From the suburbs of New York to the streets of Manaus: Discover the ballroom scene, by voguers from Manaus

Em Tempo talked to names in the dance modality, who talk about the history and legacy of voguing in the capital of Amazonas

Manaus (AM) – Voguing has its origins in the New York ballrooms of the 1980s. catwalks, dips, duckwalks, among several other movements, it has established itself as a dance and performance aimed at LGBTQIA+ communities around the world. In Amazonas, the scene has been gaining prominence and the style has become more professional, especially in Manaus.

With her dance characterized by the typical poses of models that are incorporated into the performance, dancer Simas Zion, known in the scene as Magic Maverick Zion, explains that the name “vogue” refers to the fashion magazine vogueand gained fame around the world when singer Madonna released a song of the same name in 1990

“Vogue became popular in the 80s in New York. But he appeared in balls (dances) well before that. Originally just called ‘Performance’, a hottie came in and started imitating the poses of a magazine as she flipped through it, and when she presented the cover, it turned out to be vogue magazine”,

comments in an interview with Em Tempo.

Marcelo Hawker, dancer, actor, and named in the scene as Emperor Blue Maverick, contextualizes that the balls, or “bailes”, mentioned by Zion, had category disputes. “Face” (face), “Executive Realness” (executive royalty), or “Haute Couture Eleganza”, with reinterpretations of high fashion clothes. Alongside these competitions were elaborate voguing choreographies.

“Over time, voguing had its evolutions, and started to have as movement references the anatomy and trajectories of black and Latino trans women in the ballroom community”,

explains.

From New York to Manaus

In the Manaus scene, Blue says that the scene emerged in 2019, at square meetings. “There was a need to create a space for people who are marginalized to have the opportunity to show their potential and skills through the categories in the balls, and in addition, create a support network for these people to feel welcomed and respected”, she reported.

Magic also explained that this space was created, with herself as a pioneer, to serve as a welcome for her community.

“Several young people met with the voguing and the Ballroom scene. Young LGBTQIA+ who with voguing felt stronger and more existing. The Ballroom scene represents me for the simple fact that it shows me that I am not alone. That there are sisters and brothers and brothers by my side. And that I’m part of something

highlights.

The First Ball of the Year

“The First Ball of the Year” takes place this Saturday (28), starting at 7 pm, with its colors in black and gold. Members of House Maverick tell more about the event.

“This ball will open the season of actions and movements in the scene in 2023, it is a celebration and the beginning of a lot of work and incentives to be done. In today’s society, and back when the ballroom first appeared, much still needs to be done in terms of opportunities and dignity for these people”,

Blue said.

“We exist at dances, it’s a night beyond showing our skills and competing. It is a night where we can meet, meet again, learn, be able to live together and be alive”, concluded Zion.

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