Ballroom magic in media
An underground queer subculture transformed into a global sensation, the magic of Ballroom has spread to fashion, music, screen and stage carrying queer voices and stories along the way.
Manfred Manglicmot (AKA Prince Sphynx Marama from the House of Marama) explores Ballroom culture's underground roots in Harlem New York, detailing how Houses and Ballroom categories were created as a means for self-expression and survival and discusses Ballroom's wider impact outside of the Ball.
“Ballroom is the reason why there’s so much magic around the world” – Ballroom Icon Leiomy Maldonado
Ballroom is more than just a hobby; it is a lifestyle which inspires dreams and aspirations. As it transformed from an underground queer subculture to a global sensation, the magic of Ballroom spread to fashion, music, screen and stage carrying queer voices and stories along the way.
Ballroom in fashion
In the late 1980s, voguing entered the fashion industry. Designers like Thierry Mugler and Jean Paul Gaultier cast voguers to model in their catwalk shows. Promoters like Susanne Bartsch hosted events where voguers displayed their abilities on the runway in front of fashion’s leading figures.
Fashion continues to influence and be influenced by Ballroom. Prominent fashion figures like stylist Law Roach and designers like Marc Jacobs often take inspiration from the Ballroom floor into their work. Leyna Bloom, the first transgender woman of colour to be on Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit issue, walked Balls as a young model and made a name for herself in the category ‘Fem Queen Face’.
In Aotearoa, Ballroom community members have modelled in runway shows for New Zealand Fashion Week. In 2023, Butch Queen Vogue Fem was featured in a fashion show for ONEOFNONE. The World of Wearable Art show has also featured voguing and Ballroom members from 2023 to 2025.
Ballroom in music
Voguing began to infiltrate the music industry with Willi Ninja and David Xtravaganza rapping in Malcolm McLaren’s 1989 song ‘Deep in Vogue’ and appearing in the music video.
A significant breakthrough was when voguing and Ballroom caught Madonna’s attention at the 1989 ‘Love Ball’ event. This led to Luis and Jose Xtravaganza being cast on Madonna’s Blonde Ambition tour and choreographing the music video for her 1990 best-selling single ‘Vogue’.
Fast forward to today, Ballroom has also been featured in numerous music festivals across Aotearoa. Community members have brought voguing to stages of Splore Festival in Auckland, 121 Festival in the Wairarapa and Nest Fest in the Hawke’s Bay.
Dubbed “The Voice of Down Under”, Jamaica Moana has achieved ‘Legendary’ status as a Ballroom leader and commentator in Oceania. Injecting their Māori (Ngāpuhi/Tainui) and Samoan ancestry into their art, they have released music in collaboration with international Ballroom icons like Kevin JZ Prodigy and Hanabi the K.
Ballroom on screen
One of the most prominent works which centred Ballroom was Jennie Livingston’s 1990 documentary film ‘Paris is Burning’. The film provided a deep dive into the realities of Black and Latin queer people through showing footage of Balls, everyday life and interviews with Ballroom figures like Pepper LaBeija, Dorian Corey and Angie Xtravaganza.
Pepper LaBeija, still image from documentary Paris is Burning (1990). Director Jennie Livingston, lead cinematographer Paul Gibson. University of Michigan School of Information (UMSI) (CC BY-SA 3.0)
One key story portrayed was the life of Venus Xtravaganza - a trans woman who was a sex worker saving up money for sex reassignment surgery. She was brutally murdered by a client in a hotel room in New York, ending her dream of a life like a “spoiled, rich, white girl living in the suburbs.”
The film was groundbreaking in showcasing the extravagance and liberation of a Ball in contrast to the hardships and tragedies experienced by Ballroom participants in the outside world.
In 2018, the TV show ‘Pose’ continued to portray stories of Ballroom and its community, further exploring topics like House membership, HIV/AIDS and the lived experiences of Fem Queens.
In 2020, ‘Legendary’ highlighted the competitive aspect of Ballroom culture where Houses battled for cash prizes. Primarily a vogue/dance-based show, the reality TV show expanded on the lives of Ballroom members in the 21st century and brought the culture to new audiences worldwide.
On local screens, ‘Inky Pinky Ponky’ is based on the real-life experiences of Amanaki Prescott-Faletau, an original member of Vogue Dance Crew NZ and one of Aotearoa Ballroom’s first community members. Starring alongside her is Lyncia Muller who has been a longstanding figure of the local scene as a member of the House of Iman and has stamped her name in the categories ‘Body’ and ‘Sex Siren’.
In 2024, Jaycee Tanuvasa, Legendary Overall Mother of the House of Iman, co-wrote and directed an episode of TVNZ’s anthology “Motherhood”. The episode portrayed a new House mother’s experiences applying learnings from her birth mother to organise her chosen children's runway debut. Not only did this showcase important stories of LGBTQIA+ chosen families, it also highlighted the local scene as an open call was made to invite Ballroom community members to feature in the episode as cast or extras.
Ballroom on stage
‘ARAWHATA’ was a stage show which captured the essence and lived experiences of queer, indigenous people of colour through the art forms of underground Ballroom. Directed by House of Marama mothers Karamera and Romé, it was featured in Fringe Festival, Kia Mau Festival and Hawke’s Bay Arts Festival and was awarded the ‘Best in Fringe 2023’.
In 2026, Ballroom is set to feature on Broadway with ‘CATS: The Jellicle Ball’ with Icons Omari Wiles (House of NiNa Oricci) and Arturo Lyons (House of Miyake-Mugler) leading choreography.
The magic of Ballroom continues to spread into new platforms and spaces. However, it is imperative to remember that the true essence of Ballroom will always lie on the Ballroom floor and in those who grace it.