Music filled the room as eight dancers sat on the floor and waited for the beat to drop. Once it did, they all flowed through the choreography–confidently and fiercely. On Sunday, Nov. 16, Emily Roche, drag name “Gabe Itch”, led a commercial heels dance class in Carson Hall, Room 302. The class was titled “Drag Your Heels”, and was “for the charismatic, unique, nervy, and talented”. Roche says her style focuses “on dynamic and passionate movement that enhances the dancer’s expression”, and the dancers communicated this concept beautifully.
The class started at 7 P.M. with a group stretch. After they stretched, the dancers practiced walks with their heels across the floor, and then learned a quick, eight-count strut routine. Then, it was time to start learning the choreography.
The dance was choreographed by Roche herself, who is a senior at MMC pursuing a double major in dance with a concentration in teaching and business. Roche wore drag makeup, a blonde wig and high heels to teach the class.
She has been experimenting with drag for about a year and a half. Her love for the art form stems from playing the card game “For the Girls” with her roommates.
When it was her turn, she pulled a card that dared her to let the other players give her a makeover.
“They were like…we should put you in drag,” Roche said.
The friends made an event out of the dare, selecting outfits for Roche to wear. She modeled the outfits while putting on a lip-sync performance for her friends to watch.
“It kind of started as a joke, but it was something that I really enjoyed. And I have a friend who has done drag, so he helped me a lot with the makeup. it blossomed from that,” Roche said.
Roche started dancing when she was three, and started competitive dance when she was eleven. Post-pandemic allowed her to realize that dance was what she wanted to pursue.
“It was something that had been in the back of my mind for a while, but it was always a thing…that could never happen,” Roche said. “And then it was after the pandemic that I really committed to it and I was like, I can do this.”
Outside of drag, Roche normally wears baggy clothing. According to Roche, when she becomes Gabe Itch, her “girly side” gets a chance to be expressed.
After the dance class, the students beamed, expressing their appreciation for the floor work choreography and Roche’s choice of using group practice.
Roche plans to hold another class on Wednesday, Dec. 17th, and has confirmed that she will hold more classes next semester. Make sure to keep Roche on your radar!
