Auckland drag queens show their lip sync skills at Aotea Square ice rink

Thursday, 4 July 2019

The Drag Disko at the Aotea Square ice rink took place in the same week as Dragfest 2019.

The local drag scene is just as good as what people see on hit TV show RuPaul's Drag Race, a performer says.

More than 30 performers from Auckland's drag scene headed to the ice rink at Aotea Square for Drag Disko on Wednesday evening.

Organiser Monty Montgomery said Drag Disko was inspired by the Chicago drag scene, where shows were held in 'the most amazing' spaces, like roller rinks.

The event follows Dragfest 2019's The Realness Tour at Logan Campbell Centre which featured RuPaul's Drag Race stars such as Trinity 'The Tuck' Taylor, Jasmine Masters, Monet X Change and Latrice Royale.

**READ MORE:

Organiser Monty Montgomery (centre) says the event was inspired by the drag scene in Chicago.

* Dragfest 2019: dismal designs can't diminish spectacular performances

* House of Drag: New TVNZ reality series searching for the ultimate Kiwi dragstar

Drag queen Parasomnia attended the event along with other members of the drag community.

* I was there when RuPaul performed for just 30 people at Auckland's Sleaze Ball

* RuPaul's Drag Race star films video in support of Auckland Pride Parade's uniform ban**

Drag queens Bleach Kid, The Countess and Lala Loopsy put on some skates on Wednesday evening.

Members of Auckland's drag community, friends and supporters either took to the ice or took photos from the side of the rink, watching as people danced and lip synced to I Will Survive.

Leidy Lei from television show House of Drag, Rani Kumari and Margarita Blades were just some of the members of the drag community who attended the event.

Montgomery said it was a great way to showcase what members of the local drag community could do.

'A lot of people go to watch the RuPaul queens do their thing but they've never come out and seen a local show and what our local girls can do,' Montgomery said.

'They can do exactly what those RuPaul girls do and even better because we have the freedom to do what we want.'

Montgomery was inspired to bring drag to places where shows were not typically seen, like the ice rink in the middle of Auckland's CBD.

'It's so great to be with the community, not in like a party club scene – it was really nice to have a wholesome, sober event where we're doing drag and everyone is having fun.'

'Auckland has such a thriving drag scene, we have so many artists pushing the envelope and doing s… you will never see on [Ru Paul's] Drag Race because this talent is local and this talent is unique to us.'

Pride board member Zakk d'Larté, who also attended the event, said 'last night, there were families, including young children, lots of whom would have never seen, let alone met a drag queen before.

'Watching their journey from a mix of perhaps confusion and apprehension, to laughing and enjoyment was a thrill.'

D'Larté said events like the Drag Disko at the ice rink opened up a world that some people did not know a lot about.

'For those that were seeing queens for the first time, I imagine it was definitely educational about the art form of drag and that it's not exclusively for the queer community,' he said.

'Auckland's drag scene is blooming.'