The Atlanta metropolitan area is once again about to be exposed to a phenomenom known as the house/ballroom culture. This year marks the 2nd installation of the Kombat Ball hosted by DA CRIBB, a HIV prevention program under the umbrella of the National AIDS and Education Services for Minorities organization which is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
When referencing "House Balls" or the "Ballroom Scene/Community" many people reference documentaries such as award winning film "Paris is Burining" produced by Jennifer Livingston and the more recent debut of "How Do I Look" which provides its viewers with a more up to date synopsis of house/ballroom culture. Both of these films are available for purchase at Amazon.com.
When referencing "House Balls" or the "Ballroom Scene/Community" many people reference documentaries such as award winning film "Paris is Burining" produced by Jennifer Livingston and the more recent debut of "How Do I Look" which provides its viewers with a more up to date synopsis of house/ballroom culture. Both of these films are available for purchase at Amazon.com.
BALLROOM 101
(By: Father Jon Jourdan-Zion)
Back in the `70s the streets of Harlem bursted into flames by the evolution of the then Drag Pageants into what is known in modern day society as "Balls" (also known as House Balls, Drag Balls, Ballroom Scene). This underground subculture founded mainly by New York Blacks and Latinos gay kids and drag queens from various houses (think fraternities or sororities) to compete at a "ball" for prizes, which can range from trophies to cash. The ballroom scene is a place where lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people of color can go and not be judged for their sexuality or alternative gender. Throughout the years they have opened up to include all orientations (yes Heterosexuals do walk balls as well, but not with the same flair that the homos do, lol).
Back in the day, these surrogate family constructs were created to deal with the reality that many people in the scene were being rejected by their families, and often-times by their communities. Many found refuge in these alternative families which also provided a space for them to explore and shape sexual and gender orientations. However, is important to point out that not everyone in the ballroom community is a product of rejection especially since homosexuality has arguably become more tolerant throughout the years.
Understanding the makeup of a "house" can be confusing. While they loosely follow the models of fraternities and sororities, they have a heavy influence of hetero-normative family constructs. Each house has a mother and father (neither being gender-specific) and children. Each house has its own flair, credo, and mode of operandi. The House name is adopted by each member of the house…thereby each member of the House of Xtravaganza would be named "such and such" Xtravaganza.
ATLANTA's TURN AT BAT
(By: Father Jon Jourdan-Zion)
New York saw early that there was a great need to bring HIV Awareness to the ballroom scene, thereby forming the House of Latex, founded in 1989 to support the efforts of youth and young adults to stay healthy and prevent the spread of HIV.
New Jersey soon followed with Project: Fire Ball which was the brainchild of People of All Colours Together (PACT) to bring HIV Awareness and Prevention strategies to The Greater Newark "Houses". This project was the first to successfully bring together a coalition of houses for a common cause greater than the pageantry of the balls.
Throughout the years almost every large urban city has adopted some form of the ballroom scene and often time have held "community service" balls either on a yearly bases or in conjunction with special health conferences. Now Atlanta, which debatably has the largest ballroom population, second only to the originating New York scene, will once again host an event; again taking its turn at focusing HIV prevention methods to the ballroom scene.
On Sunday, November 9, 2008, the National AIDS Education And Services for Minorities (NAESM) will sponsor Da C.R.I.B.B.'s Kombat Ball. Da C.R.I.B.B., a drop-in "safe space" and educational resource center for young gay and bisexual men of color, will invite participants to incorporate HIV Prevention messages within many of their categories. The Kombat Ball will be held at the TRAXX Niteclub (1287 Columbia Drive Decatur, GA 30332) from 3pm – 12Midnight.
Da C.R.I.B.B. is requesting a $5 donation at the entrance and promises to be filled with fun, excitement, creativity, and fierce competition. Arrive early because seating will be limited and standing room capacity will definitely be a sure thing.
For Info & Table Reservations: Jon Gabriel Ortiz (Father Jon
Jourdan-Zion) @ Da CRIBB at (404) 622.4207.
(By: Father Jon Jourdan-Zion)
Back in the `70s the streets of Harlem bursted into flames by the evolution of the then Drag Pageants into what is known in modern day society as "Balls" (also known as House Balls, Drag Balls, Ballroom Scene). This underground subculture founded mainly by New York Blacks and Latinos gay kids and drag queens from various houses (think fraternities or sororities) to compete at a "ball" for prizes, which can range from trophies to cash. The ballroom scene is a place where lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people of color can go and not be judged for their sexuality or alternative gender. Throughout the years they have opened up to include all orientations (yes Heterosexuals do walk balls as well, but not with the same flair that the homos do, lol).
Back in the day, these surrogate family constructs were created to deal with the reality that many people in the scene were being rejected by their families, and often-times by their communities. Many found refuge in these alternative families which also provided a space for them to explore and shape sexual and gender orientations. However, is important to point out that not everyone in the ballroom community is a product of rejection especially since homosexuality has arguably become more tolerant throughout the years.
Understanding the makeup of a "house" can be confusing. While they loosely follow the models of fraternities and sororities, they have a heavy influence of hetero-normative family constructs. Each house has a mother and father (neither being gender-specific) and children. Each house has its own flair, credo, and mode of operandi. The House name is adopted by each member of the house…thereby each member of the House of Xtravaganza would be named "such and such" Xtravaganza.
ATLANTA's TURN AT BAT
(By: Father Jon Jourdan-Zion)
New York saw early that there was a great need to bring HIV Awareness to the ballroom scene, thereby forming the House of Latex, founded in 1989 to support the efforts of youth and young adults to stay healthy and prevent the spread of HIV.
New Jersey soon followed with Project: Fire Ball which was the brainchild of People of All Colours Together (PACT) to bring HIV Awareness and Prevention strategies to The Greater Newark "Houses". This project was the first to successfully bring together a coalition of houses for a common cause greater than the pageantry of the balls.
Throughout the years almost every large urban city has adopted some form of the ballroom scene and often time have held "community service" balls either on a yearly bases or in conjunction with special health conferences. Now Atlanta, which debatably has the largest ballroom population, second only to the originating New York scene, will once again host an event; again taking its turn at focusing HIV prevention methods to the ballroom scene.
On Sunday, November 9, 2008, the National AIDS Education And Services for Minorities (NAESM) will sponsor Da C.R.I.B.B.'s Kombat Ball. Da C.R.I.B.B., a drop-in "safe space" and educational resource center for young gay and bisexual men of color, will invite participants to incorporate HIV Prevention messages within many of their categories. The Kombat Ball will be held at the TRAXX Niteclub (1287 Columbia Drive Decatur, GA 30332) from 3pm – 12Midnight.
Da C.R.I.B.B. is requesting a $5 donation at the entrance and promises to be filled with fun, excitement, creativity, and fierce competition. Arrive early because seating will be limited and standing room capacity will definitely be a sure thing.
For Info & Table Reservations: Jon Gabriel Ortiz (Father Jon
Jourdan-Zion) @ Da CRIBB at (404) 622.4207.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment