Hello darlings! Emma here, your resident time-travelling ballerina extraordinaire, ready to take you on another fabulous voyage through drag history!
It's been a hot minute, or maybe it's been a thousand years, because when you're travelling through time in a magical pink tutu, time truly does become elastic! 😉
This month's journey finds me twirling my way into the vibrant world of June 1989, darling, specifically the 6th! A little birdie told me that there was a real treat waiting for me in New York City on that date, so I popped on my shimmering pink tutu and hit the road (or the time stream, to be precise).
And wouldn't you know it, my darlings, this month's destination is a true drag legend: The Ballroom Scene! The sheer energy of it all, the glorious expression, the way they danced and fought, all in a whirlwind of fabulous costumes...oh darling, I was truly living! I snuck in a quick shopping spree for vintage sequins, snatched some moves on the dance floor, and got to experience a real glimpse of what it meant to be a part of this powerful community.
But first, let's grab a cuppa (or a cosmopolitan, darling, we're in New York!), and let's take a peek at what's happening in the wider world of drag back in '89.
The World of Drag: 1989June 1989 marked a big year for drag, you see! While it's tempting to just be transported to the vibrant underground world of The Ballroom Scene, the global drag scene was bubbling with action all over the globe!
In the UK, the London Palladium was bustling with the electrifying performance of the one and only *Divine. *This iconic queen of drag was the epitome of camp, the embodiment of theatrical excess, and an absolute inspiration to every drag queen ever, and me especially! If the walls could talk, that theatre must have vibrated with laughter and camp brilliance.
And who needs a time machine when we have the wonders of YouTube? You know what I need to do this month, right? Find a video of Divine at the Palladium and study her moves, darling! I mean, talk about iconic! If she can fill that stage, I can certainly fill it in a pink tutu. 😉
Meanwhile, over in San Francisco... the iconic nightclub The Stud, was a hive of drag activity. It was a breeding ground for talent, showcasing drag queens of all shapes and sizes, offering them a space to create and shine. This kind of diversity and inclusion was revolutionary for its time, and truly inspiring.
Across the world...the world of drag was ever-evolving, growing and blossoming, becoming bolder and brighter with each passing day. From Australia to Europe, queens were captivating audiences with their artistry and performance skills. I just can't get enough!
But darling, remember that time travel can be tricky! I'm limited by my resources, so for the moment I'm focussing on these major hubs: *London, New York, and San Francisco. * Don't you worry, I'll be taking you all around the world, eventually, just give me a minute to catch my breath after all this twirling, it can be quite exhausting!
The Ballroom Scene: A Night to RememberOh darling, I need to take a moment to gush over this truly breathtaking experience.
The Ballroom Scene in 1989 was a force of nature, a haven for creative expression and self-discovery!
Imagine a stage exploding with colours, movement, and energy! Queens and kings were dripping with fabulous, out-there, one-of-a-kind fashions, strutting their stuff in elaborate poses and eye-popping looks. Each 'house' had its own style, their own sense of identity.
Let me tell you, I was overwhelmed with excitement! I got to mingle with the House of Xtravaganza, * the *House of Labeija, and even bumped into The legendary Paris Dupree, who looked just as magnificent as I imagined. She shared with me a bit of history, how the Ballroom Scene started, its significance in giving a voice and a stage to marginalised communities who didn't have a place in traditional society. It was about reclaiming power through fashion, dance, and pure creativity.
They were making art from hardship, building a world for themselves, expressing their identities unapologetically. The energy was so vibrant, so infectious, that I just wanted to dance all night.
I saw such an incredible variety of drag, from 'realness', where the queens wanted to showcase the best possible versions of femininity, to the theatrical 'fabulous' category where the more outlandish and flamboyant the look, the better!
And let me tell you, those fierce faces, the impressive high heels, the impossibly-high hair...I felt truly surrounded by some of the most powerful women on earth! The confidence, the fearlessness of those queens - they gave me such a sense of strength.
It was truly life-changing, darlings! You know, sometimes I get stuck in my comfort zone. But watching those Ballroom queens, they pushed boundaries, they dared to be different. I saw that drag wasn't just a way to express yourself, it was a declaration of freedom, a defiance of expectations, a love for the art of performance...
It gave me such a renewed sense of purpose, a fire to take on new challenges and to embrace all things pink and sparkly! 😉
A Drag Queen's Time TravelsNow, don't get me wrong, darling, this life ain't always glitter and glamour. You see, my pink tutu is powered by my drag performances! I do everything I can to fund my journeys and my dream to have the world in pink tutus!
It's not easy! Sometimes I'm nervous before a show, wondering if the audience will appreciate what I do. But when they come out after my final pose and say “Darling, that was phenomenal!”, it all fades away.
And darling, there's so much to discover! Every time I travel through time, it fills me with so much inspiration. The way those queens lived their lives, defied expectations, made their own path... it makes me see the world differently. The struggles of yesterday fuel my passions today, pushing me to keep fighting for a better world for every queen, for every person who dares to embrace their unique, brilliant self!
Now, darling, before we close out, what can you do?
- Put on a pink tutu, for goodness sake! What are you waiting for? Let's create a global pink tutu revolution!
- Embrace your own unique expression! We all have our own inner queens and kings just waiting to burst out. Don't let fear hold you back, darlings, express yourselves!
- Join me on a journey through drag history! Dive into books, watch old drag performances, explore your city's drag scene! There's a world of vibrant creativity out there just waiting to be discovered!
Stay tuned for my next adventures on www.pink-tutu.com - because I've got a whole world of pink to share! Until next month, my loves! Keep on shining!
