This was published 4 months ago
From the footy field to the stage for this Indigenous dancer
By Chantal Nguyen
In his last year at Kingscliff High School on the NSW North Coast, it was all about rugby league for award-winning choreographer Thomas E.S Kelly.
At 190 centimetres and 116 kilograms, the proud Minjugbal-Yugambeh, Wiradjuri and Ni-Vanuatu man was a natural and talented forward. He had no formal dance training apart from traditional dances learned from family.
Thomas ES Kelly’s work is known for its eclecticism.
But his footy days ended at the same time as school, and now, fast-forward 15 years and Kelly, now 33, is the artistic director of Karul Projects, one of Australia’s most active contemporary Indigenous dance companies.
He’s about to make his Opera House debut as part of the UnWrapped series, performing in his own work SILENCE. It is about an Indigenous treaty and contains a full First Nations cast.
“‘Karul’ is the Yugambeh word for ‘everything’,” Kelly says. “I use everything that needs to be used, to tell whatever story needs to be told.”
Although dance-focused, his work is known for its comedy, theatre, film, live music and its raw physical aesthetic.
‘We’re the only Commonwealth country that’s never had a treaty with its Indigenous people … that’s a reason why we have a lot of issues.’
Thomas ES Kelly
The eclectic approach reflects Kelly’s background in theatre – and football. He came to dance unusually late, after being handed a pamphlet about auditions for NAISDA Dance College, a feeder school for Bangarra Dance Theatre.
“Then [NAISDA contacted me] saying ‘Congratulations, you’re in.’ I was like ‘Wow,’ … and I just never looked back.”
But after graduating, Kelly failed to land a coveted Bangarra position.
“A lot of people let that define them. But that’s where I talk about footy. I go: ‘The South Sydney Rabbitohs is the Indigenous team of the NRL. But every team has Indigenous players.’ So for me the Rabbitohs were Bangarra, but I’m good enough to play footy – or dance – for anyone.”
Kelly says that SILENCE has relevance for all Australians.
Kelly went on to work with household names in Australian dance before co-founding Karul Projects with his now-wife Taree Sansbury. Awards and nominations followed.
“I want the company to increase First Nations voices, visibility, and stories. I want to create opportunities for more First Nations employment, especially for those who don’t get into Bangarra, so we see that there’s more pathways.”
Kelly says SILENCE is relevant for all Australians. “We’re the only Commonwealth country that’s never had a treaty with its Indigenous people. For me, that’s a big reason why we still have a lot of issues between non-Indigenous and Indigenous Australia.”
While researching for SILENCE, Kelly was “blown away” by draft treaties from the 1970s and 80s. “I was going: ‘If this [had been] implemented back then, just imagine what it would do for Australia now.’
Indigenous dancer Thomas ES Kelly says the No campaign, led by Warren Mundine and Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, winning the Voice referendum helped his show.Credit: Dan Peled
“Yes, there is benefit for Indigenous Australia, but so much in there is for non-Indigenous Australians, new Australians, low socio-economic and high socio-economic Australians, for the environment and land management.”
He questions if Australia’s climate crisis response, and recent bushfire and flooding disasters, would be so grave if the draft treaties had been in place.
“It’s not about berating anybody, or kicking somebody out of their house, or disadvantaging [non-Indigenous Australians]. It’s about working together.
“A treaty could talk to all those things. I want to have the conversation about a treaty in the show. I want to pull it back out of the darkness and throw it in front of the stars.”
But are Australians fatigued after the Voice referendum?
“SILENCE was never about the Voice,” Kelly says.
“It preceded and is succeeding the referendum. I am interested myself to see what the response is, but … people [seem] really excited, saying ‘Now is the time to get this out. The Voice failed. Let’s go for Treaty!’ I actually feel the Voice failing rejuvenated SILENCE.”
Kelly updated SILENCE’s script after the referendum. “A show should always be being explored and developed … something should always be talking to you. That’s exciting – to know that this story is alive.”
SILENCE by Karul Projects, May 8 to 11, Sydney Opera House.