6 AWP Brooklyn Paper • www.BrooklynPaper.com • (718) 260-2500 October 11–17, 2019
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Sashaying away
Slope theater class teaches drag to kids
By Aidan Graham
Brooklyn Paper
A Park Slope theater class is
inviting youngsters to don gender
bending costumes and perform
on stage as characters of
the opposite sex on Nov. 7.
The event at Brooklyn Arts
Exchange on Fifth Avenue,
dubbed “Drag Performance
Workshop,” is designed as a
fun, playful way to introduce
children to the complex issues
surrounding gender identity, according
to an organizer.
“We’re using theater and performance
as a vehicle to explore
important issues of identity,”
said Lucia Scheckner. “By participating
in this workshop, and
by trying on a notion of gender
that is more fluid than the
traditional ‘male and female’
— you start to actually understand
these issues more.”
At the workshop, the kids
will learn the ins-and-outs of
theater-based drag, including
acting classes, makeup
tutorials, and dance instructions
to ensure they look —
and feel — like members of
the opposite sex, according to
Scheckner.
“There’ll be dance activities
as well — figuring out how
you’re going to be in your body
as a character,” she said. “It’s a
chance for kids to move around
to different songs and feel liberated
in their bodies.”
Children ages eight-and-up
can attend the workshop without
a parent, and younger Brooklynites
can attend with a guardian
— where they will learn and
engage in a variety of activities
centered around gender fluidity,
said Scheckner.
“It will begin with an introductory
ice-breaking experience,
that will transition
into...actually creating content
BAX
with each other,” she said.
“And then, there’ll be group
work and a period of performance
and reflection.”
Scheckner expects between
20 and 25 people — including
both children and parents —
to attend the workshop, where
thespians young and old will
gain a more in-depth understanding
of gender roles than
they would by attending some
The Brooklyn Arts Exchange
will host the
“Drag Performance
Work shop,” which hope
will engage local youth
in a conversation about
gender identity.
stodgy lecture.
“A lot of the time in schools...
it might be more like a town
hall, or an instructive experience,”
she said. “This is more
creative and exploratory.”
The progressive theater class
follows the rise of Kings
County drag kid Desmond
Napoles, 11, who made headlines
in December after preforming
at Meserole Street
gay bar 3 Dollar Bill in Williamsburg.
That appearance sparked
intense controversy from conservative
and pro-life news
sites, and Napoles’ family was
subsequently bombarded with
death threats and forced to endure
months of drop-in visits
from social workers .
Scheckner said she understands
the possibility of backlash
from some less openminded
community members
— even in the comparatively
liberal Park Slope — but so
far the reception has been
positive.
“There may be people who
are upset by it, and I guess
we’ll deal with that,” she said.
“As of now we haven’t received
any controversial remarks.”
“Drag Performance
Workshop” at the Brooklyn
Arts Exchange 421 Fifth
Ave. near Eighth Street in
Park Slope. www.youth.
bax.org/home. Nov. 7 at
5:30 pm. $5–$25.
OPEN HOUSE
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2019
Call or Text (347) 305-4497
www.bmcc.cuny.edu/cng
BAX
Kelindah Schuster will facilitate the “Drag Performance
Workshop” on Nov. 7.
BAX
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