Meet Dani! In this spotlight, Dani tells us about how clothing has shaped their gender expression, creativity, and stage presence, and what discovering Viva Voce meant to them (and of course, so much more!)
Hi Dani! Can you please introduce yourself?
Hi Hi! My name is Dani (or Danielle or D) and my pronouns are they/xe! I’m currently based in Cincinnati. I'm a retired/recovering opera singer (because the opera industry isn’t safe for trans folx) so I’ve taken my skills and voice and use them for my Drag King, Juicci Björling. I teach voice and have an intentional all trans voice studio. I'm also an inclusive casting specialist, producer, director, conductor, music/vocal director and am looking for an opportunity to do an all trans production for our incredible trans community!
What has performing taught you about yourself, your body, or your voice?
Unfortunately, that no matter where you are, how much work you’ve put in, however much experience you have… fatphobia is rampant. I have been fat shamed at EVERY job I have had in opera and theater. Whether it was from the administration, a director, a costume designer, a wig/makeup artist, another singer. Even at opera houses that claim to be “inclusive”. It was one of the reasons I founded my company, Opera MODO, in 2011, because of my experiences and how I witnessed those in power (usually white gay men) judge, comment, and treat those they perceived outside the societal “norms’ with disdain and would actively gatekeep them from being cast/hired. I learned how to advocate and intentionally place make for those who are marginalized.
What messages did you receive growing up about bodies, gender, beauty, or worth? What have you had to unlearn?
Since my mother (and her mother) always were “struggling” with their weight, I was in weight watchers alongside them by the age of 8. I’ve spent thousands of dollars and hours in therapy and working with nutritionists trying to unlearn the societal programming of thinking my body and person are less than because of weight. I was also able to really understand the HUGE difference between how women are treated when I left the constructs of womanhood and came out as nonbinary. I’m so grateful for the ways I’m able to advocate for women now that I’m living outside of the gender binary.
What role does clothing play in how you express your gender, your creativity, or your stage presence?
Oh gosh, this is a heavy question, because as a fat woman in the opera industry, I had to mask and curate how I showed up by what was “palatable” for the folx in the industry. So I often had to wear hyper femme presenting clothing and often make sure I had enough decolletage showing to distract them from my size. Since coming out as nonbinary, I have definitely swung to the opposite in hyper masc presenting and am now trying to find my true balance in clothing which is HARD bc clothing is SO gendered and I still have curves - which mens clothing does NOT take into consideration. The most gender and body euphoria I’ve found is in patterned track suits, but I’ve had to make alterations to the pants so they fit me comfortably!
How does drag influence the way you think about fashion, confidence, play, or taking up space?
I am SO grateful for drag! It has helped me use so many of my skills from producing/costuming opera/mt and elevate it to a whole new level! And OBVI I LOVE to sparkle, so getting to rhinestone everything is amazing!!!
As a voice teacher, what do you hope your students feel when they work with you?
Safe. Heard. Understood. Seen. Loved. Cheerleaded for. Advocated for. Empowered. Strong. Talented. Capable.
For someone who feels nervous about singing, using their voice, or being heard, what would you want them to know?
How important and unique they are and how important their VOICE is! Voices are like thumbprints, they’re all unique and NEEDED in this world, especially BIPOC and trans voices.
What does community mean to you?
Seeing yourself in your community is most important to me. That’s why I believe that the classical arts are dying, especially in America, because we do not see ourselves actively reflected in them. (yes, of course, there are some folx doing the work like I was with MODO, but it’s not the standard, and it’s EXHAUSTING to constantly be fighting against the behemoth of the industry that cares more about money than the art and the community it represents).
What did discovering Viva Voce mean to you?
Seeing gorgeous humans HAPPY and loving their bodies and loving what they were wearing! It’s literally transformative. Getting to witness my FYP flooded with folx that look like me (or look how I looked when I was female presenting) makes me feel like I belong and that me and my body matter.
If you had a megaphone and the whole world was listening, what message would you share?
To be kind to yourself, to treat yourself better than you treat your favorite person/child/friend. As fat folx, we are actively told that we have no worth, no value, etc., and that affects us on a cellular level. We are the only ones who can heal that harm, even if we didn’t cause it. But can sure as hell heal it, so we can show up and show out for ourselves and our community.
Photo Credits: all photos are by @caitlinchriseneephoto