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With that, all across the world, people were dancing like they were in Harlem — though they may not have known it at the time.

According to gender studies and dance assistant professor, Julian Kevon Glover, vogue was an act of resistance. This outreach contributes to the overall reduction of HIV transmission rates.

The Dallas Impact

Thanks to the pioneering work of Resource Center’s program, United Black Ellument (UBE), and community leader JRock Ebony, Dallas has a rich history with ballroom culture.

Ballroom balls and competitions often incorporate HIV/AIDS awareness themes. Members and performers use their artistic talents to educate and promote safe sex practices and HIV testing, contributing to the broader awareness efforts in the LGBTQIA+ community.

Ballroom houses, like the iconic House of Xtravaganza or the House of Ninja, create safe and inclusive spaces where LGBTQIA+ individuals, often marginalized and ostracized by society, can express their true selves without fear of discrimination or prejudice.

And that for me, because of who is doing it, is very much an act of resistance to an entire world that not only tells us that our lives are devoid of meaning, but also tells us that we have nothing to contribute. "Voguing is very much about telling one's story through movement ... The point is to highlight their face, their best features, in the way they move down the runway, use their hands, and angle their face.

The elements of face are: eyes, teeth, skin (tone/complexion), structure, and nose.

Consider whether you would likely see this person grace the cover of major fashion magazines.

Butch Face

This person should be a butch cisgender female, and not a drag queen or a transgender female (MTF).

This category is designed to allow the participant to sell their face, like they are on a photo shoot set for a major fashion magazine.

In fact, some famous ballroom performers, Xa’Pariis Ebony, Cali Balmain, Silkie O’Hara Monroe, and many more, are native to Dallas.

UBE’s reputation is respected across the country, and members recently gave a presentation at the US Conference on HIV/AIDS (USCHA) in Washington D.C. titled “The Art of Connection: Ballroom and Vogueing as Catalysts for Empowerment”. The content centered around discovering how these dance forms can connect individuals to essential community resources, including HIV testing and care, PrEP, and sexual health education.

These performances have long been a social and political commentary platform, bringing attention to issues like racism, homophobia, and the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Originating in the 1980s in New York City, the ballroom scene has evolved into a global phenomenon, offering a safe haven for queer individuals while playing a pivotal role in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Ballroom encompasses a range of activities, most notably “balls” or “voguing balls,” where participants compete in various categories, such as dance, fashion, and runway walks, often emulating high fashion and modeling.

If you’d like to learn more about how to join the local ballroom scene or want to help with HIV/AIDS awareness within the local BIPOC community, please reach out connect with us on social media.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ubedallas

Instagram: @Ubellument

Twitter: @Ubellument

Why The Harlem Ballroom Scene Was Important To The Black And Latinx LGBTQ+ Community

From the early Masquerade Balls in Harlem through the Harlem Renaissance and finally to the House Ballroom scene, music, dance, and fashion were always central, NME writes.

The point is to highlight their face, their best features, in the way they move down the runway, use their hands, and angle their face.

The elements of face are: eyes, teeth, skin (tone/complexion), structure, and nose.

Consider whether you would likely see this person grace the cover of major fashion magazines.

Women’s Face

This person should be a cisgender female, and not a drag queen or a transgender female (MTF).

This category is designed to allow the participant to sell their face, like they are on a photo shoot set for a major fashion magazine.

As we celebrate the progress made in the fight against HIV/AIDS and the increasing visibility of LGBTQIA+ communities, we must recognize and honor the essential contributions of the ballroom community in shaping both movements.

Vogue Academy takes place at our community center every Friday from 7-10 p.m.

The point is to highlight their face, their best features, in the way they move down the runway, use their hands, and angle their face.

The elements of face are: eyes, teeth, skin (tone/compexion), structure, and nose.

Consider whether you would likely see this person grace the cover of major fashion magazines.

The Ballroom Community: A Vital Force in the LGBTQIA+ and HIV/AIDS Movement

What is Ballroom?

In the vibrant tapestry of LGBTQIA+ culture, the ballroom community shines as a brilliant thread that weaves together self-expression, empowerment, and activism.

As well as the social ground gained through this movement, one dance in particular called "vogue" or "voguing," became one of House Ballroom's most significant American cultural contributions, and in turn, House Ballroom music and dance is sometimes referred to as "ball" or just "vogue."

Early on, vogue was sometimes called "pop, dip and spin" a cousin of sorts to break dancing.

Beyond its dazzling performances and vibrant culture, it plays a vital role in the ongoing battle against HIV/AIDS, which disproportionately affects the Black community. In response, the community mobilized to raise awareness, advocate for testing and prevention, and provide support to those affected.

Over the years, the ballroom community has extended its reach to provide access to healthcare and HIV testing, especially for those who face barriers to such services.

For over a decade, they’ve been a safe and creative outlet for Black, same-gender loving men and other members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Many members of the ballroom community find their chosen family within their respective houses, offering a support system that can be lifesaving for those facing rejection from their biological families due to their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Ballroom and HIV/AIDS

The ballroom community was deeply impacted by the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the 1980s and 1990s, losing countless members and leaders to the disease.

It's a kind of resistance, an embodied kind of resistance, to these cultural messages." he said, via History.

In 1990, Madonna brought "voguing" to the pop charts with her hit "Vogue" written and performed in the style of House Ballroom.

ball categories

femme queen (FQ) Face

This person should be a transgender female (MTF).

This category is designed to allow the participant to sell their face, like they are on a photo shoot set for a major fashion magazine.

Some now trace vogue to imprisoned gay, trans, and queer people at New York's Rikers Island, TIME reported in 2021.