Sean Choolburra is a warm and charismatic Aboriginal performer and is
carving his niche as Australia's only Aboriginal comedian, proving himself a
popular and versatile indigenous performer. He is a didgeridoo player,
singer, dancer, actor, songwriter, and now one of the fastest rising
comedians in the land.
As a comedian, Sean draws on his life experiences as an Aboriginal and
blends his skills as a performer into the show to give audiences a blend of
hilarious black fella yarns and didge playing. As a comic, Sean draws on his
life experiences as an Aboriginal from a small country town trying to adjust
to the bright lights of Sydney. He blends his skills as a performer into his
routine, to give audiences a blend of hilarious black fella yarns,
didgeridoo playing and dancing. Sean Choolburra's Aboriginal heritage is
central to his comedy routines and his shows blend music, dance and
monologue to create something truly hilarious.
Sean also led one of the first indigenous tours ever to Japan with Ngaru in
1994 and he was the star and co-writer of Australia's first full-length
laser movie "Reef Dreaming", which played for three years in Cockle Bay at
Darling Harbour in Sydney, on a screen of jet propelled water with laser
images through it. "Reef Dreaming" was watched by an estimated million
locals and tourists.
Sean was also the first Aboriginal performer involved in dance fusion work
with other cultures. He performed with Flamenco, Indian and Native American
artists and made a name for himself as the lead performer in "Flamenco
Dreaming", a show that mesmerised audiences to sell-out houses for two
years. He also played a leading role in the 2002 Sydney Festival indigenous
production of "Crying Baby", and many other successful productions including
To India with Love, Gammon Ol Yarns, Sing Awake the Lands and Spirits of the
Soil. He also toured in 2004 with Descendance to the UK representing
Australia at the World Destinations Fair.
Charismatic and cheeky, Sean Choolburra's talents demand attention.
(Source:
ICMI)
Introduction
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 “Kuku-Yalanji” from Cook town
(Grandfather’s side). (Source:
Descendance)
Sean Choolburra
was born and raised in Townsville and his ancestors are Gu-Gu-
Yalanji, Kalkadoon, Kandju and Bwgcolman from around Townsville and Palm
Island.
Sean tells Nikita in the
Yarramundi Kids video [below] that both his parents were born in Palm Island
which you can see in the inset map.
Sean trained and
toured internationally with the Bangarra Dance Company and was the creator
and leader of the Naroo Dancers. (Source:
Nexus)
Sean is one of 12 children to Carmel
Choolburra. (Source: Message Stick)
Education:
Sean went to school in Townsville - at a
Christian School which he talks about in the Yarramundi Kids session.
When I first moved to Sydney (from Townsville) in 1990 to study, I was
staying at the Tony Mundine Hostel in Leichhardt and every morning and
afternoon I’d walk past the old Sydney Comedy Store (which was then on
Parramatta Rd).
I’d just turned 21 but ever since I was a 10-year-old I had been told I
should be a comedian by a friend of mine, another little kid.
I remember (being in Sydney) and going to the Comedy Store, which by then
was in (its current location) in Moore Park, and I saw an open mic night,
and thought to myself, “Wow, I could really do this,” because I had already
been on stage, I was already a performer. So I watched how they did it and
the next week I put my name down. Then (professional comic) Chris Radburn
suggested I should do the Triple J Raw Comedy competition.
I was 33 years old and I ended up winning the NSW final. It was funny
because every heat I would win, but I was still touring across the country
so I would have to drive my car all the away to an airport, to get on a
plane and fly all the way back to Sydney, then fly all the way back again.
And I just kept at it.(Source:
Daily Telegraph)
After winning through to the National Raw Comedy Final at the Melbourne
International Comedy Festival in 2002, Sean Choolburra has become a mainstay
on the Australian comedy circuit. Originally from Townsville Sean Choolburra
had already become a respected dancer and had previously worked with the
Bangarra Dance Company. He has performed at several major international
festivals, including a special performance for the Dalai Lama.
Sean was the founder and leader of Sydney’s first independent traditional
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Dance Company, the Ngaru Dancers,
which he formed in 1993. Sean is also a former NAISDA graduate and has
danced with the internationally renowned indigenous contemporary dance
troupe Bangarra.
Sean also led one of the first indigenous tours ever to Japan with Ngaru in
1994 and he was the star and co-writer of Australia’s first full-length
laser movie “Reef Dreaming”, which played for three years in Cockle Bay at
Darling Harbour in Sydney, on a screen of jet propelled water with laser
images through it. “Reef Dreaming” was watched by an estimated million
locals and tourists.
Sean was also the first Aboriginal performer involved in dance fusion work
with other cultures. He performed with Flamenco, Indian and Native American
artists and made a name for himself as the lead performer in “Flamenco
Dreaming”, a show that mesmerised audiences to sell-out houses for two
years. He also played a leading role in the 2002 Sydney Festival indigenous
production of “Crying Baby”, and many other successful productions including
To India with Love, Gammon Ol Yarns, Sing Awake the Lands and Spirits of the
Soil. He also toured in 2004 with Descendance to the UK representing
Australia at the World Destinations Fair.(Source:
The Entertainers)
Did You Know?
The
Descendance Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Dance Theatre
was born from the mighty Ngaru Dance Company, Sydney’s first
professional independent traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander Dance troupe established in 1993, Ngaru meaning “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 Indigenous dance troupes in Australia before changing
their name to “Descendance” in the year 2000 to account for the many
artists from diverse tribes living in Sydney and joining the
company.
The motto being, “One people fighting a common cause”.
(Source: Descendance)