City of Toronto: Drag Masterclass - Youth Week

The Drag Masterclass returns for #YOUTHWEEK2025,

Join us for a 3 DAY Extravaganza of FREE and FIERCE workshops to help refine your Drag and Pathway to Youth Employment!

DAY 1: Start your engines - We are kicking things off with a heels Dance class instructed by the one and only Hollywood Jade - Resident Choreographer on Canada’s Drag Race and with help from Zi!

• Not a dancing queen? Don’t sweat, we welcome all levels of dance - from beginner to advanced! Just bring the heels, the sass, and get ready to WERK! Hollywood will also be giving an Artist Development Q&A at the beginning of the workshop. This class will be hosted at Wellesley Community Centre (495 Sherbourne Street), on Tuesday May 6th, 2025 from 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm.

DAY 2: Learn how to beat your face like a WINNER! Join us for an exclusive class hosted by the one and only Virgo Queen, the reigning Queen of Canada's Drag Race Season 5 and with help from Zi!

• You’ll learn the precise techniques behind painting your face like a seasoned Queen, a lesson that will polish your Drag and completely elevate your life! This class will be hosted at Wellesley Community Centre (495 Sherbourne Street), on Wednesday May 7th 2025 from 6:30pm – 9:30pm.

All levels of Drag experience is welcomed and we encourage Youth to explore their passion, elevate their skill sets and make meaningful networking connections with industry professionals!

These are FREE workshops geared towards youth from 13 to 24 years old from the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.

DAY 3 - Building Skills Through Recreation Program - Pathway to Youth Employment:

Building Skills Through Recreation (BSTR) is an employment readiness program that provides youth ages 15-24 across the city of Toronto with various transferable skills and a knowledge base in preparation to obtain, retain and advance in meaningful work. The program focuses on supporting youth with resume writing, job application processes, interviewing and opportunities to gain pre-employment certifications, FREE OF COST that lead to employment opportunities in Parks, Forestry and Recreation.

We’re thrilled to offer a BSTR Workshop exclusively for youth in the Drag Masterclass Program (ages 15–24).

Date: May 10th, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM – 5:00 AM
Location: One Yonge Community Recreation Centre (24 Freeland Street)
Limited Spots: Only 20 participants will be accepted!

This full-day workshop is designed to help you build skills, boost your confidence, and prepare for future opportunities.

PLUS:

All BSTR participants will be eligible for a FREE two-day Standard First Aid course facilitated by the Lifesaving Society (Dates to be announced soon!).

Don't miss this chance to learn, grow, and connect! Please indicate your interest in participating in BSTR the order form when reserving your ticket, and a member of our team will be in touch.

Additional Information on BSTR: https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/parks-recreation/program-activities/leadership-employment-readiness/leadership-coaching-programs/

Incentives: Each participant will receive a $50 Sephora Gift Card if they attend all three dates where they can make purchases to add on to their make-up collection

Notes:

• Participants who are ages 13 - 14 do not need to attend the BSTR workship to recieve the Gift Card as the BSTR Workshop is for participants ages 15 - 24.
• Participants with an identified financial barrier, can be provided with specific make-up supplies that are needed.
• Past Drag Masterclass participants are welcomed to apply.
• There are ONLY 20 spots available for these workshops.

To apply, follow the instructions below:

Submission Details:

As there are only 20 spots - there will be a screening process, and 20 participants will be invited to join the class. You don’t want to miss out on this opportunity. Please include the following in your submission:

• All applicants must be from the ages of 13 – 24 years old to be considered.
• Full contact information including your Instagram handle to your Drag page. Your Instagram profile must be public so that we can view your page.
• Tell us about your Drag!

1. How long have you been doing it?
2. Why would you like to be in the class?

• Finally, all applicants must be available on May 6th and 7th for the entire class including the BSTR on May 10th (Unless you are aged 13 -14 as you are unable to attend BSTR).

Note: We accept all levels of Drag, the instructors will be providing artist development support based on your level of Drag. This is an excellent opportunity to network with these instructors and be seen! Also, participants that took part in past Drag Masterclasses are welcome to submit, however will not be recieving a make-up supplies.

Application Opens: NOW

Application Deadline: April 25th, 2025

Application Follow-up: Participants will start getting confirmations of enrollment between April 28th to 30th. Applicants will be notified with further information including instructions, suggested base make-up products, etc.

Workshop Details:

DAY 1 - Heels Dance Class

Date: Tuesday, May 6th, 2025

Time: 6:30pm – 9:00pm

Location: Wellesley Community Centre (495 Sherbourne Street)

Instructor: Hollywood Jade with help from Zi

DAY 2 - Beat your Face w Virgo Queen

Date: Wednesday, May 7th, 2025

Time: 6:30 pm - 9:30pm

Location: Wellesley Community Centre (495 Sherbourne Street)

Instructor: The Virgo Queen with help from the Zi

DAY 3 - Building Skills Through Recreation - Pathway to Youth Employment

Date: Saturday, May 10th, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Location: One Yonge Community Recreation Centre (24 Freeland Street)

Instructor Biography:

The Virgo Queen - Instructor

The Virgo Queen (@thevirgoqueen) Winner of Canada’s Drag Race Season 5, The Virgo Queen is a powerhouse of precision, passion, and undeniable talent. A crowned pageant queen and a graduate of musical theatre, her artistry is rooted in rigorous training from the Royal Conservatory and Pegasus Dance Studios.

A top finalist on YTV’s The Next Star, she’s no stranger to the spotlight. Whether flawlessly embodying Beyoncé or channeling Sporty Spice with uncanny accuracy, The Virgo Queen’s celebrity illusions and choreographic finesse captivate every stage she graces.

With a natural flair for hosting and connecting with audiences, she transforms performances into unforgettable experiences. Proudly embracing her Black and Indigenous heritage, she’s a vocal advocate for inclusivity, working to elevate and empower people of colour within the drag and performance communities.

Soft-spoken yet deeply impactful, The Virgo Queen lives up to her name—embodying the Virgo essence of dedication, detail, and quiet strength, always using her platform to uplift, inspire, and lead with heart.

Hollywood Jade - Instructor

Hollywood Jade (@hollywoodjade) is a visionary choreographer, performer, and artistic director known for his passion for excellence and groundbreaking creativity. From TV and film to international stages, his dynamic artistry has been showcased alongside icons like Meghan Trainor, Snoop Dogg, Estelle, Bebe Rexha, and Keshia Chanté. He also served as artistic director and choreographer to Canada’s Queen of R&B, Jully Black.

Hollywood’s on-screen credits include Hairspray, Camp Rock 2, Save the Last Dance 2, and Make Your Move, performing with stars like Rihanna, Nelly Furtado, and Janelle Monáe. These experiences laid the foundation for his transition into choreography.

In 2011, he launched Hollywood Jade Presents Urbanesque, fusing burlesque with contemporary flair in multiple sold-out shows. He also directed The Black Diamond Ball and appeared in Canada’s Drag Race as the resident choreographer and guest judge.

A true tastemaker, Hollywood Jade uses his platform to celebrate authenticity, artistry, and empowerment.

Drag Masterclass History:

The Drag Masterclass was created in 2019 to provide free, assessable, professional training to at-risk 2SLGBTIA+ youth located in the GTA.

The masterclass was led by its head instructor Sofonda who is a Canadian icon who has been in the industry for 20+ years. She is one of Toronto's most bookable Drag Queens and has performed in the US, Brazil, Malaysia, and all over Mexico. She has also gained the attention of RuPaul himself.

Guest instructors include Priyanka who is the winner of Canada's Drag Race Canada and agreed to teach the class right after the filming wrapped for Season one.

Other guest mentors include Kiara, Miss Fiercalicious who are contestants of Canada's Drag Race and resident choreographer Hollywood Jade.

The Masterclass's success is due to it being a safe and welcoming space to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community where they saw familiar faces of people who hold merit in the entertainment industry and the 2SLGBTIA+ community.

Moreover, participants had access to professional training, a welcoming space, other youth with common interests with whom they were able to make meaningful connections with, food, TTC tokens, and tangible resources like a professional photoshoot and make-up that they could use to further develop their craft and entrepreneurship.

The Drag Masterclass has been sponsored by M.A.C Cosmetics, NYX Cosmetics, Jean-Luc Cosmetics, Black CAP, Woody's on Church, The Well and supported by Pride Toronto.

The masterclass is revolutionary as it has proven to break down barriers to participation in recreation programs.

It is the first recreational Drag Masterclass program of its kind in North America.

Drag Masterclass Alumni Success Story:

Sanjina (@sanjinadabishqueen) was a participant in the Drag Masterclass in 2019. She was the winner of the Drag Masterclass Showcase of that same year. Sanjina was a contestant on OUTtv’s new Drag competition Call Me Mother which aired in 2021. The Drag Masterclass helped Sanjina make valuable connections with industry leaders and mentors such as Priyanka, Hollywood Jade and Sofonda. Which helped her gain recognition and job opportunities in the Drag Industry.

For more information contact: ZHJhZ21hc3RlcmNsYXNzIHwgdG9yb250byAhIGNh

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