The Ballroom Scene (also known as the Ballroom community, Ballroom culture, or just Ballroom) is an African-American and Latino underground LGBTQ+ subculture that originated in New York City. Beginning in the late 20th century, Black and Latino drag queens organized their own pageants in opposition to racism experienced in established drag queen pageant circuits. Though racially integrated for the participants, the judges of these circuits were mostly white people. While the initial establishment of Ballroom mimicked these drag queen pageants, the inclusion of gay men and trans women would transform the Ballroom scene into what it is today: a multitude of categories in which all LGBTQ+ people may participate. Attendees "walk" these categories for trophies and cash prizes. Most participants in Ballroom belong to groups known as "houses", where chosen families of friends form relationships and communities separate from their families of origin, from which they may be estranged.
Houses
Houses function as alternative families, primarily consisting of Black and Latino LGBTQ+ individuals, and provide shelter for those who feel ostracized by conventional support systems. Houses are led by "mothers" and "fathers" who are experienced members of the ballroom scene, typically drag queens, gay men or transgender women, who provide guidance and support for their house "children". The children of a House are each other's "siblings".
All houses were founded in U.S. cities, mostly in the Northeast. These include New York City, Newark, Jersey City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Atlanta as well as Chicago and Oakland, California. Houses that win trophies and gain recognition through years of participation (usually ten years) reach the rank of legendary. Houses with 20+ years of participation are deemed iconic. Typically, house members adopt the name of their house as their last name. Those currently not in a house carry the last name "007".
Notable Houses
Notable Houses include: The Royal House of LaBeija (founded by Crystal LaBeija, co-founder of ballroom culture; and chiefly run by Pepper LaBeija in the 1980s and 1990s) The House of Aviance (founded by Mother Juan Aviance)
The International House of Chanel (founded by R.R. Chanel in 1976.)
The House of Omni (co-founded by Kevin Omni in 1979.)
The Iconic House of Allure founded in Washington, DC in 1989 by (Father Al Allure).
The House of Balenciaga (founded by Harold Balenciaga) The House of Dupree (founded by Paris Dupree; currently closed). The House of Ebony (founded by Larry Preylow Ebony and Richard Fears Ebony) The House of Ferré (founded by Milan Christopher) The House of Garçon (founded by Whitney and Shannon Garçon) The House of Juicy Couture (founded by Courtney Balenciaga) The House of Ladosha (founded by La Fem LaDosha and Cunty Crawford) The House of Latex The House of Maison Margiela (founded by Vini Margiela) The House of Mizrahi (founded by Andre Mizrahi)
The Iconic International House Of Miyake-Mugler (founded by The Iconic Overall Founding Father David Miyake-Mugler, Raleigh and Julian Mugler) The House of Lanvin (founded by Meechie & Kenny Lanvin) The Iconic International House of St. Laurent (founded by Octavia St. Laurent, Christopher Hall, and Robert Marcomeni in 1982) The House of Ninja (founded by Willi Ninja) The House of Pendavis
The House of Xtravaganza (founded by Hector Valle, and chiefly run by Hector Xtravaganza and Angie Xtravaganza in the 1980s) The Royal House of Nina Oricci (founded by Gillette and Omari Mizrahi Oricci) The House of West (founded by James West and Anthony West) The House of Du'Mure Versailles (founded by Aaliyah Du'Mure Versailles and Scott Alexander Du'Mure Versailles) The House of Balmain (founded by Rodney Balmain) The Gorgeous House of Gucci (founded by Gorgeous Jack Mizrahi Gucci, Kelly Mizrahi Gucci, Marlon Mizrahi Gucci and Trace Gucci) The House of Amazon (founded by Leiomy Maldonado). The House of Alain Mikli (founded by Selvin Mizrahi & Nicole Khan)