{"id":73146,"date":"2024-10-16T08:56:08","date_gmt":"2024-10-16T15:56:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/?p=73146"},"modified":"2024-10-16T08:56:08","modified_gmt":"2024-10-16T15:56:08","slug":"club-spotlight-flaunt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/club-spotlight-flaunt\/","title":{"rendered":"Club Spotlight: FLAUNT-The Drag Closet"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What to know:<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Who can participate: <\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Anyone interested in drag performance or learning about drag movements<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Meeting days: <\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Every Thursday (Next meeting is Oct. 17 and covers a deep dive into drag history)<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Meeting time: <\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">7-9 p.m.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Meeting location: <\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">IMQ<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">About the club:<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">As NAU\u2019s one and only drag club, FLAUNT aims to bolster the next generation of drag artists with weekly hands-on workshops, show-stopping performance opportunities and indispensable explorations of queer history.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Q&amp;A<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">FLAUNT president <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Corbin Malinka<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, a senior studying art education, began his drag career by teaching himself the basics in his room. Now, he uses his experience wowing crowds and making statements as Gwendolin Cometh to help incoming drag queens thrive. Read on to learn more about FLAUNT\u2019s upcoming performances, Malinka\u2019s favorite FLAUNT memories and how drag plays a valuable role in community movements.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><a href=\"http:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wordpresst\/uploads\/sites\/153\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/IMG_0699.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-73150\" src=\"http:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wordpresst\/uploads\/sites\/153\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/IMG_0699.jpg\" alt=\"FLAUNT members pose in the IMQ.\" width=\"427\" height=\"570\" srcset=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2024\/10\/IMG_0699.jpg 1124w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2024\/10\/IMG_0699-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2024\/10\/IMG_0699-768x1024.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 427px) 100vw, 427px\" \/><\/a>What is FLAUNT\u2019s mission statement and overarching goal?<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Our goal is to create a safe space for queer people to learn drag and to feel safe expressing themselves. We also want to entertain people through our drag and to show other people that it doesn\u2019t matter who you are, where you come from or what you\u2019ve experienced. You, too, can do drag.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Even if you\u2019re not queer, it\u2019s a safe space to come and learn about drag and do drag if you so please. Sometimes, people have experiences where they think, \u201cI can\u2019t do this.\u201d Maybe people think drag is for cis men. Maybe people think if you\u2019re disabled, you can\u2019t perform.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">FLAUNT is here to prove that this is never true. We have disabled performers. We have cisgender women performers. We have transgender performers. We have performers of every background and every experience who come to FLAUNT and do well.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I\u2019ve had people come up to me and say, \u201cI have never seen drag before, but I love it now, and I will come back.\u201d When people see drag, that beauty, that glamour, they think, \u201cI can do that, too,\u201d or even, \u201cIf they can do that, I can do this other thing that I was scared of doing.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A big part of drag is being a community leader, so getting to see your community leaders be bold and be brave is important anywhere. It doesn\u2019t matter if you\u2019re in a big city or a smaller town like Flagstaff. Getting to see people be their bold, beautiful selves inspires others to be their bold, beautiful selves.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What activities does FLAUNT do throughout the year?\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">We have weekly meetings where we mainly prioritize workshops. We\u2019ve done wig workshops where we teach people how to style big drag hair because, usually, you see drag queens with big, extravagant hair or ponytails. We\u2019ve done sewing workshops, drag makeup workshops and performance workshops.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">We also teach about history. In a few weeks, we\u2019ll be going over the broad horizons of queer history like ballroom, the AIDS epidemic and, specifically, Flagstaff drag history. We essentially want to encompass what makes drag important today, what made it important back then and why drag is transcendent.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">We also have performances, which we hold auditions for. This year, we did a one-day audition, and next year, we\u2019re going to do two days. We\u2019ll have a live portion of the audition where you\u2019ll get up in front of your peers and explain what you\u2019re going to do while music is playing, or you can physically dance it out. That shows us your experience level and what we can help you work on.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">There is also an interview portion of the audition where you tell us why you\u2019re passionate about a certain show theme, why you want to perform and what would make you a good fit for the role. You can also show us pictures of you in drag in the past. That\u2019s essentially what auditions are, and we release audition details in advance.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Tell me a bit about this year\u2019s Orpheum Theater performance!<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I\u2019m so excited to talk about Orpheum. It\u2019s Oct. 25, opening the Hallow-weekend. Doors will open at 8 p.m., and shows are at 9 p.m. It\u2019s kind of our FLAUNT tradition where we always have an October show and we always have an April show.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Orpheum is our big moneymaker. It fundraises our club so we can provide things like wigs for wig workshops or if people need makeup and they can\u2019t afford it, we can offer them that extra little bit of help from the club. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">It\u2019s also just going to be super fun. There\u2019s going to be costume contests and lots of fun games. Our theme is \u201cHaunted Hollywood,\u201d so it encompasses horror icons and that old Hollywood glamour. I\u2019m kind of infusing both themes and going to be Elvira for the night.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">It\u2019s a really important show, especially because I feel like it gives a lot of people their moment in the spotlight and makes them really feel like their voice matters. They really get to shine in front of that big audience who is there specifically for them.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><a href=\"http:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wordpresst\/uploads\/sites\/153\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/IMG_1733.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-73153 alignright\" src=\"http:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wordpresst\/uploads\/sites\/153\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/IMG_1733.jpg\" alt=\"FLAUNT member Poly Jester performs in the IMQ.\" width=\"311\" height=\"414\" srcset=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2024\/10\/IMG_1733.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2024\/10\/IMG_1733-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2024\/10\/IMG_1733-769x1024.jpg 769w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2024\/10\/IMG_1733-768x1022.jpg 768w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2024\/10\/IMG_1733-1154x1536.jpg 1154w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 311px) 100vw, 311px\" \/><\/a>What other shows are coming up this semester that FLAUNT is looking forward to?<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">We have our newcomer show coming up on Nov. 16 to showcase the people in our club who started drag coming into the club this year. We\u2019re really saying, \u201cLook what our club can do.\u201d People can come in not knowing anything and then, after coming to the workshops and learning about it, they get to become successful drag artists.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">We\u2019re also teaming up with SUN Entertainment for the RainBoo! Halloween dance party on Nov. 1, which I\u2019m really excited about.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Why, in your opinion, is it crucial that those getting involved with FLAUNT learn about queer history and those who came before them?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">First and foremost, it\u2019s so you can be grateful. I think it shows a lot about you as a person if you know your history because you\u2019re not taking for granted everything you get to do as a queer person because of people who fought before you. There were people dying in drag before you, and now you have the opportunity to live in drag because of them.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">It\u2019s also respectful. It\u2019s important that you have that knowledge so you can have conversations with people about why your existence is important and who died for you to live.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">You also aren\u2019t going to be a successful drag artist unless you know about your history. You can 100% tell the difference between a drag artist who is studied and a drag artist who isn\u2019t in their performance, in the way they hold themselves, in the way they talk, in the way they communicate. An uneducated drag artist is never going to be as good or as successful in what they do as an educated drag artist. We want to set people up for success, and that\u2019s why learning your history is so important. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">How and why did you get involved with FLAUNT?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">This is my second year involved with FLAUNT, but technically I\u2019ve been working with them since I was president of Art Club, previously. I worked with them maybe a year and a half ago, so I have known of FLAUNT\u2019s existence and have been doing things with them for two years now.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I decided to officially get involved because I fell in love with drag over the summer. There\u2019s this thing known as a \u201cbedroom queen\u201d where you sit at home by yourself and teach yourself drag, and I was craving that community. FLAUNT was absolutely that natural community, and I had developed a friendship with the previous president, Jayde Justyce. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Through our friendship and our shared passion for drag, I decided that this was the club for me, and I was very excited about it.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><a href=\"http:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wordpresst\/uploads\/sites\/153\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/IMG_1734.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-73154\" src=\"http:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wordpresst\/uploads\/sites\/153\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/IMG_1734.jpg\" alt=\"FLAUNT members pose with a club sign on the South Campus Recreation Complex.\" width=\"422\" height=\"443\" srcset=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2024\/10\/IMG_1734.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2024\/10\/IMG_1734-286x300.jpg 286w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2024\/10\/IMG_1734-976x1024.jpg 976w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2024\/10\/IMG_1734-768x806.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 422px) 100vw, 422px\" \/><\/a>Are there any widespread misconceptions about drag culture that you\u2019re hoping to address through FLAUNT?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Absolutely. I think we can get a reputation sometimes for being extremists or crazy, over-the-top, unapproachable, scary drag artists. But we\u2019re not. We\u2019re just people. At night, I vacuum floors and clean toilets for a living, and sometimes, during the day, I get to dress up as a pretty woman.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">That\u2019s really the long and short of it. Yes, I fight for things. I\u2019m always going to fight for things. What a lot of people don\u2019t understand about drag is that it is a protest. Every time you get in drag, you are protesting. Being a part of that fight, being a part of that protest, is important to me as a drag artist.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I will use my voice and speak up when things are wrong. Does that make me an extremist? No. It makes me someone who is willing to put their foot down when necessary.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Do you have a favorite FLAUNT memory?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I have a lot of good memories with FLAUNT. I think, right now, my favorite memory of FLAUNT is right after our \u201cBack to School\u201d show. I was looking around me at these queer artists who just put something together, and they were nervous and stressed because it was our first time with a new board in a new environment.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I remember looking around me, and everyone was smiling. Everyone felt good about what they did. We made a toast, and everyone just said, \u201cThank you.\u201d The gratefulness at that moment, just seeing these happy queer people who got to put on a show and share their voices, was probably my favorite memory.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What advice do you have for someone looking to join FLAUNT?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Just show up. You never know until you show up. We have people come and go and, as much as I want people to stay, sometimes it\u2019s just not for you. But you never know it\u2019s for you unless you show up and you do it.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">If you have that urge, that little thing inside of you that says, \u201cI really want to try drag, but I don\u2019t know. I\u2019m broke,\u201d that\u2019s why we\u2019re here. We\u2019re here to support you, to uplift you and to make it so you feel like a star. That\u2019s the goal of our club is to make every queer person who wants to feel that \u201cI did it\u201d moment feel it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">We have the materials. Come and try.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Find out more about FLAUNT\u2019s upcoming performances and events by following @flauntatnau on Instagram.<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><a class=\"search-results-excerpt-link\" href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/club-spotlight-flaunt\/\">What to know:\u00a0 Who can participate: Anyone interested in drag performance or learning about drag movements\u00a0 Meeting days: Every Thursday (Next meeting is Oct. 17 and covers a deep dive into drag history)\u00a0 Meeting time: 7-9 p.m.\u00a0 Meeting location: IMQ\u00a0 About the club:\u00a0 As NAU\u2019s one and only drag club, FLAUNT aims to bolster the&hellip;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":96,"featured_media":73148,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1825],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-73146","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-club-spotlight"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73146","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/96"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=73146"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73146\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/73148"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=73146"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=73146"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=73146"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}