You don’t have to go to San Francisco or Fire Island to get swept away by a fluid disco rhythm. There are places other than Hollywood where you can be a star. And there are definitely places other than the YMCA where you can have a good time. Edmonton’s Village People Revue is in its eighth year of proving that nobody can stop the music.

You’ve seen us. You must have done. Since our blue-chapped cowboy Ron wrote about us in Times .10 last December, we’ve had shows at every gay bar in town, at the Pink Flamingo Dance, in Calgary, at Coronation, and most recently, at a EPSB retirement party.

You might have gotten a bit confused at times. We always seem to be switching roles or members, but that’s part of the magic of disco. One of the most remarkable things about this group is the camaraderie it builds, and part of that is about welcoming new people into the group all the time. Our newest addition, Village Person #29 according to our website (http://www.oocities.org/vp_revue), is September cover boy Matt, now our hot cop. He joins a long line of members, Garry and Darcy and Ed and Curtis and Juan and Derek and Jim and Bob and the list goes on...

So what are we all about? It’s simple. It started off as an ISCWR fundraising event idea, formed by some people who weren’t quite ready for the 80s. Maybe someone had spiked their milkshakes, I don’t know, but the fact of the matter is, 8 years later, we’re still performing, still helping raise money for charities, still having fun. By coming together once a week for our rehearsals, we’re learning a lot of stuff other than that box step in Macho Man or that kickline in Just a Gigolo. Commitment. Loyalty. How to work well in groups. And more.

Wow. Doesn’t that make us sound stuffier than we are. If you’ve seen us out in full feather, you know we know when to take our hardhats off and party. There’s this anniversary thing floating around in the back of our minds (2004 anyone?) but in the meantime, we keep on doing that disco thing we do so well. Always on the lookout for a new venue, new event, new addition to the group, we welcome you to sit down and join us when we’re out and about. You too can have a spot in our infamous 'V'. (I feel like I’m doing my lead! 'We want you, we want you, we want you, as a new recruit!')

In that above-mentioned article, Ron spoke about how it pleases us to dream. And that is a very apt description. We’re not about to quit our day jobs to pursue this professionally (well, not this week anyway). In working together for our common goals (applause, entertainment, fundraising), we’ve found something in those disco anthems and in each other we’d all hate to lose: friendship.

So as we go west later this month to perform at Vancouver’s Furrball, we’ll be strengthening those friendships and living those dreams. And when we crash this bar here, or that event there, we’ll be creating memories of the experiences we’ve shared under those six hats. So many years, so many faces, so many shows, but we’re not going away. We’re going to keep doing what we do because we love to do it, and we invite you to join us in keeping that disco spirit of energy, freedom, and pride alive. You can’t fight it. Take the spark from love, make the rain fall up, cuz that’s easier to do.

And oh, there are 11 Village People songs referenced in this. See? They did sing more than YMCA!