The series Pump, Create, Elevate returns in 2025 with a second round of public events for and by Ballroom’s extended family. Under the continued programme Politics of Rhythm, through which HKW stimulates practices that embody dance and music to further develop and maintain communitarian knowledge, the series is hosted in collaboration with and by House of St. Laurent. With dedicated moments providing space for gathering outside of the dynamics of the ball, it welcomes others interested in expanding their knowledge, skills, or network. As Ballroom culture originated from trans women of African, Central and South American, and Caribbean heritage, and continues to centre racialized and sexo-diverse (or queer) people’s lives and resilience, their participation is especially invited. 

With guests facilitating the programme, each session focuses on a different facet, offering a frame to look into aspects of the culture, such as expanding on and preparing for different categories, the basics and practice of categories that centre sensuality, and exchanges on the worldwide network of Ballroom and the particularities of how it takes place across different latitudes.

Ballroom 101 Lab sessions serve to introduce and break down the functioning basics and to practice specific categories in a guided learning and empowering group environment. During the workshop From Body to Sex Siren, there are two consecutive parts to work on and finesse the presentations of these categories, including a rundown on the preparation required to walk a ball, on how to get the qualifying ‘10s’, battle tactics, and some exercises and prompts to achieve what is at the core of walking these two categories. Body emphasizes the presentation and posing of diverse bodily physics, such as a ‘luscious’, ‘model’s’, or ‘muscular’. Sex Siren requires the walker to excel in seductiveness, whether as a ‘male figure’, ‘female figure’, ‘cat boy’, or ‘lion babe’. Both categories highlight the importance of the artistic beauty of self-expression, often in strong connection to sensuality and empowerment.

The first part of the session, Body Lab, is introduced and guided by the German God Mother of the Kiki House of Angels, the multifaceted choreographer, performer, and model Gifty 007. The second part, Sex Siren Lab, is overseen by international dance performer Indica Gorgeous Gucci, who was a member of the Legendary Supreme Kiki House of Mermaids. Both labs are mostly geared at community members already active in Ballroom.

The session at large aims to be a ‘safer space’ for the empowerment of melanated, sexo-diverse people, especially those a part of the trans community. Given that the practising of these categories requires a communal holding of space for the intimate expression of one’s own gender and sexuality, and the vulnerability that this might imply, being mindful of the space one takes, respecting the dynamics of the room, and giving priority to the focus groups is a participation requirement.

Additionally, there is a library available in the space featuring publications that delve deeper into ballroom culture, and its history and knowledge. In conjunction with the programme House of Houses, HKW also offers continued internal rooms for rehearsal for members of the International Resilient House of Makaveli, and for local practitioners of New Way, assembled by Litchi Saint Laurent.

With self-determination at its core, mastering the art of presentation has been a catalyst for self-empowerment inside the practice of Ballroom culture. Using fashion as a vessel of self-expression and affirmation, in line with a long history of excelling in terms of creativity, style, and precision, the Ballroom community’s art reclaims space, demands acknowledgment, and puts forth a commitment to beauty and agency.

From its early stages in Harlem’s drag balls of the 1920s to the consolidation of Vogue as an expressive movement practice, Ballroom culture has shaken the naturalization of sexuality and gender binary performativities, as well as exposed the intersecting racial and economic glass ceilings often at work. Playfully examining, deconstructing, and turning performativities into tools for anyone troubled by cis-heteronormativity and aiming to fool/surpass its segregative impact, such practices have continuously evolved beyond the framing of passing. This has included, for example, the assertion of gender non-binarism and consolidation of embodied vocabularies and language that describe less regimented and more plural ways of being. In today’s socio-cultural climate, in which far-right and fascist politicians are harshly limiting and trying to erase the existence of sexo-diverse people, safe spaces, solidarity, and support are crucial to continue building a plurality of non-patriarchal, gender-euphoric, equal futures.

In, around, and associated with HKW there is no space for, nor tolerance towards, hate speech or hate actions of any kind.

Contributors: Indica Gorgeous Gucci, Gifty Lartey
Co-production, co-curation: Georgina Philp and Litchi Ly Friedrich

Save the dates for the next workshop of Pump, Create, Elevate:

Friday 28 November, 18:00–22:00 
Ballroom Worldwide. International Alliances and Adaptations