What is Ballroom Culture?

Learn about the Origins, the Art Form, and Community that Revolutionized American culture

Ballroom Throwbacks/Destination Tomorrow

Words adapted from interviews with Ceasar Williams and Kaleb Nolen

Face as a House - Escada ball (1997-01) by Alvernian Prestige Du'Mure VersaillesBallroom Throwbacks/Destination Tomorrow

"Ballroom is a Liberation Story"

From its Start, Ballroom has Always Been a Way to Make Space and Break Free from Racism and Homophobia

House of Pendavis Ball Red Zone Tina Montana FURS category (1990) by Chantal RegnaultBallroom Throwbacks/Destination Tomorrow

Ballroom's Historical Origins

Ballroom's origin story reaches back to the time of the Harlem Renaissance, but the Ballroom scene we know today really took off in the 1970s.

Pioneer Icon Mother Crystal Labeija (1977) by Junior LabeijaBallroom Throwbacks/Destination Tomorrow

Ballroom Begins as An Act of Resistance to Racism

In the early 1970’s, also referred to as the Golden era, the legendary trans drag queen Crystal LaBeija, began hosting balls specifically for Black people as a response to racism in New York’s larger downtown drag scene and soon after established the House of LaBeija.

Icon Pepper Labeija from Icon Duchess La Wong's Archives of the "Golden Era" (1970) by Duchess La WongBallroom Throwbacks/Destination Tomorrow

Black Trans Women Pioneered Ballroom

After Crystal LaBeija formed the House of LaBeija, other houses soon followed: Chanel, Ebony, Mizrahi, Revlon, Mugler, Extravaganza, Dupree, Pendavis, Corey, and LaWong.

So many of these houses were founded by Black trans women who created spaces of power, resistance and love.

Love Ball #2 Aids Benefit Roseland Legendary Dorian Corey, Chantal Regnault, 1990, From the collection of: Ballroom Throwbacks/Destination Tomorrow
,
Cabaret Ball New Jersey Legendary Mother Pepper La Beija RUNWAY, Chantal Regnault, 1990, From the collection of: Ballroom Throwbacks/Destination Tomorrow
Show lessRead more

House of Prestige - Face as A House (1996) by Alvernian Prestige Du'Mure VersaillesBallroom Throwbacks/Destination Tomorrow

What is a House?

Ballroom houses are structured to prepare its members for the balls and–most importantly– to serve as chosen families. Many Black queer and trans youth, renounced by their parents and shunned by their families and communities, have found safe harbor in these houses

“This space is uniquely designed for your Black and Brown body to be.” - Sean Ebony Coleman

House of Chanel Ball Marc Ballroom Legendary Mother Avis Pendavis and daughter Evie (1990) by Chantal RegnaultBallroom Throwbacks/Destination Tomorrow

The Ballroom House and Family Structure

Houses are chosen families with anointed ‘mothers’ and ‘fathers’ who guide and support their ‘children’. House parents become grandparents and godparents to the next generation, and ascend in the house’s hierarchy, becoming legends and, eventually icons

Schoolboy Realness Team (2016) by Ballroom ThrowbacksBallroom Throwbacks/Destination Tomorrow

Behind the Ballroom Categories

In previous eras, passing in society was how you survived; and that is foundational to many Ballroom categories. Today, the categories have expanded, reflecting the different experiences of being Black, Brown and LGBTQ+

"Battle of The FQ Face Queens Shanice & Trace" (2014-11) by Ballroom ThrowbacksBallroom Throwbacks/Destination Tomorrow

Ballroom Categories

Ballroom categories include high fashion sportswear, realness with a twist, butch queen face/femme queen face, GC (gender non-confirming) face, best dressed, runway, labels, and many more.

Tracks New York May House of Xtravaganza Legendary Voguers (1989) by Chantal RegnaultBallroom Throwbacks/Destination Tomorrow

Vogue

Vogue is Ballroom's highly stylized form of dance. Its origins reach back to the Harlem Ballroom culture, and its name is taken after the famous fashion magazine. There are currently three styles of vogue: Old Way (pre-1990); New Way (post-1990); and Vogue Fem (circa 1992).

Iconic Voguer Willi Ninja wearing Thierry Mugler body piece, Chantal Regnault, 1989, From the collection of: Ballroom Throwbacks/Destination Tomorrow
,
War Ball Sound Factory New York Iconic Legendary Voguer Jose Xtravaganza, Chantal Regnault, 1991, From the collection of: Ballroom Throwbacks/Destination Tomorrow
Show lessRead more

Ashley Icon FQ Realness Bronx NYC (2003) by Ballroom ThrowbacksBallroom Throwbacks/Destination Tomorrow

The Story of Ballroom is also the Story of New York

Ballroom began in New York. In the different neighborhoods of the Village, Harlem, and the Christopher Street Piers. While Ballroom and New York have changed, New York is–always will be–its birthplace. 

YMCA by Gerard H. GaskinBallroom Throwbacks/Destination Tomorrow

And It Started in Harlem

Some of the first balls were hosted at the Harlem YMCA in the 1970’s, as seen in this photograph by Gerard Gaskins.

BQ Runway Latex Ball NYC Egypt Garcon & Cameo Balenciaga (2017) by Ballroom ThrowbacksBallroom Throwbacks/Destination Tomorrow

We Made Paris Burn

Ballroom is now in Paris, Berlin, Moscow,  Tokyo, Mexico City, and Jerusalem, providing LGBTQ+ communities a space for freedom. Like Jazz and Hip Hop, Ballroom is part of the larger story of Black genius that has created cultural and global revolutions.

Ballroom Gems by UnknownBallroom Throwbacks/Destination Tomorrow

"We Are Part of the Larger Civil Rights Movement"

The cultural power and history of Ballroom is also part of Black history and LGBTQ+ history. Ballroom cannot be cut off from those larger movements of  liberation--and played a critical role in actualizing new found rights in what it means to be Black, queer and trans

Haus of AlphaOmega "Anarchy" Ball (2023-03-11) by SidewalkkillaBallroom Throwbacks/Destination Tomorrow

This Belongs To Us

Popular culture has always taken from Ballroom's genius--in language, dance and fashion.Too often the taking is done without giving credit to the community. But it all belongs to Ballroom, and it's time to give honor to the culture and its pioneers.

Haus of AlphaOmega "Anarchy" Ball (2023-03-11) by SidewalkkillaBallroom Throwbacks/Destination Tomorrow

A Love Note to Ballroom

A space that insists on the beauty and joy of being Black, Brown, queer and trans. This digital archive is a love note to the pioneers of Ballroom who are no longer with us. This is a love note to the icons, legends, visionaries, and storytellers of Ballroom, then and now.

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
Explore more
Google apps