The Australian cooking show, Dining Downunder ™ has recently formed a strategic alliance with Australia’s leading Aboriginal and Torrens Strait Island dance theatre, Descendance ™ Aboriginal Dancers.

The strategic alliance was developed after both companies were invited by Austrade Moscow, to present the best of Australian food and Aboriginal dance as part of Australia Week in Moscow during 2005. Since then both companies have developed their shared goals to produce and offer the best of the best Australian events overseas.

Descendance ™ is Australia’s most successful and most travelled dance company and has performed hundreds of shows in over 22 countries. The Sydney-based Descendance group is made up of dancers, musicians and singers, mostly from the Kandu and Yidinji people in Far North Queensland, mixed with influences from other peoples including Torres Strait Islanders. The 50 strong dance troupe makes regular appearances at high profile events and festivals and has danced for the Dalai Lama, Olympic ceremonies and Queen Elizabeth. As well as international events the group performs over 700 shows a year in Alice Springs at the Red Centre Resort.

Dining Downunder’s Vic Cherikoff said “The collaboration of authentic Australian food and Aboriginal dance and didjeridu (yidaki) was extremely successful in Moscow and we look forward to expanding our joint promotions during 2006.” As part of the strategic alliance, Dining Downunder ™ and Descendance ™ will offer reciprocal services and pool marketing resources to increase the impact of their respective Australian promotions around the world. Dining Downunder’s 2006 Australian events, including the Descendance Aboriginal dance and didgeridoo performances, are routinely conducted in International and boutique hotels; spa and holiday resorts; selected cruise ships and increasingly, for corporate events which benefit from the authentic Australian look, sound, touch and taste.

“Descendance Aboriginal dancers travelling the world are a terrific cultural promotion for Australia,” Jose Calarco said “and now together with the native flavours of Australia and the chefs from Dining Downunder we can provide a complete, authentic, Australian cultural event overseas”. Apart from their scheduled promotional and corporate events both companies are exploring commercial opportunities which will see a permanent Australian cultural offering in the USA

For more information about Descendance visit www.descendance.com.au