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Creative ID: 279

Art form(s): Literature, Multi-disciplinary, Theatre
Language(s): English
Based in: Taranaki
Where I'm available:
Taranaki
Taranaki mostly but we can travel everywhere with enough resources and notice to do so.
When I'm available: We mostly do Mondays but we take each booking as they come and work in getting the time off our work. We would also look at doing future tours just to go to schools or begin a full programme in Taranaki to mentor students to have the end result being a show. We basically would tailor the wants and needs in each case.

My arts or creative practice (including details about my specific focus within that art form/practice and my strengths)

Two over-the-top drag queens reading books about anti-bullying, diversity, acceptance and embracing your uniqueness song with fun games and dances. We tailor our sessions from toddlers to adults with different formats with the teens and adults sessions dealing with LGBT+ issues and support and more of a Living Library focus where the audience can ask very frank questions about LGBT+, Trans issues, bring an ally, drag performance and we help direct them to local and national support. We have been doing this in libraries for several years but having more schools interested. We are about to do a full New Zealand tour in August to coincide with Out On The Shelves library campaign and Pride Schools

My track record of experience and success - or the track record of experience and success of the creative or artist that I will partner with

We started in Taranaki and were soon booked to all over the North Island with very successful sessions in Tauranga, Hamilton, and Whanganui. Parents and children alike have loved our sessions and the way we represent the rainbow community and expose the children to drag without being too full-on. We usually have a topic to focus on such as bullying, cultural diversity, and accepting people who are different. We have a great following in our social media and so humbled that our New Zealand tour has been so well-received. We have even been hired by district councils as a public kids event in front of 2,000 children just before doing an early kids countdown for New Year. We tend to do 1-2 blocks of sessions every year, this August tour will be largest block of 14 days of sessions with little break.

Describe the experience you have had working with children or young people, teaching or facilitating creative processes

I have been a dance teacher for youth for over 22 years. My business/drag partner under 25 but together we hold youth events, particularly for the rainbow community and have been doing mentorship programmes in events managing, technical and show organisation as well as drag and performing. We started up Pride Taranaki with a focus for doing more for the youth in the province. We provide many opportunities for youth to be involved in the arts, theatre, and performance sectors and teach them the skills and confidence to the be able to put on their own events together for their community.

Why I want to be part of the Creatives in Schools programme and how my involvement will link to my creative practice

Several reasons. To empower youth to be great in all aspects of live art. Whether on stage, running sound or lights, graphic design, marketing or anything. There is no exposure to this side of the arts and we want to ensure full safety of our LGBT+ community so while we teach these skills and have loads of fun there will always be underlying message of acceptance, inclusion, diversity, self-confidence in everything we do. The kids are wowed by our appearance and delivery at the time but we have had parents message us the next day saying their child started up an entire conversation from the message they took from the session and that they were so proud to be able to carry on the conversation.

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