hey tribe!

how was your weekend?

do you know that dancing is one of the best ways to stay active and moving? in fact, dancing is the best way to keep your mood uplifted and the happy vibes flowing. but since, we are celebrating the pride month, we want to talk about a special kind of dance form. no, not the one we showcase on sangeet. this dance form is special because of its roots and its ingenuity to express differently. it’s called voguing and yes it was forged by the passion and expression of the LGBTQ community.

many people who are fond of dancing might not know about this either. so, let’s look at what it means and where it comes from.

what is voguing?

voguing as a dance style began in the 1980s in Harlem, New York as young African Americans and Latino people from different genders and sexuality were looking for ways to express themselves.

the dance style gave birth to safe spaces all over New York, usually referred to as Ballroom houses. These houses where the Ballroom culture flourished gave freedom to people with any gender or sexuality.

The Ballroom Scene

these ballroom houses mentioned above compete against each other in stylized face-offs. the dancing style is mostly an improvisation of hand and leg movements according to the different rituals in the ballroom culture. the culture was created to subvert the white feminine and heterosexual behaviour codified in the society. They glorify beauty and sexuality but at the same time break all roles and stereotypes to define people in boxes.

The importance of voguing

voguing began as a form of self-expression that liberated many people in a time when being anything other than a heterosexual man was not accepted. it allowed them a space to be who they are and a place for them to truly embrace their sexuality. the dance style is created to encourage and promote self-confidence.

even today as new styles and dance forms emerge, voguing remains a powerful force in the dancing community. it remains truthful to its beginnings while becoming a global phenomenon over the decades. so, we hope this dance form gives you the expression you need to move and be your authentic self.