City of Toronto: Drag Masterclass

The Drag Masterclass is officially back!

Join us for a FREE and FIERCE 3hr – 10-week in-person workshop sessions hosted and instructed by Toronto’s very own super STAR, a well-rounded Queen serving live vocals, musical theatre, acting, comedy and choreography!

The program is geared for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth from 13 – 24 years and will detail the fundamentals of Drag, which includes artistic development, stage performance & entrepreneurship (entertainment business, social media, marketing, and how to become a brand ambassador), make-up, and sewing! The Masterclass also will include a professional photoshoot to help enhance their professional portfolio.

Each week, participants will build on these skills and work towards performing at the official Drag Masterclass Showcase (November 28, 2024) at the end of the session, in front of a live audience!

Guest instructors will include Toronto's viral sensation Miss Fiercalicious – from Canada’s Drag Race: Canada vs. the World and a finalist on Drag Race Season 3, Suki Doll - Drag Queen & Designer, also known as Miss Congeniality from Canada's Drag Race season 2, and Hollywood Jade - resident choreographer on Canada's Drag Race.

There are only 10 spots available to ensure everyone gets the hands-on support that they need! This is the time to invest in YOUR drag, elevate your skill sets and make meaningful networking connections!

Additional Incentives:

- New participants will receive a FREE make-up swag bag valued at $150, with additional incentives and prizes to be won.

- The winner of the Drag Masterclass showcase will be given the opportunity of booking a professional gig. Past winners of the Drag Masterclass Showcase have been provided the opportunity to perform at Pride Toronto's Drag Ball, and Green Space Festival's Stary Night.

Submission Details:

As there are only 10 spots there will be a screening process, and 10 participants will be invited to join the class. You don’t want to miss out on this opportunity. Please include the following in your submission:

- All applicants must be from the ages of 13 – 24 years old to be considered.

- Full contact information including your Instagram handle to your Drag page. Your Instagram profile must be public so that we can view your page.

- All applicants must submit a 1- minute performance video link using www.WeTransfer.com or a video from your social media in the application form or by emailing [email protected] before the application deadline. Videos can either be new or pre-existing videos. Please ensure that the video is good quality, has good lighting, and shows off your performance skills well!

- Finally, all applicants must be available every Tuesday starting October 1st 2024 - December 2nd 2024 for the entire class & November 28th 2024 for the showcase.
Note: We accept all levels of Drag, the instructors will be providing artist development support based on your level of Drag. This is an excellent opportunity to network with these instructors and be seen! Also, participants that took part in the Youth Week Drag Masterclass 2024 are welcome to submit as this is in-person and the full course.

Applications OPEN NOW

Application Deadline: September 27th, 2024

Application Follow-up: Participants will start getting confirmations of enrollment between September 26th to October 1st . Applicants will be notified with further information including instructions, suggested base make-up products, etc.

Please note: As a participant of the Drag Masterclass, you are agreeing to volunteer a minimum of 5-10 hours to supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ Initiatives within the City of Toronto (Kiki Ballroom Program, Drag Masterclass Program, Youth Week, Pride Month) in the 2025 calendar year. The goal is to help participants build their capacity, gain valuable experience to add to a resume, and get exposure to unique employment opportunities.

Drag Masterclass Details:

Location: Wellesley Community Centre (495 Sherborne Street)

Class Time: 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm

Class Dates:

• Tuesday, October 1st, 2024
• Tuesday, October 8th, 2024
• Tuesday, October 15th, 2024
• Tuesday, October 22nd , 2024
• Tuesday, October 29th, 2024
• Photoshoot: Monday, November 4th, 2024
• Tuesday, November 12th, 2024
• Tuesday, November 19th, 2024
• Tuesday, November 26th, 2024
• Showcase: Thursday, November 28th, 2024
• Program Wrap-Up: Tuesday, December 3rd, 2024

Notes:

• Participants will have additional space to practice for the showcase in the dance studio on Mondays starting October 7th to November 25th from 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm. This additional practice time will be beneficial for participants to practice their solos and group numbers for the showcase.
• Participants will have from 9:30 pm - 10:00 pm to de-drag before leaving the community centre for the night.

Building Skills Through Recreation Employment Readiness Workshop/ First Aid Certification

Masterclass participants are guaranteed a spot in the Building Skills Through Recreation (BSTR) and Standard First Aid Training.

BSTR is an employment readiness workshop that provides youth ages 15-24 across the city of Toronto with various transferable skills and knowledge. BSTR supports youth with resume writing, job application processes, interviewing and opportunities to obtain various certifications such as: Standard First Aid, with the goal of securing employment in Parks, Forestry and Recreation.

Please note: Participants must attend all scheduled days to receive BSTR and Standard First Aid certification

BSTR Dates:

Time: To be announced

Location: Wellesley Community Centre (495 Sherbourne Street)
Instructor Biography:
Star – Lead Instructor

Introducing: STAR (@TheeQueenStar), AKA the shining, shimmering, splendid dancing diva of Toronto & princess of pop! STAR is a multi-talented, well- rounded Queen who has been serving live vocals, musical theatre, acting, comedy and choreography since the age of 4. STAR made her drag debut in 2019, won the Mclaughlin College Drag Race and Crews & Tangos Star Search all in the same year, and has since gone on to perform for Pride Toronto and compete in the Absolut Empire’s Ball Season Five. The future is bright for this super-STAR.

Hollywood Jade- Guest Instructor

Hollywood Jade (@HollywoodJade), Resident choreographer and guest judge on Canada's Drag Race, is a visionary with a passion for excellence who continues to find new and exciting ways to present his timeless creativity to the masses.

Hollywood Jade dancer/choreographer turned artistic director has showcased his multidimensional artistic creations on both the big and small screens, local and international stages, and has worked with some of the world’s greatest organizations, artists and talents.

Hollywood has been involved in the choreography for TV performances, tours, music videos and award shows for some of the globe’s biggest names, including Keshia Chanté, Snoop Dogg, Estelle, Bebe Rexha, and Meghan Trainor.

Hollywood will support Drag Masterclass class participants with the fundamentals of performing on stage and nailing choreography in preparation for the Annual Showcase!

Miss Fiercalicious - Guest Instructor

Miss Fiercalicious (@MissFiercalicious) is a booked and busy viral sensation, who has solidified themselves as more than just a regular Queen, but a BRAND.

Miss Fiercalicious hustled their way to the top of the Toronto Drag Scene and landed a feature in the 2021 Tik Tok Canada- National social media campaign, Cosmopolitan’s Cosmo Queens series and made it to the top 5 in Drag Race Canada season 3!

Miss Fiercalicious has partnered with brands such as Ardell Beauty, McDonald's and has also made numerous cameos in commercials, movies, tv shows, short films & music videos!

Their extensive experience as an artist, performer, social media entrepreneur and pro networker will make Miss Fiercelicious a great asset to the Drag Masterclass guest instructor panel!

Suki Doll - Guest Instructor

Suki Doll (@_TheSukiDoll) "The Loved One", is a world renowned Drag Artist, fashionista, and sought- after Designer, voted Miss Congeniality on the 2nd season of Canada's Drag Race.

Suki doll is the talent behind some of the most famous looks curated for viral Queens, such as: Miss Fiercalicious, & Brooklyn Heights.

With over 8 years of industry experience, Suki Doll has mastered the art of being a well- rounded, well-dressed Queen with a passion for fashion and all things drag related!

Suki Doll will be sharing their expertise during a clothing design and sewing workshop this session of the Drag Masterclass!

Drag Masterclass History:

The Drag Masterclass was created in 2019 to provide free, assessable, professional training to at-risk 2SLGBTIA+ youth located in the GTA.

The masterclass was led by its head instructor Sofonda who is a Canadian icon who has been in the industry for 20+ years. She is one of Toronto's most bookable Drag Queens and has performed in the US, Brazil, Malaysia, and all over Mexico. She has also gained the attention of RuPaul himself.

Guest instructors include Priyanka who is the winner of Canada's Drag Race Canada and agreed to teach the class right after the filming wrapped for Season one.

Other guest mentors include Kiara, Miss Fiercalicious who are contestants of Canada's Drag Race and resident choreographer Hollywood Jade.

The Masterclass's success is due to it being a safe and welcoming space to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community where they saw familiar faces of people who hold merit in the entertainment industry and the 2SLGBTIA+ community.

Moreover, participants had access to professional training, a welcoming space, other youth with common interests with whom they were able to make meaningful connections with, food, TTC tokens, and tangible resources like a professional photoshoot and make-up that they could use to further develop their craft and entrepreneurship.

The Drag Masterclass has been sponsored by M.A.C Cosmetics, NYX Cosmetics, Jean-Luc Cosmetics, Black CAP, Woody's on Church, The Well and supported by Pride Toronto.

The masterclass is revolutionary as it has proven to break down barriers to participation in recreation programs.

It is the first recreational Drag Masterclass program of its kind in North America.

Drag Masterclass Alumni Success Story:

Sanjina (@sanjinadabishqueen) was a participant in the Drag Masterclass in 2019. She was the winner of the Drag Masterclass Showcase of that same year. Sanjina was a contestant on OUTtv’s new Drag competition Call Me Mother which aired in 2021. The Drag Masterclass helped Sanjina make valuable connections with industry leaders and mentors such as Priyanka, Hollywood Jade and Sofonda. Which helped her gain recognition and job opportunities in the Drag Industry.

For more information contact: [email protected]

Host or Publisher Sheldon Dixon