COMPANY DIRECTOR
Jose Calarco has had a long and varied association in the arts and yoga in Australia and around the World for the last twenty five years. In this time he has covered almost the entire spectrum of experience, from producer and administrator of large-scale events, to innovative artistic direction in the fields of dance, film, theatre, yoga and music. Jose’s strong management credentials have seen his company Descendance Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Dance Theatre grow into one of Australia’s leading international cultural exports. José was at the helm of the companies rise, multi-tasking in marketing, box office, administration, sales, computers, recording, writing, and as a performing musician and artistic director. The success of Descendance came with after years of research and hard work with very little Government financial support, today Descendance has finally realised its dreams and potential, having performed at many of the World’s premier Events and Festivals. Jose’s was also at the forefront of the world music and dance movement in the eighties in Australia as a producer, promoter and performer. In 2014 Jose joined forces with international yoga legend Ana Forrest www.forrestyoga.com as both a ceremonial and business leader, providing artistic and cultural direction into Ana’s yoga teacher training courses and events as a lead singer, musician, teacher and medicine man.
Jose Calarco has been Director of four successful performing dance companies from Australia, which include: Descendance Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Dance Theatre, Ngaru Aboriginal & TSI Dancers, Flamenco Dreaming, and Antonio Vargas Flamenco Dance Theatre. Jose also gained valuable administration experience from managing three high profile arts companies in Sydney, Halftix (an internationally renowned discount arts box office), The Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust (Australia’s initial funding source for the arts), and Ticketek (Australia’s premier box office). His five years as a Film Buyer & Programmer for Village/Roadshow helped broaden his general knowledge and skills in the arts.
Jose expertise in the International Market Place for the arts has seen him coordinate and successfully tour Descendance to over forty countries and perform at some of the world’s major festivals and events the countries toured include 1.China mainland & (Hong Kong), 2. USA (Hawaii, Orlando, Miami, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Baltimore.), 3. Canada (Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary, Vancouver), 4.Korea, 5.Germany, 6.England, 7. Hungary, 8.Singapore, 9.Russia, 10.New Zealand, 11.France 12.Reunion Island, 13.Austria, 14.UAE, 15.Spain,16. South Africa, 17.Ghana, 18.Belarus, 19.Poland, 20.Lithuania, 21.Latvia, 22.Estonia, 23.Croatia, 24.Serbia, 25.Bulgaria 26.Trinidad 27.Italy 28.Mauritius 29.Seychelles 30.Qatar 31.Vietnam 32.Brazil 33.Mexico 34.Netherlands. 35. Scotland, 36.Ireland, 37.Sweden, 38.Denmark, 39.Norway, 40.Thailand, 41.Japan, 42.Taiwan 43.Australia.
Jose has coordinated and produced Descendance into winning a Brolga award in tourism in Australia 2003, a world dance title for UNESCO in Korea in 2004 , Disneyworld’s, Epcot Centre in Florida , won best international show award 2003-2004, as well as Performances at Major Events such as The Sydney Olympics 2000, Rugby Union World Cup 2003 Sydney, The Soccer World Cup in Germany 2006, The United Nations indigenous Forums in New York 2006, The indigenous Forum in Pau France 2006, the Asian Football Cup final in Qatar 2011, the Australia Now pre-Olympic Games Festival 2016 Brazil , and Discovery Channels “Atlas Australia” the biggest film or documentary ever released by Australia, reaching 170 countries and narrated by Russell Crowe.
Jose co-ordinated Descendance with Austrade, Tourism Australia and DFAT to promote “Australia Weeks” in the USA (LA & San Francisco) 2005-2006, Russia (Moscow) 2005 &2011, New Zealand 2006-2008, Croatia 2008, Serbia 2008, Hungry 2005-2006, and Canada (Toronto, Vancouver) 2007-2008, performed at Nicole Kidman and Mel Gibson’s Hollywood Tribute at G’Day LA in 2005. Launched the Baz Lurhman film Australia in Italy (2009), As well as produced performances for dignitaries and celebrities such as The Dali Lama, Queen Elizabeth, Justin Timberlake, and Cate Blanchett. Jose has been producing indigenous performances at International corporate events for over twenty five years, for illustrious audiences in the fields of science, technology, medicine, performing arts, and politics, and hosted and entertained many visiting international dance companies in Australia.
Indigenous culture has managed to reach unprecedented international audiences through Jose’s eye for the big international festivals, 87,000 (Midsummer Nights Dream Germany 2005) 60, 000,(Sziget Festival Hungary 2005) ,35,000 Drum Festival Korea 2004, 80,000 Disneyworld Florida Epcot Centre 2002-2005. Jose has created a blue chip client base for indigenous dance and gained immeasurable TV and Media around the world for the indigenous arts.
Jose’s Resume
2019-2014 Ceremonial & Musical Director, Forrest Yoga International www.forrestyoga.com
2019-1998 Director of Descendance Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Dance Theatre www.descendance.com.au
2019-2000 International Touring Descendance, over 40 countries and 150 cities, produce CD’s, DVD’s, Websites, Brochures documentaries and Marketing Strategies.
2019-1999 International Conventions, each year Sydney and Australia hosts up to 50 conventions with Jose Calarco and Descendance providing the creative and cultural themes.
2019-1999 Performances around Australia for Schools, Museums, Art Galleries, Corporate Events, Political Events, Festivals, Workshops, Community, TV, Radio, Jails.
2019-2006 Community programs, Palm Island, Kalkadoon, and Mapoon. Performances, training and tutoring indigenous children.
2019-2000 Performances on the world’s great cruise liners: Oriana, Aurora, Saga Rose, the World, Amsterdam, Queen Mary 2, Luminosa.
2000-2009 Red Centre Dreaming” (Alice Springs) contracted to Aurora Resorts, over 400 shows per year, one of Australia’s longest running indigenous dance events, winner of the Brolga Award for tourism.
2008-2011 National Australian Aboriginal Awards “The Deadlys” Opera House Sydney Performances
2002-2005 Descendance festival performances Australia, Sydney Dreaming” and the Dreaming Festival (Woodford).
2000-2007 Directs Theatrical Shows “Spirits’ of the Soil”, “Flamenco Dreaming”, Tree Of Life”, “The Lovers” and “Portal” cross cultural collaborations.
1997-1999 Manager Ngaru Aboriginal Dance Company.
1992-1997 Director, Flamenco Dreaming. Direct shows “Antipodes”, To India with Love”
1987-1991 Director of Antonio Vargas Flamenco Dance Theatre, Produce Theatre performances “Chronicles of a Death Foretold”, Passion Grace & Fire.
1987-1999 Manager Halftix and The Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust.
1987-1983 Film Buyer & Programmer Village Roadshow Australia.
