It's time to strut down the runway and hold a pose for the judges - Wellington Ballroom are holding the first locally led vogue ball, titled The Fictional Ball, this weekend.
File photo: A contestant in the 2014 FAFSWAG vogue ball, one of the early events in the scene which has since expanded past Tāmaki Makaurau to all over the country. Photo: Photo via RNZ
Created in the late 1960's, Ballroom was founded by Black and Latinx transgender women in America - particularly in Harlem, New York. It served as a place for them to live authentically, even if it was just for one night.
Ballroom has grown and touched almost every corner of the world.
In Aotearoa, arts collective FAFSWAG held the first vogue ball in 2013 at Te Puke ō Tara Community Centre in Ōtara, Tāmaki Makaurau. Since then, the pioneers of the scene such as Pati Tyrell, Falencie Filipo, Moe Laga, Jaycee Tanuvasa and others, have seen the scene expand past Tāmaki Makaurau to all over the country.
After the House of Aitu held their annual AITU BALL in Wellington at the end of 2020, founders of Wellington Ballroom, Romé 007 and Karamera 007, wanted more.
"That was the first time a lot of us Wellington girls walked," Romé said. "It was where a lot of us started our journey with Ballroom."
Romé said the Ballroom scene in Wellington was forever growing. As a collective, Wellington Ballroom had started up workshops for people who wished to learn more about the history of Ballroom, and the fundamentals of voguing and runway.
"It started with 5 people, and now it's reaching 30 to 40 people."
Romé said Wellington was "hungry for it."
The Fictional Ball, which is set to be held on 25 June at the Public Trust Hall in Wellington is a momentus, full circle moment for the Wellington Ballroom scene. A mere two years after their first ball experience, the growth of the scene in such a short time, especially with Covid-19 providing road block after road block, is something to marvel at.
Holding the ball on Matariki weekend was integral to Wellington Ballroom, Romé said.
He said it felt right to hold the ball on the weekend of Matariki that represents a new start - especially for a city that they know will bloom and grow after the ball.
"It felt right for us to hold a night specifically focussed for queer people of colour. It's a new start and a new beginning for all of us," Romé said.
With the ideas of having fun and "family vibes" in mind, The Fictional Ball was created for those in attendance to relive their childhood memories through their favourite fictional characters.
Each category was created with the idea of nostalgia in mind; Open To All Face calls for a look inspired by the Lost City of Atlantis, Open To All Runway calls for a high fashion take on your favourite Cartoon Network character, and Bizarre - a category calling for non-human form - calls for walkers to bring it to the floor in a look from the universe of Monsters Incorporated.
The categories will be guided by a prestigious panel of judges, MCs, and DJ.
For those planning on attending the ball, Romé said that although it was intimidating to be yourself in front of crowd of people, this would be your night.
"We see you, we see everything that you're doing. The Fictional Ball is for you - it is for all of us."
The Fictional Ball has sold out.
