Among the busy streets and venues swelling with events, World Pride kicked off its six-day program dedicated to celebrating First Peoples with a huge Thursday night.
The Marri Madung Butbut (Many Brave Hearts) First Nations Gathering Space opened with dance, drag, performance, laughter and even tears at Sydney's Carriageworks.
The pulsing Djarraba Disco welcomed community, mob, brotherboys and sistergirls, global First Nations people and allies, curated by the performance artist couple The Huxleys.
In the comparatively silent adjoining rooms was Bloodlines, a multi art form exhibition - also a Huxleys project - honouring and icons lost to HIV/AIDS, as well as Indigenous business stalls, DJs, food and drinks.
A peak down another hall revealed the only people not on their feet across the entire venue, albeit for very good reason.
Ru Paul's Drag Race Down Under runner-up Kween Kong guided a hundreds-strong audience through the carousel of the country's leading First Nations creatives, delving into comedy, to song, to words of power and defiance with Klub Village.
Performers included Jay Wymarra, Aunty Tamara, Bizzi Body, Chocolate Boxx, Dale Woodbridge-Brown, Humxn Dance Collective, Katherine Wolfgramme, Kween Kong, King Cxntesa, Prinnie Stevens, Sela Vai, Thomas Worrell, Victoria Falconer and a last-minute inclusion of screen icon Elaine Crombie.
Between the roars of laughter and applause came reminders of journey, successes and continued battles of Indigenous peoples around the world.
"We've been dreaming of a show like this for years, we've been dreaming of a space like this for years," Ms Kong said.
"This is for us - family"
Dale Woodbridge-Brown epitomised the scope of stories told.
After his first performance, a charming acrobatic display in a clown costume self-described as "kind of silly", his second explored the unpacked trials of identity and culture in an excerpt from Meyne Wyatt's play City of Gold, accompanied by a change of clothes mid-performance in a proud display of self before ending with a sword swallowing routine.
The emotion was palpable, as was the response.
Mr Woodbridge-Brown said it was an expression of who he is, the talent he holds and talents of his peers.
"That speech means so much to me…I'm doing something where on stage every night I could die doing that," he said.
"We (First Nations performers) put everything out there within our art and with our everyday life.
"I stripped down to my underwear, got dressed and then did the sword swallowing from the, from the bareness of myself. My talent is distinguished by me and not anybody else.
"So doing that acts after my funny kind of silly act. I think it just shows people that people have versatility."
Pride's journey to Australia makes the opportunity to perform all the more special.
"To do it on home soil in front of my friends and family here tonight. The impact is different," Mr Woodbrige-Brown said.
"The talent here are the crème de la crème of the talent within the black excellence arts world.
"I know I'm good at what I do, but I'm working alongside people that I view as the best.
"It's intimidating, but it's also beautiful."
The Marri Madung Butbut First Nations Gathering Space hosts ongoing events through World Pride Sydney catalogue.
