66 and Still Dancing the ACDC Way

NZ’s “first really iconic out-and-out drag queen” – Carmen Rupe – was honored at the 2002 Gay Games in Sydney. The November 2 opening ceremony at the Sydney Football Stadium devoted a segment entitled “Struggle” to the pioneers of Sydney’s gay community (66-year-old Carmen was one of the regular performers at the city’s first gay bar, The Purple Onion). Her “racy, funny, and oddly moving story” was recently transformed into an NZSO tribute – Carmen Dances – by noted composer, Jack Body.