Greetings, darlings! Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood pink-tutu-clad time traveller. Today's post takes us on a fabulous trip back to the glittery, fabulous, and utterly camp-tastic September of 2009! Get ready to put on your most fabulous pink tutu, sip on a spot of tea, and settle in for a delightful stroll down Drag Queen Memory Lane.
Now, you're all familiar with my love affair with ballet. (If you aren't, well, I have a lot of back reading for you on www.pink-tutu.com! ) And you know my favourite colour is pink! So, imagine my excitement when my magic pink tutu whisked me back to September 2009! We're talking ballet history, darlings! This was the year that the legendary Black Swan hit cinemas, a stunning ballet film that absolutely blew everyone away, showing that drag, fashion, and art can be effortlessly beautiful, fierce, and mesmerising. And let me tell you, it was the inspiration for SO many drag acts.
Drag Around the World: September 2009Speaking of drag, the drag world was alive and kicking in September of 2009! In New York City, the Drag Race Season 1 finale aired on Logo TV and crowned the iconic Bebe Zahara Benet the very first "Drag Superstar." Oh, the excitement, the camp, the tears - what a night! RuPaul was making history as Drag Race soared in popularity, proving to the world that drag wasn't just a form of entertainment - it was art, it was community, and it was revolution. I tell you, seeing the girls on screen back then and then seeing what they've achieved in the years after... it's enough to make a pink tutu cry with joy!
In the UK, The Real Full Monty premiered on ITV. You know how much I love a good musical and stripping it down for a good cause! Now, the men who participated weren't drag queens, but their courage, vulnerability, and commitment to charity resonated with so many. And they really brought a touch of drag to mainstream television with those routines! I love a drag queen, but there's nothing better than watching a straight guy rocking some high heels!
Over in Paris, Madame Monsieur, an electrifying, colourful drag queen, graced the stage with their incredible artistry. They blended the cabaret with storytelling, creating experiences that moved audiences. Madame Monsieur became a true Parisian drag legend and brought to the city a new wave of fabulous energy. It was a fabulous fusion of Parisian chic with drag royalty!
Now, a little bit closer to my Derbyshire home, a big drag party was in full swing! The iconic Ginger Snaps in Manchester had become one of the biggest venues for drag shows in the UK. Imagine a club brimming with drag performers, drag kings, and fierce looks. The entire drag family gathering to celebrate all things beautiful, all things fierce, all things drag! It was like stepping into a fabulous, rainbow-coloured fairytale!
September 2009: Drag On the Stage
You might be wondering, "Emma, what are you watching? What performances are on your "To Watch" list?" Well, darlings, September 2009 saw so much drag action, I practically lived in my favourite pair of sparkly stilettos! The "Rocky Horror Picture Show" was touring the UK with it's iconic cult classic performances. Let's face it, darling, you can never get enough of the Time Warp, and there was nothing quite like seeing that drag cast bring it to life on stage. A must-watch!
Ballet & Pink Tutu Love: A Touch of ClassIn September of 2009, the world was captivated by a truly captivating story - Black Swan! This mesmerizing movie blended the beautiful world of ballet with the powerful stories that make drag queens, drag kings, and performers such powerful artists. We saw Natalie Portman, transforming into a powerful character on stage - all whilst exploring the art of dance, theatre, and the drama and complexities of performance art! And darling, can you believe it even inspired drag queens across the world to embrace black swans, dramatic looks and ballet-themed performances? What an inspiration! It just goes to show that inspiration can come from anywhere, darling. We all can be inspired by theatre, film, dance and drag!
September 2009 was the year that ballet became an unlikely drag queen style muse! Now, imagine it - a drag queen who isn't just stunning in her look, but moves with such fluidity and artistry - like a delicate ballerina, with all the energy, excitement and drama of a fabulous drag show! My dear readers, I think we might just be witnessing a brand new era of Drag - one where every single performance is a work of art, a masterpiece! It's a fusion of two worlds, blending grace, glam, and sass into a whirlwind of wonder.
Time Travel Tutu: September 2009, What's Next?As we say goodbye to September 2009, I can't help but feel that this was an amazing chapter in the history of drag. We witnessed the growth of Drag Race, the heart-warming power of charity drag, and a whole new world of inspiration that would change drag for the future! I mean, who could have imagined that Black Swan, a film about a ballet dancer would make such a big splash in the drag world!
For now, darling, I bid you farewell. Remember, keep on rocking those pink tutus! The future of drag is pink! I'll be back next month with more Drag Queen History from a new time-travelling journey!
Stay fabulous, and keep your tutus twirling!
Emma, Your Favourite Pink Tutu Blogger
www.pink-tutu.com
Join the conversation and tell me about your favourite drag show, or let's discuss some ballet! Do you like Black Swan? Did you catch Drag Race? Let's bring some drag history to life!
(P.S This is my third blog post this month, I'm still getting used to this time-traveling business! I guess I have more time-travelling blog post time travel trips to catch up on - it seems this time-travel blogging journey is really beginning to get going!)
