ABOUT US
Logo by: Eli Noora Virtanen
About
Oslo Dragskole is a school of the arts that is providing evening and weekend classes in the art of drag. The school was founded in 2023 by Katinka Steensgaard, also known as Elektra Puzzz in the Norwegian drag community. She wanted to make drag more available for people who want to learn more, or do drag themselves. If one can take dance classes- why shouldn't it be just as possible and normal to take a class in drag?
In its first two years the school have held courses within: dragkingmakeup, dragqueenmakeup, humor and stand up, Dragperforamce abject and within creature make- up with Charity Kase, known from Rupauls Dragrace UK.
If one can take a dance class-why can´t one take a course in drag?
Katinka Steensgaard
Photo By: Karina RØnning
Meet our founder
Katinka Steensgaard AKA Elektra Puzzz the founder, and also the headmistress of Oslo Dragskole. she is currently the only staff of oslo Dragskole, and also teaches some of our classes.
She is a well known artist, producer and member of the drag community in Oslo, Norway. She started doing drag in 2013, together with the rest of the artists in the drag collective Princessilicious. During her more than 10- year long drag career, she has culminated vast experience as a performer, producer and as a teacher/pedagogue. Some highlighted projects are: Open Drag Stage, Oslo Drag Festival, BOIS WORKZONE, BOIS NIGHT, Karaoke Karl & Co and Burlesque Bingo. She is educated as a theater and drama- teacher, and did her masters degree in drag and masculinity. She has previously taught at Draglinja at Arbeiderbevegelsens FHS og videreutdanningen Kunsten å dragge at Oslo Met.
Currently Featured in:
Steensgaard has performer experience within different drag expressions, such as dragqueen, dragcreature and dragking. Current projects of hers are: her solotour within DKS, being a judge in Norways Next Drag Champion, member of the program committee in Oslo Drag Festival and producer of Burlesque Bingo.
FEATURED IN BLIKK
“Jeg spurte meg selv hva kan jeg kan bidra med. Jeg har alltid vært opptatt av å åpne muligheter for andre. Det er motiverende å være med på å bygge et miljø. ”
WHat is drag?
With drag we mean the queer art of performing gender, gendernorms, sexuality, social norms and queering these all together on a stage. The view we have of drag is that drag has emerged from queer communities and history, and this backstory must be acknowledged and respected. There are different ways to perform and express drag, and everyone can express themselves through drag, no matter their own gender or gender expression. All drag is valid.
Elektra Puzzz // Photo by: Eirik Dyrøy Lotsberg
Who can take our courses?
Per now you have to be 18 years or older to attend our courses. We want these courses to be for you who are curious about drag. For you that love drag. For you that wants to start doing drag, but don't know where to begin. And for you who are a drag performer and wish to experience some new input to implement your drag praxis. The courses cover a wide area within drag, and there are classes that are for both new and experienced, and classes that are more catered to one or another group of people.
Our Goals and Values
We want to make the art of drag more available to people
We work towards providing the highest level of professionalism and quality
We work to pay our teachers the highest possible salary
We work to make the classes as affordable for our customers as possible
We are open for feedback from our customers, so that we can be even better going forward
We believe everyone can do drag and do what expression they want, no matter who they are (all drag is valid)
We believe it is important to teach and inform about the history and the queer context of drag
We want to make a safe and including space while learning and being together, this means that we do not tolerate any kind of isms. SUch as: racism, fatphobia, homo-bi- trans-probia, ageism and sexism.
Rules of conduct when attending classes
To ensure that Oslo Dragskole is a positive and safe place for all to attend, we, have enlisted some rules of conduct for all participants to follow. By agreeing to have read and understood the rules you are agreeing to follow these rules and contribute in a positive way to the social environment during courses. Breaching the rules repeatedly will lead to you potentially losing your right to attend your course, even though you have already payed for the course and the course have started.
Everyone attending Oslo Dragskole are to treat and talk to other participant and teachers in a nice way, and to contribute as best as one has the ability to- to a healthy, positive, including and safe place for all
There is a no-tolerance policy for racism, homophobia, sexism, body commenting and so on
Do you break the rules, you are in risk of loosing your course spot
Always ask to take picture of others, you need to collect consent before sharing pictures of others online
Drag is an art form that has been developed in queer communities, and is therefore an art form that has a queer context. All participants and teachers are to respect and seek knowledge about the art form and its background
Location
The school is located at Torshov in Oslo, Norway.
Adress: Torshovloftet, Vogtsgate 64B, 0477, Oslo.
Languages
The courses will be held in either Norwegian or english. Most of the classes and our instructors are open to adapt the course and teach in english. This will be specified in each of the courses description.