This Pride season, engage with the Philippine Ballroom Community and celebrate the shared passion for inclusivity and creative movement
The Philippine ballroom scene has felt a remarkable upturn in drawing power and vigor, supporting the importance of balls to express identity, chosen family, and creative movement for the LGBTQIA+ community. The queer subculture has roots in New York City and was started by African-Americans and Latin Americans in the early 20th century. In 1990, Madonna introduced vogueing to the world, a dance style that originated in the ballroom scene. The recent eruption of queer consumed by mainstream media has helped highlight and celebrate the scene and its history today.
For this year’s Pride month, FIFTH WALL is teaming up with the Philippine Ballroom Community for a series of classes about the history and culture of ballroom. Ballroom 101 will be led by the pioneer of the Filipino ballroom scene and the mother of the House of Mizrahi, Xyza Mizrahi, and a semi-finalist from HBO Max’s Legendary Season 3, Nunoy Revlon from the House of Revlon. You can expect an outstanding roster of classes that will delve into ballroom’s historical relevance and influence—a perfect opportunity to understand the meaning of participating in balls and walking in specific categories.
“It is of utmost importance to give respect to our elders and peers because, without them, we would have never been part of the ballroom community. They fought to pave the way to where we are today. Hence, it is crucial to have more educational events for the ballroom community so that we can impart to people that ballroom is a lifestyle and culture deeply connected to the POC LGBTQ community, and it shows the hardships that we are currently overcoming step by step,” says Nunoy Revlon on honoring ballroom history through education.
Madge Reyes, FIFTH WALL festival founder and director, has this to say about joining forces with the Philippine ballroom community: “Our ties with the Ballroom community date back to our first (and virtual) Warm Up Class together in 2021. It was a crash course on the history of Ballroom and was a success, to say the least. Students from the Philippines, Vietnam, Mexico, and even as far as Greece engaged in the brief but meaty discussion. Fast-forward to today, and with the burgeoning local Ballroom scene, the FIFTH WALL® goal remains—for its platform to link communities through the universal language of dance.”
The lineup for this event is as follows:
- June 10 (11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.) with Xyza Mizrahi and Nunoy Revlon for History of the Ballroom Culture
- June 11 (11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.) with Xyza Mizrahi and Nunoy Revlon, and special guests: Jaja Revlon and Venus Revlon for The Ball: Old Way, New Way, Vogue Fem
- June 17 (11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.) with Nunoy Revlon and special guests: Jade 007, Maia Revlon, and Ponla Mizrahi for The Ball: Realness, Face, Body, Sex Siren
- June 18 (11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.) with Nunoy Revlon and special guests: Aman Sinaya Ninja and Ozkurr Mizrahi for The Ball: Runway, Fashion Delight, Best Dressed +
Ballroom 101 will be held at Stay Up Espresso Bar in Kapitolyo and on Zoom. Individual sessions start at PHP 350 if attending in-person, while package rates start at PHP 1,200. Each in-person ticket includes a free drink. Meanwhile, the cost for participation via Zoom is determined by what you can afford. Pre-sale tickets are available until June 8, 2023, with limited slots, so go ahead and register for the event through this form.
