School of Drag, a Creative Aging program collaboration between the Museum of Contemporary Art in Tucson, AZ (MOCA) and Fluxx Productions, is a 10-week workshop series that invites 55+ LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer/questioning, asexual, non-binary, pansexual, etc.) community members to explore art, narrative and performance which culminates into a showcase featuring performers of all ages and local professional drag performers. School of Drag creator, Dante Celeiro, leads this Creative Aging workshop series with Eli Burke, teaching artist and Education Director at MOCA.
Made possible through a Seeding Vitality Arts in Museums grant from Aroha Philanthropies, School of Drag is the first intergenerational participatory arts program at the museum to explore the history and social construction of gender through performance. Participatory arts programs that the Museum offered in the past were geared towards youth. After facilitating a 55+ LGBTQIA+ community program at the museum, Eli realized that not only did this age group need more creative outlets to explore, but these programs were missing a larger part of the community with critical voices. After attending a youth drag program performance, the 55+ community who are involved in the museum’s programs asked that this program be offered to them and together, Dante and Eli made the School of Drag program possible.
Dante’s own experience with gender performance began with Boys R Us, the longest running gender performance troupe in the world, which he founded in Arizona in 2002. The gender-bending troupe explores societal roles, image, self-esteem, self-projection and identification through performance. Inspired by his prior work in queer performance art, Dante created School of Drag which gives Boys R Us members the opportunity to observe and mentor the youth and 55+ participants.
“No matter your age, you have something to offer, teach and learn,” said Dante. School of Drag participants engage in movement exercises, develop a drag character, create their own costume, choose props, invent a drag name and perform in front of a live audience at the Creative Aging workshop’s culminating event.
“Connecting generations has been an invaluable part of this process,” Eli said. “The youth learn about the experiences of 55+ individuals, and older adults get to experience firsthand how young people push the idea of what gender can be.”
“Almost all of our elders grew up having to be in the closet, [to] live a lie,” Dante added. “This gives them the opportunity to finally be heard, seen, validated and connected.”
We asked Eli and Dante if they thought that gender performance program curricula helps to expand the field of Creative Aging. Eli responded, “I do. I think it allows participants to dig into how things are evolving within younger generations. I think it gives them an opportunity for them to experience how their lives have influenced what is happening today.” Dante added, “Most definitely! With technology and social media taking over our lives, we are losing real human connections. Any form of art creates simulation, dialogue in all forms and many levels of healing. As our elders age, they are pushed aside by younger generations as they are seen to not have anything else to offer. Art opens people’s eyes and I truly believe in all ages having a voice.”
The School of Drag showcase is free and is scheduled for May 4 from 6pm to 8pm at MOCA Tucson.
Video credit: Eli Burke, Education Director at MOCA Tucson
Lifetime Arts proudly supports Creative Aging programming that addresses the needs and interests of the LGBTQIA+ community.
