A Ballroom Showcase by So Extra Berlin
The (Fabric Ball) curated by So Extra Berlin will showcase
some of the most shining stars of Berlin’s Ballroom community and welcome a double
legend all the way from Paris on the microphone. The performers will compete in
categories such as Face, Vogue Fem, Runway or Posing with Fabric.
some of the most shining stars of Berlin’s Ballroom community and welcome a double
legend all the way from Paris on the microphone. The performers will compete in
categories such as Face, Vogue Fem, Runway or Posing with Fabric.
Visually the (Fabric Ball) will tie references of the
Cultural Fabric exhibition and the space of Atelier Gardens to the looks of the performers.
Expect vibrant things.
BACKGROUND BALLROOM
VOGUING/BALLROOM
Voguing is part of a queer culture called ballroom founded
by black and Latinx gay and trans people in New York in the Sixties/Seventies as a necessary
answer to being marginalized not only by racism in the queer scene, but by their own
families and communities for their queerness. They formed Houses with gay or trans mothers and
fathers as their chosen family.
The houses are often inspired by big fashion houses
or names of designers as LGBTQueers of color rarely had access to this world
dominated by privileged white folks.
Today the concept of Houses still exists and has spread
worldwide. Many members have to endure exclusion and harassment due to racism, homo- and
transphobia until today.
But also a lot of white queers and hetero-women are meanwhile
attracted to the scene, since it creates a great safe space for them as well.
THE (VOGUE) BALL
The members of the community gather at Balls and by that
create the ballroom scene. A ball is a competition with different categories. Judges who made
their name in scene are sitting on a panel to choose a winner for each category.
A host and
a commentator lead through the night and give the participants and spectators energy
and directions during the competition. In a preselection, called “tens” (ten points as in beauty
pageants), the participants prove they understood and perform their category well. If all judges
give their tens, the participants is going into the battles.
There they compete against their
opponent. The judges decide who made it to the next round until one winner per category is
left.
Every Vogue Ball has its own theme – from Circus or fashion
designers to Black Lives Matters everything is possible.
SO EXTRA BERLIN
In 2016 the platform So Extra Berlin was co-founded by
Mother Ambrosia Gucci Angels to promote talent of the Ballroom Scene and create community
led events from performances, workshops, balls and more. Until today So Extra Berlin
cooperated with Highsnobiety, Zalando, Melt Festival, Sony Music Germany, Adidas, Berlin
Fashion Week and The Ground Festival by Premium among others.
- Curator: So Extra Berlin
- MC: Legendary Matyouz Ladurée (Paris)
- DJ: Ceekay Ninja JUDGES: German Father David Elle, German Mother Ria St.
Laurent, Mandhla Gorgeous Gucci
PERFORMER (random order):
Magia 007, MST Elle, Cinnamon
Makaveli, Jade 007, Ablavi 007, Arturo Gorgeous Gucci, Dream Miyake Mugler, Nake 007, Amowia St.
Laurent (tbc), Xena Miyake Mugler (tbc) - except for the MC they are all part of the local Berlin
Ballroom Community
CATEGORIES:
Old Way, Vogue Fem, European Runway, Face,
Fashion Killer, Posing with Fabric, All American Runway, Hands Performance, New Way