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Colours of Our Community Float Secures Sponsor
The Colours of Our Community Float, a centrepiece of the 2018 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras (SGLMG) Parade has secured a financial sponsor. And it's a natural fit for XYZ Company as CEO Dale Smith explains.
"Ever since we established XYZ Company in 1998, we have been serving the LGBTQI community, providing our products and services to them. Coupled with our diversity and equality charter for all our employees, we are ....read more on this link
Colours of Our Community Float is a community organisation that celebrates and champions the values of Diversity, Equality and LGBTQI Love.
The Colours of Our Community Float is a proud recipient of the 2018 Google Mardi Gras Parade Grant. Our $2,000 Grant will put the "WOW Factor" into our float costumes.
Background
Colours of Our Community Float Confirmed for 2018 SGLMG Parade
“Colours of Our Community” is an art project that began in 2006 by Sydney photographer Markham Lane. The project aims to highlight and champion the values of celebrating diversity, equality and LGBTQI love.
In 2017 a 10-year retrospective of the collection was exhibited as a Premier Event of the 2017 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival. Later that year, a book of the same name was launched and subsequently sold out.
In 2018, the “Colours of Our Community” becomes a Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade Float, bringing all these value to life!
With 195 Parade Floats confirmed in the 2018 Sydney Mardi Gras Parade, Colours of Our Community has been assigned the middle position of the Parade order, as the 96th entry.
Float Elements Match the Festival Theme
Applicants for the 2018 SGLMG Parade had to demonstrate how their float matches the SGLMG Festival theme "40 Years of Evolution". The Colours of Our Community Float was selected to join the 2018 Parade based on it's ability to match the set criteria.
Our Community Float is made up of three elements:
1) Two “Rainbow Heroes” to lead
2) The float vehicle
3) A marching/dancing “LGBTQI Army of Light and Colour”
With a maximum capacity of 80 participants and with our charter to celebrate diversity, equality and LGBTQI love, our float contains a representation of races from Australia and 22 other countries; of all gender identities; and representation from the whole community, being Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer and Intersex.
55% of our participants are in committed relationships.
30% of our participants are female.
72/80 people in the float are marching in the LGBTQI Army of Light and Colour.
Army participants will be divided into 6 groups. Each group will be assigned a colour from the Rainbow Flag and the Groups will be parading in the order of the flag being Purple, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange and Red. This will be achieved through the use of LED outfits supplied by sponsor Breedwell out of NYC.
6/72 people in the Army are “Community Heroes” with one representation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer and Intersex. Each hero will be wearing a unique elaborate Ron Muncaster (Mardi Gras Lifetime Award winner) inspired costume incorporating LED outfits supplied by sponsor Breedwell.
2 parade participants will lead the float, as “Rainbow Heroes” wearing a unique elaborate Ron Muncaster (Mardi Gras Lifetime Award winner) inspired costume incorporating LED outfits supplied by sponsor Breedwell. These participants are Founder and creator of the “Colours of Our Community” Markham Lane and Community Hero Costume Designer, Victoria Riveria Martin, who represents the Trans, Deaf and Asian communities.
Our Float vehicle will house a 4 speaker system, pumping out a mash-up of iconic gay anthems, masterfully created by DJ Hamo Tevita. The six minute mix includes tracks from;
“I Will Survive” (1978) by Gloria Gaynor
"I Feel Love” (1984) by Donna Summer
"Express Yourself" (1989) by Madonna
"Queen of the Night" (1992) by Whitney Houston
“Born This Way” (2014) by Lady Gaga.
Onboard the Float Vehicle, international cabaret and performance artist Sheba Williams will be our MC, adding her sassy charms and vocal performances over the top of the tracks to really rev-up the crowd.
And on the ground, our choreographer Jean Paul JR, will be leading the Army through the routine as we march and dance our way along the parade route.
Concept image for the "LGBTQI Army of Light and Colour" with LED outfits supplied by Breedwell (NYC)
