Within the season premiere of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 17, Suzie Toot wowed the judges, her fellow contestants, and viewers with a faucet routine that proved she has severe dance chops. Her side-splitting Morse code interpretation of the Gettysburg Tackle secured her the season’s first win, and unleashed a wave of latest followers.
Ms. Toot—born Benjamin Shaevitz—isn’t any stranger to the highlight: In 2023 she opened for Chappell Roan at Roan’s live performance in Fort Lauderdale. Toot took a second to speak about her love for faucet, the overwhelming response to her faucet quantity on “Drag Race,” her current touring, and what she’s manifesting for the longer term.
What first drew you to faucet dancing?
I first found it as a sophomore in highschool, once I was forged in a manufacturing of Mary Poppins. The 12 months earlier than, I’d been in one other present and was a horrible dancer. None of us within the forged of Mary Poppins had tapped earlier than, however I picked it up shortly. That gave me the drive to essentially dig into faucet dancing. I began learning and I by no means seemed again.
You’re a well-rounded dance and theater performer. What do you’re keen on about faucet particularly?
There’s a stylishness and coolness to faucet dancing that I actually join with. Once you do it efficiently, it simply feels good—it’s sturdy and highly effective.
How did you begin to incorporate faucet into your drag?
By faucet, I found the unimaginable divas of the [19]20s and ’30s, and have become obsessive about their fashion. I wished to be Betty Boop or Clara Bow—and why not decide up a pair of faucet heels and begin hoofing it? The items all got here collectively, and including the faucet ingredient to my performances in bars was recent and thrilling.
What has been the response to your faucet routine on “Drag Race”?
It has been unimaginable. I believe it resonated as a result of it was one thing individuals hadn’t actually seen on the present earlier than.
I’ve additionally had a variety of Broadway-adjacent individuals and tap-focused Instagram pages attain out and remark, which has been validating. It has been superb to attach with the faucet group and see them embrace what I’m doing.
Who’re your faucet idols?
Debbie Reynolds, Eleanor Powell, and Ruby Keeler are large influences. I like Debbie Reynolds’ exaggerated femininity, and I attempt to channel it in my performances. She’s making enjoyable of the female types of the ’20s, and I’m making enjoyable of her making enjoyable of them. I’m additionally an enormous fan of the Nicholas Brothers and their unimaginable athleticism and showmanship.
You’ve been touring the nation these days—how has that have been for you?
I’m performing in a brand new metropolis virtually each Friday, and it has been superb to expertise the completely different drag scenes throughout the nation, from Florida to New York to the Midwest. Attending to journey and do my artwork has been a dream, and other people get so excited in regards to the faucet dancing.
I’ve plans to do much more large-scale tap-focused performances, whether or not that’s in YouTube movies, stay exhibits, and even Broadway-style productions the place dance is admittedly the central focus.
Do you may have a specific present in thoughts in your debut on the Nice White Manner?
The Broadway revival of Candy Charity, starring Suzie Toot. I’m manifesting it now.
