17c起草社区

Dale Woodbridge-Brown is an outstanding circus performer and proud queer Aboriginal person. Being one of the few Indigenous circus performers in Australia, he continues to be an illustrious figure in the industry more than a decade on.

Speaking to 17c起草社区, Woodbridge-Brown details his unexpected journey of circus performing, and ultimately harnessing his 鈥減owerful鈥� identity through his artistry.

Circus, A 鈥淲elcomed Surprise鈥�

鈥淚 never thought that I would still be doing back flips at 34 years of age, in Circus companies and in places all over the world,鈥� says Woodbridge-Brown.

Whilst growing up with an interest in performance and competing in state-level gymnastics, Woodbridge-Brown says circus was a 鈥渨elcomed surprise鈥� early in his life.

鈥淚 was a part of a youth Circus in Dubbo called Circus West… I loved learning the skills when I was younger, and we got to do some performances in and around Dubbo.鈥�

Whilst being exposed to the circus industry, he initially decided to pursue dance as his 鈥減ath within the performing arts.鈥�

Studying at Brisbane鈥檚 Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts in 2012, he was approached by BLAKflip – a circus training program for First Nations performers. His decision to join swiftly shifted his career trajectory.

Being taught the physical aspects of circus performance, his perspective as a queer and Indigenous person was also given the opportunity to grow.

鈥淭hroughout my career I have had some incredible friends and mentors who have taught me skills along the way. They have given me great advice and guidance, but with the space for me to approach it how I would want to.鈥�

鈥淚t has been tough, and I haven’t always made the right choice, but I have done it my way.鈥�

鈥淏eing Aboriginal Within The Circus Realm Feels Right鈥�

In 2017, Woodbridge-Brown joined the 鈥渟uper queer super camp鈥� performance company, Briefs Factory International. The company has helped him platform his identity, through 鈥渘avigating the queer space鈥� and uplifting his Aboriginality.

鈥淭here are many queer people in the circus community but only a handful of Aboriginal performers. The company has shown me the love and beauty of [the] representation of queer faces and bodies on an international level,鈥� he explains.

鈥淏eing Aboriginal within the circus realm feels right. The whole industry is about storytelling with every medium possible with a sassy lick of humour,鈥� he continues.

Crediting his family for his comedic abilities, he says, 鈥淪torytelling is in our DNA, and we have such a unique brand of comedy that I don’t see anywhere else.鈥�

鈥淐ombining my skills – the camp of my queerness with the strength of my Aboriginality, makes me feel powerful, grounded and unique.鈥�

The Kamilaroi Cowboy

Since coming into his own on-stage, Woodbridge-Brown has taken on the persona of the Kamilaroi Cowboy.

Whilst saying the persona is just himself 鈥渂ut in cuter clothes,鈥� the choice to take on this character has been a part of the 鈥渏ourney realising [his] authentic self.鈥�

鈥淥ver time I saw the need for me to represent myself on stage because there is only one me, but I carry with me my people and the visibility of someone I wish I had when I was younger,鈥� he explains.

鈥淚’m not claiming to represent everyone, nor do I think anyone should, but if there are any queer Aboriginal people who do, that’s who I’m doing this for.鈥�

Woodbridge-Brown hopes to encourage more Aboriginal people to see circus artistry as being a welcoming and viable aspiration.

As for what you can expect from his presence on stage, his large catalogue of skills has kept audiences on the edge of their seats.

Whether its lassos and whip tricks, acrobatics, or being an alluring yet hilarious host – Woodbridge-Brown鈥檚 talents are typically showcased through a 鈥渞idiculous mashup of stupid entertainment.鈥�

鈥淢y favourite routine to perform is called 鈥楤atonya Harding鈥�. It鈥檚 a clowning routine that has Shirley Temple and Nicki Minaj. I use balloons, tumbling, dance and baton twirling. It’s an act where I get to just be silly but also show quite a few skills in 4 minutes.鈥�

Another favourite and riskier act of his, is sword swallowing. Since learning and performing it three years ago, he admits, 鈥渋t’s terrifying and demands respect.鈥�

鈥淚 love doing this on stage because I find it funny to gross people out while making them realise how incredible the human body can be.鈥�

鈥淛ust A Boy From Mungindi鈥�

Whether it鈥檚 physical comedy or his daring talents, his range as a performer has received international acclaim.

He has accumulated many career highlights; the 鈥渂eautiful experience鈥� of touring Arnhem Land, performing on Broadway in New York City with a raving New York Times Review, performing on West End in London, and creating his first solo-show 鈥淐amp Culture鈥� during Sydney World Pride.

However, it was Brief’s performance during Courtney Act鈥檚 Christmas Extravaganza that has particularly stood out for Woodbridge-Brown.

During the aired TV special, he says, 鈥淗aving my family send me a video of my dad yelling at the TV, “There he is,” was definitely a huge deal to me. My dad was my biggest fan.鈥�

Continuing to tour, recently performing in Briefs Bite Club: Second Serve in Brisbane, Woodbridge-Brown is humble and proud of all his achievements.

鈥淣ot in a million years would I have thought back then that my career could have been this successful.鈥�

鈥淭he fact that being just a boy from Mungindi鈥� I have toured to some incredible places that I would never have dreamed of going, even when I was little,鈥� he recalls.

鈥淢y career has become something that I treasure, it is such a huge part of my life and who I am.鈥�

Woodbridge-Brown aims to continue pursuing his circus artistry, planning to bring back his solo-show 鈥淐amp Culture鈥� very soon.