as a choreographer RuPaul’s Endurance Race, Miguel Zarate’s goal is to make all the queens stand out and follow in her footsteps. “I always tell girls, ‘If you look like garbage, I’ll look even worse,'” he says. “It’s my duty to make them great.”
Iconic drag performer and standout Rupaul is looking for “America’s Next Drag Superstar” in the VH1 reality competition. Contestants compete in a variety of challenges that test their performance skills, with choreography often being one of the most difficult skills to master. It’s not just about mastering the skills, as each queen has to make sure they don’t build on the background of the performance.
For the dance numbers, Zárate gets a script before each queen has a role, so she has to lay the groundwork for the choreography before they take the stage. As they begin to study the basic movements, Zarathustra can slightly adjust the individual performance so that each queen stands out.
Deadline: Have many Queens had previous choreographed dance experiences this season?
Michael Zarathustra: Specifically, I think if you’re a drag queen, you have a sense of body and movement, but there have been times when girls just can’t dance at all. Which is a little alarming just because I think they have to dance naturally. They look like drag queens, but you will understand that not all of them have rhythm, and just because you have rhythm doesn’t mean you can choose a choreography. They look like two different units.
Then you have to lip sync and they are so focused on the poems that the last thing they think about is a certain move. This is really a challenge, but I don’t know if I could have done what I did in season 14 with the actors in season 13. Choreographically, these girls were definitely on a higher level.
Deadline: What’s your process for an episode like “Moulin Ru: The Rusical”?
Zarathustra: That was one of my favorites. You have to understand that they are just giving me a script by breaking the characters, yet I don’t even know who has the roles. At the time, I didn’t even know Willow was going to be a green fairy. As if she were a green fairy, four girls, the role of Lady Camden and the role of Bosco. I remember reading the green fairy’s clue and noticing the skepticism and humor in it all. So I found it as aerobic moves that could get faster and faster, and I just had to keep them rough and light, you know? But it’s not straightforward either. It all comes out to me when I read the script, listen to the music that comes at the last minute, so I don’t have time to get creative and enjoy the process. But I remember when I saw it all together, it was a very profound moment for me. Willow hit the nail in the head and then the dancers hit the nail in the head and it was a fantastic moment. Willow’s gift really is their humor and how they bring a comic, nonsensical relief to their attraction. Willow is one of my all time favorites and this role was particularly amazing.
Deadline: How does each queen stand out in numbers in this group?
Zarathustra: First of all, I try to modify the movement and correct the playing field with the good solid movement they can get. As soon as this happens, I urge you to put your charm on it. How will Willow do it? I know the step is down, but you wanna look down? Did you give me more hips? Are you really monotonous? As soon as you start to incorporate your personality as a drag choreographer, you really start to stand out.
Source: Deadline
