Laganja Estranja guest hosted Drexel’s 6th annual drag show on May 12, drawing more than 1,000 students and ticketholders into the Main Building auditorium for a standing-room-only dance performance so good it was “sickening.”
Estranja is the stage name of Jay Jackson, a 28-year-old dancer, choreographer and activist who made his name in the world of drag in 2013 as a contestant on season six of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” show.
The show was organized by Alex Iannucci, director of the Student Center for Diversity and Inclusion of Student Life. Iannucci said the show included 30 Drexel students who participated as backup dancers, cosmeticians, ushers and in other roles. Performers of all experience levels were welcomed to take the stage with Estranja, and the day before, many mastered some moves with Estranja in her Dance School.
On “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” Estranja stood out for her personal dramatics and elastic dance moves (she has a BFA in dance and choreography from the California Institute of Fine Arts), and finished in eighth place. She has gone on to market her own line of merchandise, produce a hip-hop song and stage events and dance classes around the country and internationally.