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Since it's Pride Month and I'm a big fan of dance, I thought what better time to talk about one particular style?
Prefix because:
TW LGBTQ-phobia
Language in some of the videos (c-nt/p-ssy)
[Legend Willi Ninja, who Google made a doodle for recently on June 9]
Vogue Dance
If you don't know, Vogue is a highly stylized, modern house dance originating in the late 1980s that evolved out of the Harlem ballroom scene of the 1960s.
There are currently three styles - Old Way, New Way, and Vogue Fem. Here is a quick vid showing all three:
Invention + Houses
Vogue was created in New York from the ballroom scene - drag balls started after it became against the law to dress up in clothes for the opposite gender. Starting in the 1960s, black and Latinx LGBTQ communities hosted balls where one would dress up under a certain category and be judged.
Eventually, the balls included dance battles, called Vogue battles. Vogue is named after the magazine - the moves used in Vogue dance were poses taken from Vogue Magazine.
Also originating from ball culture were Houses. A house was a group of people who competed in balls together, kind of like teammates, and each house had a "mother" and "father." However, houses were so much more than that, as many people found them to be their "chosen family." This included young people who were disowned or kicked out by their parents for being a part of the LGBTQ community, and for participating in these competitions.
Competitions
They're still called balls. Contestants compete in categories, and as mentioned before are judged.
As I'm still learning about the structure of balls, take this with a grain of salt. I believe it begins with a category. And everyone competing in that category are given time to showcase their skills in a solo walk. After everyone has gone, the Vogue battles begin. Two competitors battle it out on the stage, showcasing their best moves to appeal to the judges and insult their opponent. Majority vote wins and gets to battle someone else, and the cycle continues until the last two competitors battle it out for the prize.
From what I've seen battles are exciting, but can be dangerous. Imagine using all of your limbs to stand out, and someone else is doing the same. And the two of you have to share the floor - which could just be a runway-sized path - avoid hitting each other, and avoid hitting the crowd (and maybe the judges if you're extra bold - no I haven't seen that happen and I hope it doesn't).
Korea?
Can't end this thread without mentioning Korea on a Kpop forum.
Yes - Vogue has made it to South Korea. Some houses to check out if you're interested:
House of Love, House of Sejong, House of Promachos
Boy group Shinhwa has also used the style in one of their comebacks:
And other idols have used vogue moves in their choreography. I personally would like to see an entire choreo crafted like a battle (safely practiced of course).
Vogue and ballroom culture emerged as a pushback against the gender norms that society has pushed on a lot of people. They are also spaces created by people of color when society told them that they didn't have the right look. Participating gives one the freedom to express themselves, and a safe space for queer people.
So yeah, that's all I have. And if you have time on your hands and want to see a ball hosted by House of Love:
(Battles start at 26:32)
Prefix because:
TW LGBTQ-phobia
Language in some of the videos (c-nt/p-ssy)
[Legend Willi Ninja, who Google made a doodle for recently on June 9]
Vogue Dance
If you don't know, Vogue is a highly stylized, modern house dance originating in the late 1980s that evolved out of the Harlem ballroom scene of the 1960s.
There are currently three styles - Old Way, New Way, and Vogue Fem. Here is a quick vid showing all three:
Invention + Houses
Vogue was created in New York from the ballroom scene - drag balls started after it became against the law to dress up in clothes for the opposite gender. Starting in the 1960s, black and Latinx LGBTQ communities hosted balls where one would dress up under a certain category and be judged.
Eventually, the balls included dance battles, called Vogue battles. Vogue is named after the magazine - the moves used in Vogue dance were poses taken from Vogue Magazine.
Also originating from ball culture were Houses. A house was a group of people who competed in balls together, kind of like teammates, and each house had a "mother" and "father." However, houses were so much more than that, as many people found them to be their "chosen family." This included young people who were disowned or kicked out by their parents for being a part of the LGBTQ community, and for participating in these competitions.
Competitions
They're still called balls. Contestants compete in categories, and as mentioned before are judged.
As I'm still learning about the structure of balls, take this with a grain of salt. I believe it begins with a category. And everyone competing in that category are given time to showcase their skills in a solo walk. After everyone has gone, the Vogue battles begin. Two competitors battle it out on the stage, showcasing their best moves to appeal to the judges and insult their opponent. Majority vote wins and gets to battle someone else, and the cycle continues until the last two competitors battle it out for the prize.
From what I've seen battles are exciting, but can be dangerous. Imagine using all of your limbs to stand out, and someone else is doing the same. And the two of you have to share the floor - which could just be a runway-sized path - avoid hitting each other, and avoid hitting the crowd (and maybe the judges if you're extra bold - no I haven't seen that happen and I hope it doesn't).
Korea?
Can't end this thread without mentioning Korea on a Kpop forum.
Yes - Vogue has made it to South Korea. Some houses to check out if you're interested:
House of Love, House of Sejong, House of Promachos
Boy group Shinhwa has also used the style in one of their comebacks:
And other idols have used vogue moves in their choreography. I personally would like to see an entire choreo crafted like a battle (safely practiced of course).
Vogue and ballroom culture emerged as a pushback against the gender norms that society has pushed on a lot of people. They are also spaces created by people of color when society told them that they didn't have the right look. Participating gives one the freedom to express themselves, and a safe space for queer people.
So yeah, that's all I have. And if you have time on your hands and want to see a ball hosted by House of Love:
(Battles start at 26:32)
Last edited:
