QH LISTS

Things I learned in the Ballroom Scene

  • Brandon Okeke/Gadget Louboutin West

1. A short introduction to Ballroom.

 

Ballroom is a safe space for Queer People of Colour, founded by Black and  Latinx members of the community. Ballroom was pioneered by Crystal Labeija  and features “Balls” which are competitive events where people compete in  categories together, in houses, or individually as a 007 (a free agent). The  categories range from performance, to fashion, to physical appearance; when  someone steps onto the runway for a category, it’s known as walking. People  compete in categories to win trophies and ultimately to cement themselves as  an icon, legend or statement. Houses are individuals that come together as a  family unit to compete at balls as a team, being lead by a house parent who  provides support not only during balls, but in everyday life as well. 

2. It’s more than a hobby.

 

It’s easy to sensationalise Ballroom, especially with all the hype around social  media. We’ve all seen videos of people feeling fab using the “Here Comes the  Hurricane Legend Katrina” by Kevin Jz Prodigy, having zero context of the  sound. To a lot of people Ballroom is seen as just Voguing, ignoring all the other categories that make it, and a cool thing that you do in the club to literally every song.

Being a part of Ballroom is a commitment to your peers, community and  your craft. Every time I step out on the floor for Old Way, I am representing the history of Ballroom and have a responsibility to preserve the style. Don’t get me wrong it’s great fun, but I can’t go out there without having done my research. You need to understand things like who the legends are, who pioneered your category and who your reference points are. Judges can tell who speaks the language.

Joining a house is another Ballroom commitment. You’re representing the name of a house that has years of great history or is beginning to set the foundations. You will be expected to travel abroad, compete and, most importantly, win in a number of balls throughout the year and all of that costs money too. It can be time hard at times, but it’s all worth it in the end!

3. Politics.

 

Whilst my personal experience of Ballroom hasn’t had much politics, it would be wrong to pretend that doesn’t politics play into Ballroom. This isn’t something that has sprung into life recently, it’s been around for years. With that comes a lot of history and a lot of interpersonal relationships that have been developed. I think this is more apparent when you join a house, as house rivalries really start to show. It’s important to note this isn’t unique to Ballroom and isn’t something we should be villainised it for.

But that does mean sometimes you may feel like you’ve put your heart and soul on the floor, but you lost your battles because of who’s judging. Maybe they’re in the same Kiki house even though it’s a main scene ball, maybe they train together or maybe there’s some house alliances going on. You’ll start to feel more confident in your ability when you accept that skill alone won’t determine if you win on the floor. Ballroom isn’t for the faint hearted!

4. Confidence is key.

 

Whilst Ballroom is a great time all-round, to participate in it you’re going to need confidence. You’ve problem heard of phrases akin to “it takes a lot of nerve to walk on this floor”; trust me, it takes a bit more than nerve to walk. Ballroom is an event: a visual spectacle. Whatever category you are walking you need to “perform”, captivate the audience and more importantly, the judges.

Some categories rely on things such as your natural looks or your ability to be perceived in a certain way, which means you just might not be able to walk some. Getting chopped for not meeting these standards shouldn’t define who you are in your everyday life. There are reasons these categories exist and why they’re judged this way. You usually naturally end up in the category that is right for you either way! Repeating what I said about politics, whether you get your tens or win your battles shouldn’t be how you define your skill.

5. Community.

 

I’ve probably made Ballroom sound a lot more stressful than it really is, but trust me it’s not! Ballroom is a much needed “third place” in a time of constant pressure, stress and when there’s always another global disaster around the corner. Ballroom is community. I’ve met some amazing people in Ballroom who I now cherish as family and it’s the first time that I’ve felt I belong to a group. It’s such a surreal sensation stepping into a new country and being recognised by people that you’ve never met in person; that family connection is just there. I’m already planning trips back to Paris, and thinking about where else in Europe, to see my Ballroom family and friends.

6. It’s just fun!

 

Finally, Ballroom is just so much fun! The fashion, the energy, the vibes, balls  and events always have such excitement that I haven’t gotten anywhere else.  There’s so much joy in planning your outfits and effects, actually wearing them and just letting your feelings out on the floor. Ballroom is one of the few places I feel that I get to be who I want to be, with no worries or judgement. I find often find myself voguing with friends when any vague house beat drops and I always comment about how much I love Ballroom.