Late afternoon mid February 2011, a call came through from the one and only Ignatius Jones, Australia’s King of Creative Direction, “I need you to develop a “moment” in Taylor Square to highlight marriage equality, can you do it, I know you can”. Jane replied without drawing breath “Of course we can, Moves is on the job!”
One week, no rehearsal time, 700 volunteers (the majority with no formal performance or dance training), 4 drag queens, 2 drag kings, Tony Abbott and Julia Gillard bobble-heads and one sister of perpetual indulgence…WE’RE NOT GOING TO MAKE IT! Moves was on the case editing the music with the sound mixer, liasing with the Australian Marriage Equality float and all the supporting floats on timing, sending DVDs of dance moves for the Taylor Square Show as it was now being called. The Mardi Gras Parade stops once every 5 to 10 years to highlight issues of significant to the LGBTQ community or indeed its own anniversaries.
Mardi Gras parade day arrives, our Moves en Masse team is assembled by midday for the briefing about who will manage which float, how to stay out of foxtel jib’s sight and when to reign in the political bobble-heads…it may have rained, the floats may have been late but my goodness did we have a blast when the show got going. All the volunteers were incredible, picking up the chorey at the last minute, what they may have lacked in technique they made up for in enthusiasm! After the madness of the 3 minute show, the Moves team collapsed at the rear of Taylor Square and enjoyed front row seats for the rest of the parade. A huge shout out to the fabulous Moves team, Naomi Young, Matt Henry, Darrin Peters, and Erica Nelson. Mardi Gras 2012? Bring it on! 
We love all the fabulous work you do, Australian Marriage Equality, thank you!
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