Speakeasy Carrboro holds sentimental drag show 'Twerksgiving'

On Saturday night, Speakeasy Carrboro hosted a captivating drag performance dubbed Twerksgiving, speaking to the hearts of the LGBTQ+ community.

The bar is nestled at the corner of South Greensboro Street and East Main Street in downtown Carrboro and hangs a LBGTQ+ flag outside their grand wooden doors framed by two large multi-paned windows. Inside, the bar is split into two rooms, the first with a stage on the right. A little further in, the second room features pool tables and a bar. 

The performance was in the dimly lit first room that was already bustling as young and old alike bantered and laughed with drinks in hand. One group was celebrating a birthday, dancing under the globe-sized disco ball that hung from the ceiling, reflecting purple light on all the surfaces. 

Around 10:45 p.m., a tall drag queen named AmanDuh with a honey-blonde bob wig introduced herself as the master of ceremonies. She raised the crowd's already buzzing energy higher as they cheered for the performance in anticipation. 

“As a host and emcee my job is to bring the energy because if I don't bring the energy, then the show kind of falls apart,” AmanDuh said after the show. 

At 11:00 p.m., the audience watched a lively performance from Ivy St. James in a white blond wig as dollar bills waved in the air. AmanDuh presented the next performer, Alex Thee Rabbit, as the music changed to Rihanna. The crowd circled around her, some shouting in excitement as she twerked in affirmation of the name of the show. Then AmanDuh performed as patrons jumped up and down.

Russell Davis is the owner behind a recently formed event coordinator group called Lavender Social Collective. He has taken over organizing the drag shows and performers in Speakeasy every second Saturday of the month. 

Davis named the Lavender Social Collective to reference lavender —a color symbolizing LGBTQ resistance. He hopes to coordinate more events like this and seeks to open drag shows to both drag queens and kings.

“I want us to violate a fire code here with the drag show,” Davis said. “Like I really want us to fill this out, because I want everyone to know they can even come here on any other day of the week and know they're safe here.”

The first round of performances ended with a shoutout to the bar staff and the owner, who also filled the role of DJ. With a couple of glances to the owner at the back, patrons could catch her little smiles as she watched — an ode to the safe space she sought to create. 

The second round of performances began as Ivy St. James danced with confidence, flipping their hair side-to-side. Alex Thee Rabbit wore a fashionable leopard print skirt set, alluring the audience closer to her art. 

The last performance of the night struck another chord within the crowd as AmanDuh performed to “Lean on Me” by Bill Withers followed by a short speech. In a long flowy white and gold lined dress, she expressed that for many this has been a difficult week and that leaning on our friends and loved ones is important. Everyone embraced their old and new friends as AmanDuh encouraged them to hug their neighbor and even say "I love you."

“I kind of strayed away from what I normally do,” AmanDuh said. “I wanted to send a message tonight instead of just dancing and being a stand-up performer. I wanted to really use my platform of drag to make a difference.” 

The show ended as two of three performers took a bow followed by a sweet surprise as a dog wandered in from the other room and climbed the steps of the stage like one of the performers. The crowd chuckled as the dog looked back, confused.

The end was fitting as the show truly captured the inclusive atmosphere Davis, the drag performers and the owner created. 

“Drag is a thing for everyone no matter where you come from,” AmanDuh said. 

Now more than ever, the show's organizers and performers find importance in what they are doing. 

“Obviously because of the election results, it has affected everyone but especially the queer community,” said first-year Ling Xiong, who attended the event with her friends. “So, I feel like it [AmanDuh’s last performance] was really meaningful, especially to remind people that even in dark times there is still community.”

@dthlifestyle | lifestyle@dailytarheel.com