Marcel Christian LaBeija’s ABC of Ballroom

This piece appears in the columns section of frieze 245, ‘Wordplay’

In 1986, Marcel Christian LaBeija began producing ‘Idle Sheets’ – a series of more than fifteen zines documenting the latest New York Ballroom news – becoming, in the process, the scene’s first historian. LaBeija had discovered the ball world in the 1960s and watched it transform over the next two decades. During that time, Ballroom adopted more structured events that included ‘houses’ – which served as both teams and alternative families for its members – and different competition categories that resulted in long and robust nights. The scene also became more inclusive of different gender identities, evolving from its origins as a gathering for femqueens (transgender women) to include butchqueens (gay and bisexual men), butches (masculine lesbian women) and women (feminine, cisgender straight, bisexual and lesbian women). As an avid walker competing on the runway for trophies and cash prizes, LaBeija was best known for the categories of ‘Nostalgia’, where competitors hark back to a different era, and ‘Ethnic’, which celebrates cultures outside of the US. LaBeija took note of the changes in Ballroom culture in the 1980s, documenting what he referred to as the ‘marathon circuit’ of balls. Across the ‘Idle Sheets’, he compiled musings, ‘choreo poetry’, community gossip and news about the nascent scene through its rise in cultural influence.

As a fellow Ballroom historian who is committed to carrying on LaBeija’s legacy, I was overjoyed to acquire copies of several ‘Idle Sheets’ last year. In Idle Sheet II (1986), LaBeija espoused ‘THE ABCs OF DRAG BALL-ISM’, his witty take on Ballroom culture; you can read an excerpt below. Through his documentation, clever wordplay and dedication to posterity, we can interpret the evolution of Ballroom culture and ‘kiki’ (laugh) about its funny ins and outs. — Sydney Baloue

A

If you do not have the ABILITY, do not walk in ANY category, ever. It only makes the ball longer. In Ball-ism you must exhibit much AMBITION or you will fail and never become legendary which is the height of the dream. And if your ATTITUDE is not there, why even attend the ball. Do you know ANDRE Christian ANGIE Extravaganza and ARMS Pendavis? Legendary Arms “Ex-Omni” Pendavis.

B

A drag BALL is a miniature, temporary fantasy. Everybody loves the BANGY BOY scene because those guys are almost real. And the BEST BODY is always a choice morsel to look at. BUSINESSWEAR means businesswear and all the paraphernalia that goes with it: the slick dark suit, the sharp tie and shirt, the BRIEFCASE, its contents, the look. BUTCH queens do not wear women’s clothes unless the category runs “Butch Queen, 1st Time In Drag.”

C

CLASSIC refers to several things in Ball-ism but primarily to Face. A classic face is one that has always been and will always be Beautiful. CARTA, CARTA, CARTA means triple beauty, three times. CASH prize is the white or red envelope a trophy winner receives. The CATEGORIES are the segmentations bespoking the difference between the Butch Queen, the Femme Queen, the “Real” Man, the Real Woman, the Superb Butch. The COSTUME categories are always Extravaganzas. Some wonderful New York ball houses are CAMEO, CHANEL, CHRISTIAN, COREY. A famed New York ball personage is CANDI Stevels. A famed New Jersey ball personage is CHIPPER COREY CHIPPELLA.

D

If you are DEDICATED and DURABLE you could possibly win a trophy, two trophies, five trophies, ten trophies, a hundred. David Extravaganza has more than a hundred. DON’T give up! Paris DUPREE didn’t nor did DORIAN Corey. The DANKAS, the DIORS and all of the DIAMONDS didn’t.

E

ELEGANCE is Elementary when a contestant appears before an All-Star panel of judges. ETHNIC EFFECT certainly means a costume, look and aura from another place, another country, sometimes another era. THE ELKS Club is this dragball period’s homeland. When you walk in EVENINGWEAR you must appear after six, bowtie, ruffle front, cuff links, cumberband and patten leather slippers and the Dolls must carry an evening bag. ERSKINE Christian will always be legendary. Always. ECHELONS come out. Hurray for EBONY and EXTRAVAGANZA.

F

A true FACE is a vision of perfection to be looked upon once, twice, thrice, forever. FASHION is primarily The Game of the Name in Ball-ism. A FEMME Queen has a beautiful or real woman’s face and presents the unspookable illusion of born femininity. Ball FEVER can not be described, it can only be felt. FUTURISTIC indicates the fashion to be worn after the year 2000.

This article first appeared in frieze issue 245 with the headline ‘House Style’

_{Main image: House of LaBeija Ball, Kilimanjaro, New York, 1990. Courtesy: Chantal Regnault}