Top 10 Drag Queens Who Are Great Dancers

#10: Aja

Making her “Drag Race” debut in season 9, she is one of the franchise’s most energetic and polarizing performers. But it’s not just Aja’s stunts that make her dancing special. Aja’s background in the New York ballroom scene allowed her to hone her finely-tuned skills. Her approach to traditional underground styles like voguing is heavily influenced by the history of the queer performers who created it. “Drag Race” isn’t the only show where you can catch her slick moves. She got to demonstrate her talent once again on HBO Max’s “Legendary,” competing as a member of the House of LaBeija.

#9: Asttina Mandella

Before she made her appearance on season 2 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race UK,” this drag performer made her living as a dancer. Asttina Mandella appeared to be a frontrunner but her time on the show was shockingly short-lived. Still, her reputation is unimpeachable. Having trained in styles as far-flung as ballet, tap, and street dance, Asttina has danced backup for several major artists. This lineup includes the Pussycat Dolls, Little Mix, and Kanye West. Someone get her back on an “All Stars” season so we can see more of her. Put her dancing heels to use!

#8: Marcia Marcia Marcia

Marty Lauter belongs to an illustrious group. They became one of the few “Drag Race” queens to have performed on a Broadway stage. Lauter, also known as Marcia Marcia Marcia, competed on the show’s 15th season. Holding a BFA from the prestigious Boston Conservatory at Berklee, their resume as a performer was already impressive before they were on TV. In 2018, they made their Broadway debut in “Kinky Boots. Marcia was cast as Victor, one of the Kit Kat Klub dancers in the 2024 revival of “Cabaret,” and also served as the understudy for the Emcee in that Tony-winning revival.

#7: Chi Chi DeVayne

The beloved season 8 queen persevered despite not having access to a lot of the fashion her fellow competitors did. What she did have was grit, determination, and an impressive arsenal of dance moves. Chi Chi DeVayne was no dancing novice. She studied with Luther Cox Jr. of Shreveport’s Inter City Row modern dance company. Learning ballet, modern, and West African dance, Chi Chi also added gymnastics to her impressive skill set. She put her incredible sense of movement to use in every single performance. Her lip syncs on “Drag Race” are still some of the best the show’s ever seen.

#6: Laganja Estranja

Appearing on “Drag Race’s” sixth season, her over-the-top persona didn’t endear her to her castmates at first, but Laganja Estranja won over the “Drag Race” fan base. Professionally trained, she actually holds a BFA in dance. Though her run on season 15’s “So You Think You Can Dance” was brutally short, she’s danced for pop icons Madonna, Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Lopez, and Miley Cyrus. She’s even choreographed music videos for fellow “Drag Race” alum Alaska, Trixie Mattel, and Katya. Laganja’s credentials as a performer, choreographer, and instructor speak for themselves.

#5: Sahara Davenport

One of the first classically-trained dancers ever featured on “Drag Race,” this dancing diva immediately made an impression with her balletic movement. Sahara Davenport earned a BFA in dance from Southern Methodist University. She performed across New York City before earning a spot on the second season. Though she didn’t win the crown, her lip sync to Martha Wash’s “Carry On” moved RuPaul nearly to tears. After the show, Sahara released several dance tracks that showcased her own sweet voice and killer moves. When she passed away in 2012, her dancing became a major part of the legacy she left behind.

#4: Lady Camden

There are a lot of drag queens who dance. But season 14’s Lady Camden is an all-around dancer extraordinaire. Classically trained, she made her living as a dancer before becoming the drag diva we know today. Her impressive ballet career led to a spot with the Sacramento Ballet as well as the Slovak National Ballet. Professionally, she also has experience choreographing for her own productions. From her lip syncs to her runway walk, her well-practiced poise and elegance are the product of years of hard-earned technique. Even when she falls, she does it so gracefully.

#3: Alyssa Edwards

You thought she wouldn’t make this list? How dare you. She is a teacher and a mentor. But actually, Alyssa Edwards is a dancer, choreographer, and dance instructor with her own dance studio in her hometown of Mesquite, Texas. The owner-operator of Beyond Belief Dance Company has been dancing since childhood. You don’t create and keep a dance school without knowing a little something about how to move. Alyssa’s choreography was on display during her time as a contestant on “Drag Race.” She was even invited back as a guest choreographer on later seasons. Her performance style was so compelling that RuPaul even executive produced “Dancing Queen,” a reality series about Alyssa’s life and career.

#2: Brooke Lynn Hytes

This season 11 runner-up and “Canada’s Drag Race” judge has been setting stages on fire the world over since she was a teenager. Training for several years with the National Ballet School of Canada, by the age of 20, Brooke Lynn Hytes also danced for the Cape Town City Ballet. Her teachers and mentors include some of modern ballet’s most renowned artists. It was her attraction to more feminine styles of ballet dancing that pushed her toward developing a female alter ego. This led to a spot with a drag ballet troupe, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo. Her dancing served her well not just on “Drag Race” but also in several drag pageants.

#1: Kennedy Davenport

Anyone who ever lip synced against this season 7 queen should have been terrified. Every Kennedy Davenport performance is a tour de force. From her death-defying splits to her vicious high kicks, Kennedy is the very definition of lip sync assassin. While she may not have the official training some other queens might have, her credentials are pretty self-evident. Her talents have been seen on multiple seasons of “Drag Race” and its spin-offs, as well as on the stages of several high-profile drag pageants. No matter what, if Kennedy is given a stage, she gives a show.

Did your favorite dancing diva make the list? Who should we include in part two?