When someone says ballroom in the LGBTQ+ community, it means there is going to be a competition! The Ballroom culture, sometimes called the ballroom scene, or ballroom began as an underground subculture. It started in the African-American and Latinx LGBTQ+ communities.
Ballroom culture has been around for about fifty years. It was created in the early 1970’s by Crystal LaBeija and her friend Lottie Labeija. The house of LaBeija is celebrated by many as the first house in the ballroom scene. Houses are made up of friends who become chosen families. The iconic Jacen Bowman is a ballroom Hall of Famer who has been around for more than 25 years.
“It was the first time that I ever felt seen,” said Bowman. It was the first time that I’ve ever felt like wow, like, okay, it’s a bunch of people here that look like me, that sound like me.”
The high-energy balls are an underground space for gay men and trans women to come to escape from harsh realities. Underground refers to a private space that is out of public view, where people can safely participate in Ballroom activities, without fear of being targeted by homophobic verbal or physical attacks – no matter their gender identity. Ballroom culture has become mainstream. It is featured in hit TV shows like Pose on the FX network and Legendary on Max. Well known artists like Madonna and Beyonce have supported the ballroom culture with songs like “Vogue” and elements of the “Renaissance” tour.
Carlos Irizarry, a dancer and choreographer on Beyonce’s Renaissance Tour, teaches fellow dancers about ballroom history. As ballroom culture’s popularity and acceptance grow, people in the tight community want to make sure it’s roots are not lost or forgotten.
“Underground culture is always one thing that you want to keep there,” said Irizarry, “because you get to keep the authenticity of it. You get to keep the organic essence of it.”
Alvernian Prestige, president of Ballroom Alliance, hosts events to inform people about and help them feel comfortable with the ballroom culture. Prestige says, “[We are] teaching the younger generation and educating them and leaving a foundation for them to grow… because every generation of ballroom has a different outlook and a different outtake on ballroom.”
Those who have long been part of the Ballroom community want people to know its true rich history.
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