The Art of Drag

The Art of Drag

By Daniel Benitez

SFYT is offering its first Drag performance workshops, The Art of Drag, centering around various aspects of the artform. These workshops will be hosted by Daniel Benitez (aka Richie Richport), an SFYT Artivist and Drag performer, and Per Sia, a local Drag artist and community leader. Together, they will teach students about the history of Drag and its importance to San Francisco (and the world) as well as practical skills for creating a Drag persona. They hope to create a safe space for students of all genders and backgrounds to explore the artform and learn about queer history. 

Both Richie and Per Sia believe in the importance of Drag as a means of artistic exploration and self expression. For both of them, Drag wasn’t only an outlet to channel all of their various talents, from makeup to performing to engaging with an audience, it also became a means by which they could explore gender. Through Drag, artists can simultaneously push their skills to the limit while also engaging in deep introspection and self-discovery. 

As Drag becomes more widespread in mainstream media, it’s important to continue to look back at the roots of the artform, particularly here in San Francisco, and preserve the memory of the queer artists who paved the way for those who came after. Through The Art of Drag, students will be able to learn about Drag’s rich history in San Francisco and around the world and gain hands-on experience with creating and performing a Drag persona.

SFYT is thrilled to join the list of great opportunities already available in the city, such as Queens of the Castro, that provide safe spaces for students of all backgrounds to engage in meaningful discussions around identity, art, and community.

The workshop will run from 1-4pm every other Saturday from March 12th until April 9th. Register and learn more!