Liberdrag: a space for art and struggle that embraces diversity

Eight stories intertwine into a nearly two-hour show. It wasn’t just that night, it was everything that made them stand in front of the stage. Families, friends, audiences, and the endless web of interconnections emerge from that life summed up in this final chapter, when the lights come on and they appear on the stage.

If every person is a universe, then clouds are a universe. At least that’s how time finds out in an interview with Isabel (Carlos Zalazar Guzmán), Zalome (Gonzalo Brusco), Amethyst (Tobias Vidal) and Vermelix (Ali Bonello); Four of the eight artists who participated in the closing of Liberdrag at the end of the year, the first drag club in Corrientes that made history by establishing itself as a thriving proposition that managed to fulfill a dream: to be acclaimed for doing what one loves most.

Throughout the year this group presented eight sold-out releases. From a simple play to a play full of glamor, glamor, a little bit of music and talent on stage. It is a show that contributes to enjoyment and reflection, because the draw is not only about singing and dancing, but also installing the message of love and acceptance. Building a space in which one can know oneself, rediscover oneself and, above all, love oneself as one is, in all its complexities.

Pride as a flag

Isabel, also known as Arte Estoy (the stage name of Carlos Zalazar Guzmán), settled into a seat in Mariño’s bookstore and described the pride she felt at what she had achieved with Liberdrag. : “For a show in Corrientes it is very difficult to fill a room, but we filled it and filled it. This response from the people was very flattering. We were declared three times of cultural interest, once by the municipality, again by the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate for us. It represents a batch Small, gift and interest in what we do. It is also recognized in Corrientes as a new space that did not exist at the beginning of the year, but that is now strong. Above all, the greatest recognition is the recognition of the people,” he said.

Liberdrag’s premiere took place in April of this year, at Lo de Mari (located at Calle Belgrano 224). The call was so great that the next edition, which took place in June, was held at Espacio Mariño. From then on, they only grew, filling the room, betting on excellence and leaving the ever-renewing audience wanting more. “I never imagined what would happen, I dreamed of this moment. I remember that before the premiere I was very afraid that people would not applaud or not like the show. Then it disappeared, because what the show causes them to do is an incredible chanting of names. They clapped and rejoiced. The truth exceeded my expectations and was fulfilled.” This dream.

Zalomé asserted that “People always say it’s crazy to see us. It’s a fun show, viewers pay to see us, because they also appreciate that it’s art. We’re all excited about it and we feel it gives us more.”

As for Amethyst, for her part, she saw from the very beginning the potential that Liberdrag might have: “In the first presentation we completed the capacity and there I already knew that this would continue to grow, that it would become a phenomenon in Corinthians because it is something that is not found anywhere. We are very used to it.” On seeing drags in nightclubs, at parties, but we never perform, especially what we each love, our own styles. The audience is renewed in each edition and this makes me know that we have left a mark in Corrientes and now, until we reach the Vera Theater, we do not stop. ” Fermelx’s vision, on the other hand, has been subject to a painful reality for years: “In Corrientes, there are many drag queens who have been doing this for a long time and the art has never been respected as we are respected here, because this is a space built from us and a space built from love. Our goal is also that Being able to make ourselves respectable when they take us to a bowling alley, or when they invite us to a bar, we can go out in drag without having to take a cue from fear. The clouds will be an incredible thing that the whole world will consume, and we will be able to say we’ve been there, giving the first step.”

House of “dragons”

Liberdrag was a milestone in Corrientes, but also and perhaps more importantly, it drew a web of confidence into the troubadours that make up this group and breathed hope to all those who had not yet dared to take the leap of faith. It is the scaffolding of love that sustains this space created for enjoyment and exploration, a safe place where every soul of this team has blossomed.

Vermelix described this magic with his eyes fixed on the table in front of him. In an almost imperceptible voice and with a kind of oppression in his chest, he said: “Lee Libre Drag saved my life.” Then the ex-talk made sense: “During a pandemic, I was so upset that I decided to quit art. But drag allowed me to connect with that sweet feeling of being on stage. A performance can last ten minutes, but you feel like they go by in 30 seconds. And when you come down, Shivering in your hands, that emptiness in your stomach that sucks you in, it’s an addictive thing.”

“When I first went on stage, many years ago, I said in my first play ‘I want to have that feeling every day of my life,’ and drag allows me to do that. And not only that, it allows me to put in what is exclusive and what is inside. “.

He also explained that drag is an expression that comes from within oneself, “They’re things we’ve kept in storage for many years. Before that we weren’t allowed to wear women’s clothing, because in the heterosexual world, that’s a good thing for you. To make fun of women, that’s what we do instead.” Part of it is an exploration of our femininity because we know it exists and it is something we have always been denied.”

Perhaps that is why Liberdrag was created as a safe space, thinking of historically neglected minorities who felt their place was not in this corner of the world. This club showed him the opposite of that and this is explained in the words of Vermilks: “It gives me confidence, I feel like I’m discovering myself. I see myself on stage and I love it, and that’s something I’ve never felt in my life before… Living in a fantasy later gives me the strength to go out.” Hence the saying that I can go on, at least for a while longer.

Each traction is a refuge, a kind of shell that allows these beautiful human beings to exist and survive in a world that sometimes turns hostile and cruel. “She’s everything I’ve ever wanted to show and can do. With amethyst I can let go of aesthetics and all my potential,” Tobias explains when pointing to his dragoon, Amethyst.

“I get to show and explore my feminine side as well, because that’s so important. I’m a non-binary person, I go in between genders and I really love being able to have these two different experiences, being an Amethyst or being a Tobias. She’s become my muse and she’s everything.” For me “.

Isabelle evokes a similar feeling, her dawn being the result of all she’s struggled to be her real self. “Isabel comes into my life with the intent of wanting to explore, wanting to discover and do something that hadn’t encouraged me before. She always said that when I finally went to drag she would call me after my mom. My first Laleli in my life, her middle name was Isabel, my maternal grandmother was also called. I’m a third generation Isabelle, but drag.”

Currently, it is her mother who accompanies her in everything related to the development of Isabelle and Liberrag. “She makes my outfits with her little machine, tells me what clothes she’s going to wear now. She even helps me with the scene until the last minute. Everything is a tribute to her.”

Zalomé is the youngest of the group, but her drag was also a revelation of what she could be and wanted to be: “I’ve been discovering myself in so many aspects. I’ve always had something like that stored there, internally I thought one day I would until it happened.” And now you have me here learning make-up in less than a year, refining myself more and more and reinventing myself in performances.”

“I can really be myself, exploring a new facet that I didn’t know about Zalo. I really appreciate discovering myself in another way, and there’s nothing better than doing it with the mutual accompaniment between us. I think that’s what I hold most, love.”

For her, her relationship with the girls is a sisterly one, as Vermelix puts it: “Liber Drag gave me my sisters, today we have a beautiful relationship and we always shake hands with each other. I think this is the most beautiful thing, being able to share is incredible.”

For Amethyst is Home: “We are a family, we make up a very dynamic group, there is a lot of camaraderie and we help each other out. It’s incredible because not only do we have the audience’s support when it comes to going on stage, but behind the scenes as well, we live in between Provide positive feedback so the show is going well for us.”

“It’s great being able to share something you love to do personally with other people and finding them was exploring that too. So Liberdrag has become my home.”

In part, this was also Isabel’s dream, and he’s a key part of this story because he’s the one who promoted and implemented this space. Since they were in charge of all the details, together with their “dragons” they created not only a high-quality show, but also an open community for those who want and need to explore who they are. “The world of clouds is beautiful, it has no rules and it can be done in many ways. The doors will always be open,” he said.

In this sense, Fermelx also urged them to be encouraged if they intend to do pulling: “It’s not bad to ask for help, it was hard for me, but pulling is part of the community and that community feeling also helps to grow”.

Liberdrag for posterity

They all noticed that their dream is for this space to continue to grow. And they’ve done a great job of settling into the agenda with an event that generates anticipation in each release. Experience, as they say, is a one-way trip.

The audience gleefully shouts out the name of each of the performers. Each draw has a very distinct style, and they never cease to amaze with the level of their presentations. As Isabelle stated: “We set ourselves a very high bar and in each version we improved it.”

Something special about them is that each one reviews the audiovisual record they make for each show. They are looking for what distinguishes them, what they like, what they can master. While some claim the gift they were born with to shine, others discover that their body is a home in which they want to live.

It is not easy for any of them, but each person who calls out his name ignites the spark to set him free, increasing the fire that encourages him to continue. We will never realize the effect of words on a person, which is why the union between them becomes vital.

While we are all waiting outside, they are creating an atmosphere of friendship, chaperoning each other, hugging each other, and cheering each other on. It is a family that invites you to believe, ardently and reflect on a world of respect and love. Accepting who we are without fear of what they will say.

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light flowers

antique writing