 "Photo: Danielli Augeri/Collegian")
Flashing disco lights and rapid dance tunes blared throughout the University of Massachusetts Student Union Ballroom Wednesday evening. The Drag Ball, hosted by the student-run organization Pride Alliance, donned the playful them "Drag Through the Decades."
The UMass Pride Alliance is a registered student organization that has been in operation for over 30 years, originating in 1970 as the Student Homophile League.
Pride Alliance serves the needs of the homosexual community of the Five College area including undergraduates and faculty as well as and non-students. Their primary function is to offer a supportive atmosphere for the gay community in addition to educating others about the homosexual lifestyle while refuting myths about gay life.
Students were decked out in their drag finest, men in wigs and gaudy prom-inspired eveningwear and women suited up with matching fedoras and suspenders.
The Drag Ball kicked off with an entertaining introduction from host Envy Chanel, winner of Miss New England International Plus 2008. The feisty bundle of joy donned an outfit nothing short of noticeable.
"I bought you disco ball arms, Asians on the body, and slippery black boots," she playfully cooed.
A performance from UMass's Dynamic Motion Dancers got the crowd going as they shimmied away to Timbaland's summer smash, "The Way I Are" and Outkast's "Idlewild Blue (Don't Chu Worry 'Bout Me.")
Chanel herself performed a dance number to Janet Jackson's recent hit, "Feedback." She graciously took bills in exchange for a smooch from her fellow bidders, sporting a barrel of confidence any woman would envy - no pun intended.
Lexie DeVille was certainly a show-stopping highlight of the night. Having performed at such nightclubs as "Diva's," it was evident that she had the self-assuredness, not to mention the goods to prove it.
DeVille pranced away to Danity Kane's debut single, "Damaged." The saucy vixen not only motorboat'd an audience member, but threw off her wig halfway through the number, generating a buck wild applause from the audience.
Pride Alliance's vice president and a New Hampshire-native, "Regina Chanel," stocked up on dollar bills from the audience during her renditions of "It's Raining Men" and "Last Dance."
The show was nothing short of humorous but it went far beyond that, serving as an outlet for students to unleash themselves free of judgments and repercussions. Pride Alliance: mission accomplished.
Heather Waxman can be reached at hwaxman@student.umass.edu.
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