Contemporary Drag Culture Thrives in Almaty

Drag Performances: Between Entertainment and Education

DragOn is organized and held within “Amirovka” a queer bar and safe space established by local activist Amir Shaikezhanov. For security reasons, the bar's address is not public and it remains a well-kept secret within the community.

“We noticed that in Kazakhstan drag performances were mostly about lip syncing. The drag scene used to be very big, very diverse. From Burlesque to experimental formats. So we were wondering where those shows have gone,” Shaikezhanov told Vlast.

Shaikezhanov emphasized that DragOn stands out compared to other drag-focused events because of the complexity of the theatrical performances in terms of acts, plots, and stories.

“It’s some kind of self-reflection, self-exploration. There are topics of different forms of violence, non-acceptance, coming-out,” the DragOn organizer said.

The winner of DragOn’s fourth edition, Maxim Shablonov, known as Maxxxine on stage, said the performance is a way of breaking boundaries.

“We take a particular problem and turn it into a comedic message that still has a bitterness to it. It’s a form of protest that allows people who have been limited in their rights to live and express something,” Shablonov told Vlast.

Drag performances translate a painful struggle into a festive experience, Shablonov argued.

“We all experience this pain. We suffer from injustice, queerphobia, disrespect and so on. So, to me it is about recycling all this into comedy and thereby achieving catharsis. Drag is just a unique language.”

Big Dreams

Since the first contest in early 2022, DragOn has evolved. For the fourth season in mid-2023 the contestants prepared through master classes on theatrical performances, choreography, and scenography.

“We dream that this event will grow region-wide or even internationally. And I really hope someday it will be on TV. Because this is beautiful art,” Shaikezhanov said.

Just like many other drag performers, Shablonov marks the experience of watching RuPaul’s Drag Race, a 2009 reality TV series from the US, as a turning point.

“At first, I thought this was ‘cringe’, just men dressing up as women. But after watching a dramatic performance about acceptance I just started to cry. This show widened my understanding of the drag scene and opened up a new world for me.”

Shablonov developed his Maxxxine character after moving from Kazan to St. Petersburg.

“Maxxxine is an actress who might be a bit ridiculous or somewhere overplayed. But that’s the thing with drag. We transform our imperfections into highlights of our character,” Shablonov said.

Alongside hundreds of thousands other Russian nationals, Shablonov crossed the border with Kazakhstan in recent months. The inflow of people on Russia's military draft lists into Kazakhstan was triggered by Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine first and the Kremlin’s call to arms in September 2022.

Shablonov ultimately relocated to Almaty and signed up for the fourth season after watching the finale of the third one. DragOn was Shablonov’s first competition.

Behind the Mask

Drag offers artists - especially members of the queer community - a possibility to express their identity in a protected environment and deal with pain and discrimination.

The DragOn performances attracted an enthusiastic audience, regardless of their gender or orientation.

Drag performers come from various backgrounds, hailing from different countries, and are all united within the premises of the show’s safe space.

Correction: The article originally published on December 11 was amended on December 15 at the request of one of the sources.

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