Ballroom culture is rooted in necessity, started in the late 20th century in Harlem, New York by Black and Latino trans women organising their own pageants in opposition to the racism experienced in established queer pageant circuits.
It has since formed into a culture around survival — a way for trans women (fem queens) and queer people of colour to survive and pass as their straight counterparts — formed in a house of chosen family, serving as a support system.
A house has a genderless leadership structure of mother and father, guiding and helping their children (house members) through their personal journeys.
Santana Takiwa and Toru Tomokino formed Perth-based kiki house, House of Reign, about three years ago after seeing a gap in the local scene and held the house’s inaugural (and Perth’s first) ball of its kind, The Renaissance Ball last year, showcasing ballroom culture, Black, trans and queer excellence.
Now in a milestone moment for House of Reign, a second ball, The Element Ball, has been included in this year’s Fremantle Festival: 10 Nights in Port program for the first time, to be held at Fremantle Town Hall on August 12, with the full festival program running August 10 to 20.
“This is going to be our biggest event yet and we can’t wait for all to see it,” house father Tomokino shares.
“There is so much importance in having this event. For queer people of colour to be holding and taking up space uplifts the community as a whole, but also allows the community in Fremantle to be and feel seen. This is also such a huge win for our community being able to work with local government who support arts and queer culture.”
Ballroom events feature pageant-like proceedings in which entrants “walk” in categories for trophies or prizes. Introduced to ballroom more than 10 years ago in New Zealand, Tomokino, who is gender fluid, explains ballroom as featuring attendees in community walk categories that are all about passing and living their fantasy.
Walk categories include “Realness” which is about passing, while “Sex Siren” is a category dedicated to selling the essence of sex.
Performance categories range from “Old way”, the original performance of voguing where poses from magazines are mimicked and formed in a movement around sharp and clean lines, to “Vogue Fem”, which is voguing like a fem queen.
“Last year’s function was crazy. We learnt a lot and cried even more and can’t wait to level up this year,” Tomokino says.
“It’s a full culture experience. Community and people living their true and authentic selves. Outfits and looks that are OVAH (fabulous). Performance, essence and lots of shade.”
Additional 10 Nights in Port highlights
Eclipse, Fremantle Town Hall, August 13
With bucket loads of vision and imagination, CircusWA’s Academy youth performers will explore a gateway into what our future could, should, would and might just be with themes of unity and diversity, balance and disharmony, trust and compromise.
Walyalup Waters, Pakenham Street Art Space, August 10-20
Inspired by the bodies of water that flow through and around Walyalup/Fremantle, this exhibition is a deep dive into our coastal connections, featuring the works of nine WA artists — Erin Coates, Ross Potter, Grace Slaven, Sandy McKendrick, Anna Nazzari, Jo Darbyshire, Amok Island, Cass Lynch and Ian Daniell.
BoodjAR, Walyalup/Fremantle, August 10-20
Created in augmented reality and drawn from katadjin (knowledge) shared by Whadjuk elders, this collaboration between Aboriginal artists and 3D technical artists combines new technology with ancient Noongar culture. Download the app and travel across Walyalup (Fremantle) to discover work by artists including Sharyn Egan, Yabini Kickett, Jarni McGuire, Turid Calgaret, Harley Richards and Greg Barr.
You’re (Not) Wanjoo, Moores Building, August 10-20
This powerful exhibition focuses on the art of the fight for freedom and change making for a better future. Juxtaposing existing and adapted works from leading Aboriginal artists Cole Baxter and Ilona McGuire, with archival materials from Fremantle and around Australia, You’re (Not) Wanjoo builds a picture of the First Nations led fight for freedom, justice and recognition.
Hidden Treasures, West End venues and High Street, August 10 and 17
The West End of Fremantle will become a musical hub with the best of local original contemporary music performed at local venues including the Buffalo Club, the Navy Club, PSAS and High Street’s new country hotspot, Honky Tonk.