“Sexual expression means exactly what you want it to mean … and nothing more.”
This heart stopping statement of clarity was made by
Kayla Costello, one of the young and talented participants of Drag School as they paid tribute to Rei Alphonso, creator of the program. I wish somebody had explained that to me twenty five years ago!
This outpouring of love and respect was the impromptu wrap-up to Dragstravaganza, the gala that culminated six weeks of ‘playshops’ aimed at GLBTIQ youth. We had just witnessed the birth of stars.
Marlena had made the earth move with a simple sway of her arm; Rusty and Johnny were a fully formed double act with their car props; and Millaa Mercer regaled us with an army of characters bursting out of his bubbling imagination.
Check out Same Same’s exclusive coverage of the Dragstravaganza event here.
I see a lot of queer performance. This was something special and the audience repaid the honour with overwhelming enthusiasm. At the time Rei was somewhat overcome. I spoke to her weeks later just before the opening of their midsumma event, The Drag School Photo Exhibition, at
the City Library. The exhibition features photographs of the
‘dragstars’ in character by Nicola Trethowan and Caitlin Ate.
“The idea for Drag School grew out of my experiences in theatre and as a youth worker. The integration of voice and movement grounds the self expression and learning at a profound and integrated level.” said program initiator Rei Alphonso.
In addition to practical drag skills – make up, costume – the Drag School program also covered the social and political contexts of queer performance art and an interrogation of the concept of drag.
“The main purpose of the workshops was to encourage young LGBTIQ people to see all gender as performative, and to explore beyond traditional polarised understandings of drag. A diversity of expression and identity is healthy, empowering and vital for the ongoing life of the LGBTIQ community” continued Alphonoso.
“This wider political and historical understanding was integrated at a very personal level, with the participants empowered to develop confidence and awareness to move in a world which tries to impose rigid and narrow definitions of sexuality and gender on their bodies.”
The program was auspiced by the ALSO Foundation and Minus 18.
What next? Well, plans are already well underway for a regional Drag School program.
“We will be working with a number of established queer
youth groups across the state to spread the Drag School goodness.”
It’s a powerful idea that deserves support.
Check out the launch of the Drag: The Journey , a Drag School Photo Exhibition that opens 6-7pm Monday 18 January at the City Library on Flinders Lane, Melbourne CBD. Sales of prints go towards funding the Regional Drag School. The exhibition runs till 31 January.
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