Ballroom History 101
We will dive into the rich history of ballroom. A space for Black, Brown queer and trans joy, creativity, and radical self-expression. Ballroom’s origin story reaches back to the late 1800s. Before rainbow clad celebrants marched through the streets of Manhattan, before the Stonewall Riots sparked a movement that would change the world, the black community flourished in the Harlem Ballroom scene. Balls of Harlem can be traced back to the late 1800s, when African-American fraternal organizations started hosting masquerade ball fundraisers These events created an opportunity for members of the queer community to appear publicly in creative, elegant, l outfits, an activity that was not only taboo, but also illegal in many places. Later movements include the Harlem Renaissance and Great Migration in the United States during the 1920s and 1930s, but the Ballroom scene we know today began formation in the 1970s. In this workshop, we will discuss ballroom history from the late 1800s to 1970s to allow members and attendees of ballroom events to fully understand the rich history of this queer celebration of life.
Daniella D. Dean is a multidisciplinary writer and educator with a background in creative writing, performance, and community programming. She facilitates workshops and events rooted in magical realism, home, belonging, civic engagement, and global culture.