by Joely Kelzer
June 13, 2023
Vogue Down, a Minneapolis ballroom collective, is bringing the ballroom tradition and more to a new generation in Minneapolis.
With a successful April event and more on the horizon, the group says that its main goal is to bridge the generational gap in the ballroom community and create space for queer BIPOC individuals to get together.
Their next event KIKI ZONE: Pride Edition will be held at Lush Lounge in Minneapolis on Wednesday, June 14.
I sat down with Donald Thompson (@therealdonald_), a founding member of Vogue Down, to speak about KIKI ZONE: Pride Edition and what Vogue Down is. He acted as a representative for the collective, which also includes Yoni (@yoni.light), Jojo (@jojo_ventus), and Zora (@zoradotcom).
The Beginnings of Vogue Down
“Our mission was just to find a place at first, to have space for queer BIPOC individuals to get together and be able to learn about ballroom and be in community with each other, and we just did not have that,” said Vogue Down.
Vogue Down has been a collective for a little over a year, starting in March of 2022. “At first we were just in studios, randomly booking things. Then it turned into a whole collective and we thought, let's share this with the community. We started making the sessions open to anybody who would like to come,” shared Vogue Down.
What is vogueing? What is ballroom?
“Vogueing is an expression of oneself, an expression of all the energy and the feelings someone has. They’re expressing that through their dance. Vogueing is not just a dance, it’s a lifestyle,” explained Vogue Down.
“Vogueing is a part of ballroom, but ballroom is so much more. Ballroom means different things to everybody, but ballroom was made by Black and Latinx people of color to help us have a space that was just for us,” Vogue Down clarified, “A place to be our own celebrities, because the world just wasn't made for us that way.”
“Energy is the biggest thing. The energy of the room is what people go away with and why they keep coming back,” said Vogue Down.
What happens at a ball?
“You start the night with everybody coming in. Everybody's piling in from different states, maybe even different countries– different walks of life, when everyone comes in, they will start LSS,” told Vogue Down. LSS which stands for legends, statements, and stars, is a fundamental component of ballroom.
“LSS is calling out people in the community who are at those status points,” explained Vogue Down.
Key definitions
Star: “Somebody who has been walking, they’re new, but they maybe have an ‘Of The Year’ award or some type of acknowledgement from the community for walking and being new.”
Statement: “A person who’s solidified in their category.”
Legend: “Somebody who is undeniable, somebody who has done more than that average person walking in that category and gone beyond. They have brought something unique from their own personality and their own self to the category.”
Icon (highest honor): “Somebody who everybody knows, everybody has seen people learn from them, everybody has seen the work they've done in the community, the change that they have brought to ballroom, there's been something there.”
After LSS, categories will begin. Categories for the KIKI ZONE: Pride Edition event are as follows: OTA (open to all) runway, OTA performance, OTA hands performance, realness (Male Figure, Female Figure), face (MF, FF, Gender Non-conforming) and sex siren (MF, FF, GNC)."
What makes KIKI ZONE special
“KIKI ZONE: Pride Edition is different from any old ball because it is made by younger people in the Twin Cities that have been doing ballroom for about a year now and have immersed themselves in it,” said Vogue Down. “It is really just showing that ballroom has been reignited in this city by the younger generation.”
“When we started opening these sessions and walking, it really got the older generation excited to throw balls again. So, they're starting to throw balls again. It's just a whole domino effect,” explained Vogue Down.
“KIKI ZONE: Pride Edition is more of an event than a ball, it’s an event plus a vogue night. It’s really to encompass all BIPOC artistry in every different form that the Twin Cities brings. That’s why it’s drag, rapping, singing, and dancing. All types of experiences,” said Vogue Down.
KIKI ZONE Code of Conduct
Who: Anyone who’s interested in seeing the performances and learning about the scene.
“I'm calling anybody eager to see amazing BIPOC performances and amazing BIPOC talent. I'm calling anybody who was in a house here, anybody who's interested in ballroom, anybody who loves artistry from Black entertainers, put on by Black entertainers. I'm calling everybody who will be respectful and understand that this is a space put on by young, Black, Queer adults.”
How to dress: Pop out, be creative.
“Pop out with your best outfit. Your best creative outfit. You could spend $10 and still be in an amazing outfit. You could be in Gucci and it looks crazy. It's all about your creative mind. We're really pushing people to get into the creative mind. There's no theme. There's no nothing. It's pride. Be creative. Come in with your best things. Step out. Bring your unique style to the table.”
What to know: Come with respect and positivity.
“Do not disrespect what you don't know. That's my number one thing. I would say second, when you come in a space, it's already built off positivity. So bring positivity. We don't want any negative vibes if you have them. Don't come. And then thirdly, I would say, one of the biggest rules, is to have fun. This is something that has never been brought to the Twin Cities. People have been loving it so far, and I want people to keep loving it. Really just bring good energy to the space and have a good time. Get a drink, sit down, watch the performers, maybe walk in a category if you feel up to it, have a good time.”
How to prepare: To walk a category, just show up and step out!
“To walk a category, just show up and step out there. Before walking, you should do your research. If you put in ballroom on YouTube, so many things will pop up. Look at clips, watch documentaries.”
Vogue Down works to try to teach the community about the rich history of Ballroom culture with their series “History 101,” (check out these videos on their Instagram page here).
Another place to learn more about the culture Vogue Down is bringing to Minneapolis is through documentaries. Vogue Down recommends “Paris Is Burning,” “How Do I Look,” “My House,” or “Pose,” and “Legendary,” which is a ballroom competition show.
What this event means: Connection.
“I think what it means for us is a connection of all people in the cities who have been interested in ballroom and who also are in ballroom to know each other. I think the biggest thing you can give people is a platform, and we're giving people a platform to showcase who they are. The four of us are new, we have only been doing this for about a year, but I know there are people that will have those answers for you. So I just want everybody to be able to network and connect with people that they could get something from and give something.”
Get Excited!
“I'm most excited to meet new people. I'm excited to see the creative expression people bring to their category. I'm most excited to see the drag performers we have with our Lady Camille Cassadine (@ladycummeal), your recent flip phone superstar Cariño (@carino.xoxo), who is the host of Drag Duels - a really big drag show in the city, and a great drag performer as well. We’re also having Destiny Spike (@destinyspikee), who is a Black woman artist who is going to shut down the stage as a rapper. So, it is going to be amazing. I'm excited just to see all the creativity.”