What is Street Dance?

Strike a Pose: The Rise and Radiance of Aotearoa New Zealand's Vogue Ballroom Scene


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Join us on a dazzling study into the electric world of Aotearoa New Zealand’s Vogue Ballroom scene—where self-expression, community, and queerness sparkle brighter than stage lights. This episode traces the journey from Harlem’s underground runways to South Auckland’s marae halls, exploring how a global movement rooted in resistance became a beacon of cultural restoration, chosen family, and Pacific pride in New Zealand.


In this episode, we unpack:


1. The Origins & Global Roots

  • Voguing’s birth in 1960s Harlem, USA, as an artform of African American and Latino LGBTQ+ communities (Paris Is Burning as pivotal inspiration).
  • Signature elements—fashion magazine-influenced poses, Egyptian iconography, and sharp body movements.
  • Cultural impact and sanctuary ballroom culture provided, especially for Black/Latino queer and transfeminine people.
  • The global ‘vogue explosion’ after Madonna’s “Vogue” (1990) and the worldwide influence of Paris Is Burning.


2. Arrival & Adaptation in Aotearoa

  • The first balls in Ōtara, South Auckland (2013), at Tapu Te Ranga Marae—significance for Māori and Pacific queer communities.
  • The founding of FAF SWAG Arts Collective in Auckland by Pati Salomona Tyrell and Tanugago.
  • Ballroom as “chosen family” and radical cultural adaptation for indigenous and diaspora communities facing both racism and queerphobia.


3. Architecture of the Scene: Houses, Stars, and Safe Havens

  • The rise of iconic houses: House of Coven-Carangi, House of Aitu, House of Iman, Kiki House of Marama (Wellington), House of Givenchy, and Avant House of Dawn.
  • The living legends: Mother Mistress Coven-Carangī (scene’s godmother), Tanu Gago, Pati Salomona Tyrell, Mother Honey Givenchy, Cara Mara & Romay, Mother Venus, Godfather Sam.
  • House structures as surrogate families—mentorship, life skills, competition, and fierce love.
  • “007s” (free agents) and the organic flow of new houses and talent.


4. Balls, Battles & Community

  • Signature events: Legacy Vogue Ball, Fictional Ball, Metalliball, Dusk Till Dawn & Through the Eras Kiki Balls, A Hula Fashion Week, Battle Zone.
  • The move from grassroots marae venues to national arts centres and Te Papa museum.
  • Workshops and educational events from FAF SWAG to Kiki House of Marama—building skills and preserving authenticity.


5. Cultural Impact & Ongoing Journey

  • Ballroom as sanctuary and tool for radical self-love and empowerment, especially for queer Māori/Pasifika youth and artists.
  • The vital role of cultural restoration: spaces for “queer brown bodies” to thrive, challenging conservative Pākehā norms and colonial values.
  • Scene’s evolving inclusivity, mainstream visibility, and the joys/challenges of greater recognition.


6. Timeline of Pivotal Moments

  • 1960s Harlem origins → 1990s globalisation → 2013’s Aotearoa debut, house formations, major events.
  • Recent landmark balls, art residencies, and government honours—plus a look ahead to rising regions and future plans (Blenheim, Te Papa events in 2025).


Tune in for shimmering stories, iconic moments, and a celebration of resilience—where every duckwalk, dip, and pose is a victory against erasure. As the scene grows, we ask: how can we help every future star’s freak flag truly fly?

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What is Street Dance?By Street Dance Talks