Strictly come dancing are looking for a drag queen for next year

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www.thetimes.co.uk/article/strictly-wants-a-drag-queen-to-dance-in-2020-0bxhln6x7?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook#Echobox=1575139580

So we had a gay couple on the ice skating and now they're looking for a drag queen for strictly? Why do we not have lesbians represented or a drag King? Why is it always the male version that gets priority?

Italy same sex cha cha cha

Italy same sex charleston

That partnership was lovely.
The male sleb Giovanni was essentially a duffer - older, not that experienced - and the italian pro Raimondo did a fantastic job.
What was interesting is that they started off iirc with a lot of props between them, hoops, canes, scarves...all sorts, then as the series progressed and the audience presumably came round to it, they did more dancing properly in hold. The rumba was fab.

Let's Dance Germany Kerstin Ott (she sings Schlager music) only wanted to do it if she could have a female partner. I thought she was awesome but, like Giovanni, a duffer in terms of ability. I can't post from RTL as you need to be in Germany but this is off someone's telly.

Here she is singing Rainbow colours with Helene Fischer (for anyone curious as to what Schlager are)
Helene Fischer is huge in Germany
www.theguardian.com/music/shortcuts/2018/nov/21/helene-fischer-schlager-superstar-the-richest-singer-youve-never-heard-of

And to derail the thread entirely, here is Nena (yes that Nena from 99 red balloons) and our very own Kim Wilde duetting fauxbian-style.

Israel same sex quickstep (both women)

As my more learned friends on the threads would confirm, often women dance together in competitions so a female same-sex pairing would actually work fine. Susan Calman wanted Kevin but maybe a future sleb will break new ground. I hope so.

Oh and Dorit and Gili was nine years ago so the UK are definitely behind (albeit their first dance, aside from ripping off some SYTYCD choreo, was a bit male gaze-y).

If they are dancing the women's part that will involve lots of lifts and, to be crude, crotch flashing. Even if a drag queen could dance the Ashley part in her jive (and it is a particularly pantsy one) would we want to watch that on a Saturday tea time? Same with lifts - are they expecting the pro males to be able to throw a burly bloke around like this?

Do watch the Courtney Act video compilation I posted upthread. Josh executes lifts beautifully and the dancing itself might surprise you.
As for the teatime comment, come on, really...Gio spinning Debbeh by her crotch is okay, Ola and Kristina bringing out catsuit and dancing round slebs, Kelviteer and DannyMac getting their pecs out...but you're worried about a drag queen's bits...I would have thought they would be tucking in any case Whilst The Vivienne might struggle (a bit burly) someone like Cheryl Hole would easily be liftable and watchable without showing much.
But yes...reserve judgement and watch all the dances Courtney and Josh do before dismissing the idea entirely. I thought they were fab-u-lous personally.

I don't see any point in watching a drag artist do Strictly, it would detract from the point of the show which is not about pantomime dames.
Same sex couples would be fine, the dance Johannes and Graziano did was amazing but drag artists are a step in a completely different direction.

I have to say - though I may not be fair about this - Michelle reminded me of a drag act. I'd never seen her before Strictly and her dancing was great but there was something about her that made me think that. I'm sorry to have thought it but being truthful.

It'd be so awfully disappointing to have a drag act. I love strictly and I hate drag. For those who don't think drag is a problem... "Cheryl Hole" - really? How is that not offensive? We are going backwards as a society if we can't have two women dancing together but can have a man with a man dressed in women's clothing.

Looking at the male rumba, the move where the guy in the white suit drags his bigger partner backwards ends up looking like he's about to dispose of a corpse rather than an expression of ardent desire. I cringe at most rumbas and that's no different.

RageAgainstTheSnowMachine

You need to get out more

Given her name, her Drag Race background and her make up, I assumed that Michelle Visage was a drag artist for the first couple of weeks

I do indeed clitherow but we all have our thing, mine just happens to be a love of Strictly. I make no apology for it and have no fucks to give with regard to anyone deriding me for it. A thread was started, I gave examples of bi, gay and lesbian competitors, nowt wrong with that and no real need for you to make a personal comment when I am sure you have far more important things to be doing.

Swamping a thread like this is just utterly wanky. What do you think you're proving? That same sex dancing can be pretty? Who's said it can't?

I like Strictly! I've watched every single series! However, this is not a Strictly board; it's a feminist board.

If same sex couples mean men (and the toes Strictly has dipped so far with the pro dance and the ad for a drag act to compete) then I will point out the sexism on this, a feminist board.

Many feminists despise all forms of drag (although I am not among them) and their views on this are also relevant to a feminist board.

Endless videos of pretty dancing are nothing to do with feminism. You're being rude.

have no fucks to give with regard to anyone deriding me for it

Actually, I was just pulling your leg as we say in these parts.

I'm not against all forms of drag either Lang.

Les Dawson and Roy Barraclough as Cissie and Ada are my all time favourites because Les Dawson (not sure which one he is) IS my grandma. She was a force of nature that could eat industrial quantities of Jacob's Cream Crackers with nothing more than a well-worn pair of gums whilst sipping cooking sherry and screaming at the wrestling on the tele - Jackie Pallo, Giant Haystacks and Mick McManus are names etched on my grey matter.

When I first saw this sketch I thought I would die laughing.

I don't see the point of having a drag queen. I'd much rather have same-sex couples (one m/m and one f/f at the same time preferably, so numbers are maintained). I would actually prefer a week where they all swap and dance same sex tbh.

It wouldn't be so bad on Strictly, but m/m couples in everyday competitions are a bit of a pain in normal competitions. They're taller and stronger, so if you put them in the same-sex class there's a huge difference between them and the girl/girl couples. The nice ones dance in the open categories.

As an aside, I've danced girl/girl and androgeny was not how it was done! It was double the sparkles, matching hair and matching dresses all the way.

LangCleg Fri 06-Dec-19 12:26:10
Swamping a thread like this is just utterly wanky. What do you think you're proving? That same sex dancing can be pretty? Who's said it can't?
.......
I didn't get that it was about same sex dancing; drag artist dancing is a different ball game (no pun intended).

StCharlotte Thu 05-Dec-19 08:31:52
Given her name, her Drag Race background and her make up, I assumed that Michelle Visage was a drag artist for the first couple of weeks blush
......
I did google her and found out what she was about as hadn't heard of her. Not surprising she appeared like a drag artist I suppose. I don't see the point nor that it adds anything to Strictly. However most of her dancing on Strictly was excellent.

Oh please - the thread is only 3 pages long, it's hardly the derail of the century lang and I was being wanky as you so kindly put it as there was no compilation in full of the Italians' routines and posters clicking on the thread who are Strictly fans might have been interested in watching their favourite style. Or not.

I don't tend to try to prove anything. The OP asked why lesbians had not been represented yet.

I pointed out that In Germany they have. And in Israel. The UK are behind.

The idea that a woman has to make way for a man dressing up as a woman does not take into account the fact there are odd numbers on strictly anyway. This year there were 8 men and 7 women, last year there were 8 women and 7 men. Next series if they were to do it it is likely they would have 8 men, 7 women again but if the rumours are true then the 8th male presents as themselves in training but performs in drag on the Saturday.

Either the public will hate it and they will vote them out - by viewers that see no need for it or viewers that hate drag - or, and this is much more likely, they will be voted on whether they are entertaining or can actually dance. Shane (Courtney) could. Whether they should is fair debate as a feminist issue, some feminists have no issues with drag, others abhor it. The OP mentioned drag kings and lesbian representation in the OP: The drag king representation is more niche (eg Louis f.u.C.K) and where are the prominent out lesbians who are household names and actually want to do the show? I can only think of Saara Alto and she has done dancing on ice so that might go against her (as well as the GBP saying Who?)

www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/130189/singers-saara-aalto-and-mark-feehily-want-to-compete-on-strictly-come-dancing-with-same-sex-partners/

They struggle signing up anyone known irrespective of sexual preference because the money is crap, the training is hard and the media spotlight is invasive.

However most of her dancing on Strictly was excellent.

I thought so too!

That Shane/Courtney video is interesting. Yes, he can dance, but IMO the most beautiful dance was where he danced as a man. You expect a different physicality from a woman. Dancing in womanface as Courtney he kept losing that physicality. It was jarring. Dancing as Shane, even in the woman's role, his physicality was absolutely right. It was sensuous and beautiful.

I would far rather watch same-sex partners as same-sex partners.

I wonder if they are looking for a drag queen in order to placate the homophobes who complained about the Graziano and Johannes dance this year? Didn't the BBC receive hundreds of complaints about it?

Maybe for those simple minded people a drag queen dancing with a man won't set their homophobic alarm bells ringing.