WHAT IS BALLROOM CULTURE

Loosely defined, Ballroom culture (also known among other things as ball community) is a performance competition sub-culture within the LGBT+ community originating in the mid 1980's in New York City where "houses", essentially teams, compete against each other in different areas including "walk", lip-syncing, and vogue. Originally, the Ballroom scene in America was created by LGBT Black or Latinx individuals creating safe spaces from both sexual, gender discrimination but also, racial discrimination within the LGBT community.

Using the athletic metaphor of houses resembling teams, "kikis" are basically the minor leagues where people perform in the hopes of being recognized by one of the local houses.

This little section has videos and articles explaining more about this counter-cultural phenomenon and how is has evolved.

The Ballroom BreakDownBall culture , the house system , the ballroom community and similar terms describe the underground LGBT subculture in the United States in which people "walk" (i.e. compete) for...

'Kiki' Takes the Pulse of New York’s Ballroom Culture | The Village VoiceA street sign, quickly glimpsed in the first few minutes of Kiki, Sara Jordenö’s adroit documentary on the new generation of those in the ballroom...

Ballroom Culture: The Language of Vogue (presented by Ronald Murray for Ted X)

This S**T has rules: A breakdown of the rules of Ball (BET)

Philly ballroom: 30 years of glamour, resistance and survivalInside ball culture — and how the community perseveres to create wins and unforgettable moments.

A Brief History of Modern Ballroom Culture | All Gay LongModern ballroom culture, or ball culture emerged in the 1920s in and around New York City, and slowly grew into the scene we know today.

The Ballroom Scene Has Long Offered Radical Freedoms For Black and Brown Queer People. Today, That Matters More Than EverBallroom and voguing, its best-known performance genre, were created as a source of entertainment, but also as a means of envisioning freedom while in a state of bondage

This Unit is a comprehensive although not all inclusive Unit on various topics in Human Sexuality (listed in the drop down navigation menu) that could be developed into a full course. Content in the Unit ranges from GRADES 5-12 but OBVIOUSLY some of the content is NOT for all grades. For a Top 10 list of reasons to include a comprehensive program for sexuality / Sexual Health education rather than just Abstinence only Education, please CLICK HERE.

ALTHOUGH ALL EDUCATIONAL, STUDENTS NOT ENROLLED IN MR. CORABI'S HEALTH CLASS OR HEALTH CLASS AT THE ARTS ACADEMY AT BENJAMIN RUSH, SHOULD GET THEIR PARENT'S PERMISSION BEFORE OPENING ANY LINKS OR DOWNLOADING ANY HANDOUTS. Other Teachers choosing to use information in this unit should use their discretion based on District Level, Community Level and School Level curriculum guidelines and policies.

It is assumed that students assigned to Mr. Corabi's class or Health Class at the Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush have their parent's permission based on weekly communication via google classroom posts, email or letters given to students for parents/guardians. Note: A child can consent on their own for Sexual Health Education and testing at age 14 in Philadelphia, PA.

Some lessons are required by the School District of Philadelphia via adoption of a program created by the CDC called "3R's".

Information about this can be found on the main unit page. Once you click ., find the section of the page called why teach a comprehensive unit" and expand the arrow.

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