Editorial

Mills College Fetish Ball: Transformers,
Paddles and Whips, Oh My!

The décor was set to a fabricated velvety red, the air a smoke-filled gray (compliments of a rented party fog machine, no doubt). Shoulders relaxed from sangria embodied the room as heavy industrial beats pulsed, causing the walls to reverberate with anticipation - anticipation for the locally celebrated dance group, “The Transformers.” The hostess proudly announced the group's presence and the crowed cheered, their voices cascading in momentary liberation. It was transformer time.

Upon viewing the slyly cropped hairstyles and faux facial hair of the female dancers, it was clear that great preparation had been taken to challenge conventional perceptions of female and male attire. With charm, sex appeal and grace, the transformers moved in synchronicity, dancing debonairly to pop-culture hits such as Justin Timberlake’s teen-puppet-gone-rebel’s “Rock Your Body” and to hip tunes by Christina Aguilera (an openly gay ally who received an award from The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, GLAAD, in 2003).

The Transformers' performance art also included a skit that delivered a clear message against abstinence only programs. These sassy lasses (or should I say lads?) are crystal clear about what they want to transform: sex-education delivered from a traditional heterosexual perspective. What’s next on their list of manifestations? “Sequin suits and a performance piece that demonstrates how important it is to love our bodies” said Ixquel Sarin, of the group. With all this inspiration, I’m going to dust off my Janet Jackson jumpsuit ala Poetic Justice and pump it up to Aretha’s R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Who’s with me?