The graphic design of the 23rd International Feminist and Queer festival Red Dawns by Urška Preis

Luen Rom: Vogueing Workshop & Ball

13.3.2022 at 16.00

Club Tiffany – Cultural Centre Q

The building Hunters, Metelkova 

1000 Ljubljana

In English language
Free entry – Recommended voluntary contribution

Vogue is a form of highly stylized, modern dance. The powerful dance movement evolved out of the Harlem ballroom culture and was created by the black and Latinx queer community. While this form of dance started in the ‘70s, its roots can be traced back to Harlem’s drag ballroom competitions as early as the 20s during the time of the Harlem Renaissance.

This dance style is inspired by the style of Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs and is characterized by striking poses imitating a model at a photoshoot. It gained mainstream exposure when it was showcased in the documentary Paris is Burning (1990). It’s giving us a closer look into the lives of people from the community in the mid-to-late ‘80s from fierce contests for trophies, to house mothers offering support and shelter in a world rampant with homophobia and transphobia, racism, AIDS, and poverty. It features legendary voguers, drag queens, and trans women—including Willi Ninja, Pepper LaBeija, Dorian Corey, and Venus Xtravaganza. Madonna found inspiration for her song and music video Vogue (1990) in the ballroom community and also featured dancers and choreographers from the scene.

While voguing keeps evolving it is remaining close to its roots and it still has significant importance for the LGBTIQ+ community. It creates a space of empowerment and is demonstrating how different aspects of identity like race, gender and sexuality can be fluid and intersecting. 

The workshop will be led by Luen Rom.

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