Build a Drag Persona (4 week class)
How Much: $250
When: Monday nights in June at BAX from 6:30-8:45pm
June 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th
Facilitated by: Theydy Bedbug (aka Kelindah bee Schuster)
Applications are due on May 23 at midnight!
Whether you seek to unveil a drag character or simply step into a more empowered state of being, this 4-week 18+ class is a space to explore the power of personas. Through group games, solo writing exercises, authentic movement, and prompts for creation, we will experiment with different ways to express character and channel your persona, whether you are just dipping your toes into drag for the first time or already have a persona you’d like to develop further in a supportive environment. We will explore your character’s backstory, how they move, speak, their skills and superpowers, how they dress and look as well as how they can support you to live with more confidence in your daily life outside of drag. As part of this class, participants will receive resources and tutorials to develop their personas beyond the class environment. This workshop is for all genders and identities and centers queer and trans wisdom.
There will be NO culminating showcase for this class.
Kelindah Schuster (they/them) is a nonbinary educator and drag performance artist known as “Theydy Bedbug” who grew up in Singapore and Indonesia. They studied Drama and Gender studies at Vassar College and have been teaching, technical directing, and creating art at BAX since 2015. As their performance persona, they have performed and produced in venues such as Pioneer Works, Gibney Dance, Dixon Place, Triskelion Arts, Coney Island USA, The Stonewall Inn, UCB, Chelsea Music Hall, The Tank, BAM, VICE Headquarters, Columbia University, National Sawdust, and The Knockdown Center. Their teaching makes space for problem-solving societal dilemmas, imagining new possibilities, and expressing differences with joyful authenticity. They believe that access to spaces of genderful play in performance and creation is a step toward collective liberation. https://www.kelindahbee.art/
Drag Performance: Between & Beyond Gender (In Person)
Applications for the Spring 2023 Cycle have closed. Stay tuned for future programming!
This class focuses on developing drag characters that expand what it means to be a drag queen, king, thing, in between or beyond what we’ve seen. Through group games, writing prompts and discussion, solo and collaborative movement exercises, we give ourselves permission to express the full range of who we are and can be while releasing narratives about how we “should” move, express, or dress based on gender norms we’ve inherited. We experiment with the tools of pantomime, clowning, lip sync, caricature, structured improv and intuitive movement to build towards in-process drag performance acts. While this class is focused primarily on performance skills, we touch upon what goes into making a drag act including: makeup, costumes, creating a musical track, movement choreography and technical production choices.
*All in person events will follow up-to-date City and CDC covid-safety recommendations.
Miz Jade is a Black, trans, queer drag performer, event host, and professional dancer. Known for her teaching, activism, and quick wit, she’s bound to gag you and turn the party. Miz Jade has been described as fierce, sensual, sophisticated, and full of surprises. Miz Jade works with Drag Story Hour NYC, which fosters children’s imagination while providing glamorous, positive, and unabashedly queer role models. She is extremely proud of her involvement with DSH NYC, as she is passionate about the program’s message of acceptance and inclusivity. She is also the face of a national campaign called ‘The Real Ms Information’. A collaborative effort with GMHC and FCB Health to motivate and educate LGBTQ+ people on the importance of being covid vaccinated. Miz Jade has been nominated for ‘Best Dance Performer’ at the Glam Awards. She was also nominated for ‘Queen Of The Year’ and ‘Best Performer’ at the Brooklyn Nightlife Awards.
The Cake Boys are a network and platform for live, digital, and hybrid events to showcase Drag Kings and alternative queer & trans performers.
The Cake Boys serve a unique and growing community within the NYC Drag scene and beyond, elevating underrepresented talent and introducing new audiences to varieties of drag not yet seen on television. The Cake Boys performer network includes over 100 artists and growing, with open set opportunities for new performers every month.
At the helm of our productions both on stage and behind the scenes are Muscles Monty, Richard, Senerio, and Sweaty Eddie.
Common Questions
Q: What is the cost?
A: At cost: $425 for 10 weeks of class, including 2 special guest facilitators, 2 hours of free rehearsal space at BAX, professional performance photos and video, an archive of digital resources and drag tutorials.
If you are able to pay slightly higher than the at cost fee, you will enable someone else to take the class who may otherwise not be able to.
If you need a reduced fee, you will have the opportunity to request financial aid in the application.
Q: Will we be learning drag makeup skills?
A: This class is focused on drag performance, developing a character, and producing a 3-5 minute act. We will touch on makeup and costume as it relates to character expression but we will not delve in-depth into makeup techniques beyond general recommendations.
Q: What are some of the access considerations?
A: Show: The workshops will take place at the BAX building which is currently not ADA accessible. Any artist who would like to participate in the class but for whom the inaccessibility of the building is prohibitive will be prioritized for registration for the next zoom cycle in Spring 2023 (dates TBD).
Class: The show will take place at the BAX building which is currently not ADA accessible.The show will be livestreamed for remote access. Please reach out to artistprograms@bax.org if you would like to discuss access considerations.
Q: What are the COVID considerations of the in-person rehearsal period and show?
A: Class: Applicants are required to submit proof of vaccination upon application. As of now, participants will remain masked for the majority of the class. When individuals are performing lip syncs or in-progress performances, they will have the opportunity to unmask while the rest of the class remains masked. We will have air filters, fans and windows cracked to increase air circulation.
Show: As of now, the audience will show proof of vaccination and remain masked during the show. The show will be livestreamed for remote access. Performers who will be unmasked while performing will be asked to show proof of vaccination and submit a negative test.
Q: I have no experience in drag! Is this class for me?
A: This class is for anyone looking to experiment with drag as a form of creative expression amongst a supportive class community. Some people who take this class have drag experience and use this space to craft a new act or learn more about their character. Others are dipping their toes in for the first time!
Q: Why is there an application?
A: The purpose of this informal application is to gather information about potential participants in order to select a balanced cohort of no more than 15 participants.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellations more than 2 weeks in advance of the class will be accepted and refunds/credits can be issued.
Cancellations with less than 3 days notice may not be eligible for refunds.
Questions? Email info@bax.org
New York City’s Key to NYC and its masking and vaccination requirements have officially been lifted as of March 7, 2022. However, due to the intergenerational nature of our space, BAX is choosing to keep our vaccination requirements for all eligible individuals (6 months and older) in place until specified otherwise.