Dancers Sth Africa 2007 Descendance with Flamenco dancer Spain 2007

INDIGENOUS DIVERSITY Descendance has over fifty dancers from diverse tribes across Australia. They range from NSWto Mount Isa, across to Rockhampton, through the Central Desert, Western Australia, up to CapeYork, and around the Torres Strait Islands. Descendance cultural program is exclusive to Far NorthQueensland. Descendance today is helping create work for many other Aboriginal artists in areasoutside dance, from modelling, painting and popular music, to writing and acting. Descendancehas grown out of necessity for indigenous people of Australia, and has become a refuge forAboriginal culture needing assistance. Descendance fills Australia's need for a wholesome,exciting, and world class traditional and contemporary performing Aboriginal and Torres StraitIslander Dance Company. Today Descendance is providing Australia and the world with some ofthe finest in traditional and contemporary indigenous culture and music.

FUSIONSDescendance along with world musicartistic director Jose Calarco have beguna new genre of contemporary indigenousperformance, this fusion style has neverbeen undertaken by an Aboriginalcompany before, exciting cross culturalwork with other cultures in both danceand live music, including Flamenco,Indian, Middle Eastern, Native American,South American, Asian, Eastern Europeanand African, these cultural exchangeshave been invaluable learning experiences for Descendance which have broadened our visionand out look on life.

Didgeridoo Players, Dancers,Musicians, Choreographers,

Singers, Elders, Painters, Models, Indigenous goods.

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The Descendance Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Dance Theatre was born from the mightyNgaru Aboriginal Dance Company, Sydney's first professional independent traditional Aboriginal andTorres Strait Islander Dance troupe established in 1993. Ngaru means "shake a leg", a dance styleprevalent in the Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland.Ngaru had been one of the longest running professional performing Aboriginal dance troupes inAustralia. In 2000 the name was changed to "Descendance" to account for the many artists fromdiverse tribes living in Sydney and joining the company. The motto was "One people all fighting acommon cause".Sean Choolburra originally formed Ngaru in Sydney in 1993; Sean was born in Townsville in NorthQueensland 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). In1998 Ngaru came under the guidance of the late, great Aboriginal song woman Imelda Willis, andworld music pioneer and producer Jose Calarco. Imelda came down from the sleepy seasideAboriginal mission of Yarrabah in far North Queensland on the invitation of Sean Choolburra. Imeldatook 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 andenhanced the Descendance repertoirewith some of her original works toencourage indigenous youths living inthe 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 lovingmemory to create an independentvehicle and indigenous agency for artistswithout support or funding, today herdaughter Nicole Willis assumes herlegacy.

BROLGA AWARD IN TOURISM ALICE SPRINGSThe demand for Descendance around the world and throughout Australia saw it evolve into twocompanies. One is based in Sydney, and one permanent group living and performing nightly showsin Alice Springs (Central Australia) at The Heavitree Resort. The Alice Springs "Red Centre DreamingExperience “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 outstandingperformances and cultural input in Alice Springs, the performances in Alice Springs are done withthe consent of the Arente Tribe the traditional land owners of the area.

WORLD TITLE IN KOREA 2004In Sept 2004 Descendance was to claim their ultimate prize on the International stage when theyrepresented Australia at the first cultural style Olympics in Seoul Korea, the event was billed as “TheWorld Culture Open”, from 70 countries who entered the competition, Descendance took out theWorld Dance/Peace Prize, the event was organised by UNESCO.

INTERNATIONAL TOURINGDescendance 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 biggestfestivals and events, countries include 1. USA,(Hawaii, Orlando, Miami, Los Angles, SanFrancisco, 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 Kong11.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.Croatia24.Serbia 25.Bulgaria 26.Italy,27.Scotland, 28.Ireland,29.Sweden, 30.Denmark, 31.Norway, 32.Thailand33.Netherlands, 34.Taiwan 35.Japan 36.VietnamDescendance has been one of Australia’s mosttravelled Dance Company in recent times, indigenousor non indigenous.

History of Descendance

DESCENDANCE INTERNATIONAL

Honolulu Festival 2005 - 2008 LA performing for Nicole Kidman 2005

United Nations New York 2006 Indigenous Forum Pau france 2006

In Russia 2005 Reunion Islands 2005

Descendance in Disneyland Florida 2003 - 2005 World Cup Soccer Germany 2006

New Zealand Tours 2005 - 2008

London 2004

In Hungary 2003 - 2006

Cultural Olympic winners Seoul 2004

MAJOR EVENTSDescendance has participated inmajor world events including theSydney Olympics in 2000, theopening ceremony of the RugbyUnion World Cup in 2003, the SoccerWorld Cup in Germany 2006.; theyheadlined the United Nationsindigenous forum in New York City in2006, and the Internationalindigenous Forum in Pau (France)2006. Since the year 2000,Descendance has participated inmany of the major internationalconventions and corporate eventsheld in Australia and around the world, performing for politicians andinternational dignitaries in the fields of medicine, technology, science,education, humanities, Arts and other diverse practices.

CLIENT BASEDescendance has worked with some of the world’s leading organizations andclients including Aurora Resorts, United Nations, Hawaiian Airlines, P & OCruises, 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 , AustralianRugby Union, AMP, Australia Council, Canada Council, Aboriginal TourismAustralia, Channel Seven, Samsung, Australian Government, InternationalAids Society, BMW, SOCOG, Richard Pratt, David Suzuki, Queens JubileeOrganization, Amnesty International, Greenpeace, International IndigenousFunders, Moscow Circus, Sydney Casino, Northern Territory TouristCommission, Sydney Opera House, Austrade, Discovery Chanel, many of themajor five star hotels, and the worlds leading Event Management companies,In 2005 they became the first indigenous company to become a finalist at TheSydney Business Awards.

CELEBRITY PERFORMANCESDescendance have also worked Internationally and across Australia inmovies, documentaries, theatre, TV, radio, community work, cultural centres,worlds leading festivals, recording projects, education institutions, jails, andcountless political events. Descendance have accumulated a distinguishedresume of live performances, and have been invited to perform forinternational celebrities such as The Dalai Lama, Her Majesty Queen ElizabethII, Nicole Kidman, Mel Gibson, Janet Jackson, Desree, Jimmy Cliff, CateBlanchett, Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Geoffrey Rush, SylvesterStallone, Olivia Newtown John, Steve Irwin, Keith Urban, The Dixie Chicks,Julio Iglesias, Justin Timberlake, The Black Eyed Peas, Delta Goodram,Jennifer Hawkins (Miss Universe) Ian Thorpe and Johnny Knoxville and theJackass Team. They have also given private performances for many of theworlds leading overseas dance companies, ranging from Cuba to Brazil, andSpain to Africa. Descendance starred in Australia's first full-length laser movie"Reef Dreaming", which was shown at Cockle Bay in Darling Harbour Sydneyfor three years on a screen of jet-propelled water, producing giant hologramAboriginal images with laser effects. "Reef Dreaming" went on to be watchedby almost a million locals and tourists. A documentary by the DiscoveryChannel titled “Atlas Australia” screened in a record breaking 170 countriesand featured Descendance with narration by Russell Crowe. Descendance isalso a member of the International Dance Council in Greece.

Corporate Functions , Conventions , Film ,Recordings , Special Events , Schools ,Government institutions , Touring Local andInternational , Radio , Theatre , Museums , ArtGalleries , Opening Ceremonies , Festivals.BO

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