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For their first ball and for the first time in Vancouver, BlackOut Collective brings to you a Ball with an all-Black production team, all-Black judging panel, DJ Softie Shan, and Commentator Notorious 007.
The Cookout Mini Ball celebrates the vibrancy of Black culture—past, present and future. While we invite all members of the community, Black folk and allies, to participate, please be mindful in how you choose to compete and show up in this space.
photo Simone Chnarakis
Ballroom serves as a sanctuary for LGBTQ+ people of colour, especially Black people, offering a space to showcase talent, creativity, and resilience. It provides a supportive community where individuals can embrace their true selves and find acceptance amidst societal challenges. These communities often take the form of houses, which are chosen families within the ballroom community that provide a sense of unity, mentorship, love, and a platform for self-discovery.
What’s the difference? While mainstream Ballroom competitions focus on established houses and seasoned performers, the Kiki scene was created as a way to provide a safer space for Queer youth of colour, focused on their health and wellbeing, especially in the context of the rising HIV/AIDS crisis of the 90s. Kiki Balls provide a platform for emerging talent, emphasizing fun, creativity, and community-building over strict competition.
photo Simone Chnarakis
photo Simone Chnarakis
The BlackOut Collective is a grassroots organization run by and for Black folk with the goal of making Ballroom accessible to Black folk and youth in the Metro Vancouver area. Founded in 2024, BlackOut hosts monthly open sessions for Black 2SLGBTQI+, serving as a space to be seen, celebrated, and to practice their respective categories in Ballroom, modelled after the underground New York Ballroom Scene that first emerged in the 1960's.
