ballroom culture

American  

[bawl-room kuhl-cher] / ˈbɔlˌrum ˈkʌl tʃər /

Also ball culture also ballroom scene

noun

1. a subculture centered on competitive events called balls, featuring categories of fashion, performance, and dance: originating primarily among Black and Latino LGBTQ+ communities in the United States during the 1960s–1970s.

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Example Sentences

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ballroom culture

He died near the start of Beyoncé's career from an Aids-related illness, but her embrace of gay and ballroom culture on Renaissance can be traced back to him.

From BBC ● Nov. 30, 2023

The 2005 documentary “The Aggressives” provided a novel view of ballroom culture, or the underground pageant scene which emerged as a haven for queer Black and Latino youths in the 1980s and ’90s.

From New York Times ● Nov. 17, 2023

In 2022, Beyoncé’s latest album, “Renaissance,” paid homage to ballroom culture and brought new eyes and ears to the scene.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2023

Organizers and Seattle residents say these events provide culturally relevant programming, including educational workshops on LGBTQ+ issues, faith-based services and shows that spotlight ballroom culture, a performance art that originated in Black and Latino communities.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 2, 2023

The 16 tracks in “Renaissance” draw from house, disco and bounce music, genres that hark back to underground ballroom culture from the 1970s.

From Washington Post ● Jul. 29, 2022