Drag Ball
Encyclopedia
Drag Ball St. Louis was created by Khrystal Leight, a zaftig Bette Midler
impersonator from St. Louis
, to entertain and raise awareness of the art form of female impersonation in local and regional college campuses throughout the Midwest. Drag Ball was first held in the fall of 1992 at Washington University in St. Louis in cooperation with the gay student organization, Spectrum. Drag Ball has been an annual tradition at Washington University and has been held at Webster University
in St. Louis, the University of Missouri
, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale
and Southeast Missouri State University
in Cape Girardeau, MO. Drag Ball includes drag queensdrag kings, and male impersonators who perform in the theatre of the university or college for the students.
Drag Ball is also an annual event at Oberlin College
.
Khrystal Leight continues to host Drag Balls throughout southern Missouri and has celebrated the 3rd Anniversary of the Southeast Missouri University (Cape Girardeau, MO) Drag Ball on April 27, 2006.
Khrystal Leight has moved to Southeast Missouri in July 2007 and is currently planning Drag Ball Competitions between colleges and universities as a fundraiser for AIDS Awareness. Teams of professional or unprofessional impersonators will battle it out to be the Queens of Fundraising.
Drag Ball is also an annual event in Burlington, VT.
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Drag Ball is also an annual event (Drag Ball Toronto) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada that take place just before Toronto's Pride Week, organized by promoter Larry Cannon stage name as Stephanie Stephens. While the events were greatly viewed as an important function for the drag queen / impersonation community as its feature not only just a drag ball party but also a talent competition, however the events are viewed as bias as it favours and only hiring and promoting non-Canadian performers thus ignoring local Canadian talents and markets. As a result of poor quality, continuous decline on in attendance on an annual basis marked with cost issue, Drag Ball 2008 was not well attended nor receive favorable supported by the community.
The promoter of DragBall, Larry Cannon, has publicly defended accusation made against him regarding bias promotions of his events by stating local talents are simply not in par with talents he hires from the USA.
Furthermore, speculations on how the promoter finances his event raised attention or the receive of lack of attentions or support within the gay community in Toronto. There is no indication on whether Drag Ball Toronto will return in 2009 as their website is non-reachable (www.dragballtoronto.com http://www.dragballtoronto.com) as it is suspended by the provider due to either a policy violation of the website or unpaid bills.
An event was held in June 2009, however, according to local blogger and media personality and other judges, it was a disaster.
Bette Midler
Bette Midler is an American singer, actress, and comedian, also known by her informal stage name, The Divine Miss M. She became famous as a cabaret and concert headliner, and went on to star in successful and acclaimed films such as The Rose, Ruthless People, Beaches, and For The Boys...
impersonator from St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, to entertain and raise awareness of the art form of female impersonation in local and regional college campuses throughout the Midwest. Drag Ball was first held in the fall of 1992 at Washington University in St. Louis in cooperation with the gay student organization, Spectrum. Drag Ball has been an annual tradition at Washington University and has been held at Webster University
Webster University
Webster University is an American non-profit private university with its main campus in Webster Groves, a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri. Webster University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools...
in St. Louis, the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public research university located in Carbondale, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1869, SIUC is the flagship campus of the Southern Illinois University system...
and Southeast Missouri State University
Southeast Missouri State University
Southeast Missouri State University, is a public, accredited university located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, United States, near the banks of the Mississippi River. The institution, having started as a normal school, has a traditional strength in teacher education...
in Cape Girardeau, MO. Drag Ball includes drag queensdrag kings, and male impersonators who perform in the theatre of the university or college for the students.
Drag Ball is also an annual event at Oberlin College
Oberlin College
Oberlin College is a private liberal arts college in Oberlin, Ohio, noteworthy for having been the first American institution of higher learning to regularly admit female and black students. Connected to the college is the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, the oldest continuously operating...
.
Khrystal Leight continues to host Drag Balls throughout southern Missouri and has celebrated the 3rd Anniversary of the Southeast Missouri University (Cape Girardeau, MO) Drag Ball on April 27, 2006.
Khrystal Leight has moved to Southeast Missouri in July 2007 and is currently planning Drag Ball Competitions between colleges and universities as a fundraiser for AIDS Awareness. Teams of professional or unprofessional impersonators will battle it out to be the Queens of Fundraising.
Drag Ball is also an annual event in Burlington, VT.
----
Drag Ball is also an annual event (Drag Ball Toronto) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada that take place just before Toronto's Pride Week, organized by promoter Larry Cannon stage name as Stephanie Stephens. While the events were greatly viewed as an important function for the drag queen / impersonation community as its feature not only just a drag ball party but also a talent competition, however the events are viewed as bias as it favours and only hiring and promoting non-Canadian performers thus ignoring local Canadian talents and markets. As a result of poor quality, continuous decline on in attendance on an annual basis marked with cost issue, Drag Ball 2008 was not well attended nor receive favorable supported by the community.
The promoter of DragBall, Larry Cannon, has publicly defended accusation made against him regarding bias promotions of his events by stating local talents are simply not in par with talents he hires from the USA.
Furthermore, speculations on how the promoter finances his event raised attention or the receive of lack of attentions or support within the gay community in Toronto. There is no indication on whether Drag Ball Toronto will return in 2009 as their website is non-reachable (www.dragballtoronto.com http://www.dragballtoronto.com) as it is suspended by the provider due to either a policy violation of the website or unpaid bills.
An event was held in June 2009, however, according to local blogger and media personality and other judges, it was a disaster.