Origins of the German Ballroom Archive
The German Ballroom Archive was initiated in 2020 during the Take Care Resi- dency, focusing on Ballroom archiving in Germany. This was a collaboration between Legendary Mother Leo St. Laurent, Litchi St. Laurent, and Yukiko 007. Since 2021, the House of St. Laurent has continued its archival work indepen- dently, developing written texts and a timeline that document the scene’s evolution. In 2025, the work continued as part of Fierce Foundations Festival, in collaboration with Legendary Mother Leo St. Laurent, Litchi St. Laurent, and Dilara 007.
Additionally, community members were actively invited to send contributions to expand the archive. We would like to thank everyone for their participation in submitting their history.
This represents an initial approach to archiving the history of German Ballroom. We look forward to its continued development – by and within the community.
2008–2012: Pre-Ballroom Era
Voguing entered Europe through hip hop dance battles, often mixed with waacking, and initially without any formal Ballroom structure. The style was primarily embraced by cisgender women within the male-dominated hip hop dance scene. Many dancers imitated voguing moves and entered battles – often without access to Houses, Ballroom categories, or the cultural foundations of voguing. During this early phase, European pioneers began researching Ballroom history, traveling to events, and building connections with U.S. legends to deepen their understanding of the culture. In Germany, there was a lively exchange between Dusseldorf (in the form of spaces for voguing in hip-hop events) and Berlin, offering the first workshops.
Key milestones:
- 2008: Funkin’ Stylez (Dusseldorf) – Guest Judge Archie Burnett (waacking vs. voguing category)
- 2009: Funkin’ Stylez (Dusseldorf) – Viral clip of Javier vs. Lasseindra
- 2009: Geneva Unique Battle – Judge Tyrone “The Bone” Proctor (waacking & voguing)
- 2011: New Way Workshop with Javier Ninja
- 2012: Catch the Flow Battle (Frankfurt) – Judge Leiomy
2012–2014: The Beginning of Ballroom in Germany
In its early years, Ballroom in Germany began to separate itself from the hip-hop dance scene and moved toward intentional community building. The scene was initially shaped mostly by cisgender women, with very few BIPoC, trans and queer participants. For most scenes, relying on commercial dance spaces to attract new ballroom members was part of the process of finding and doing outreach to create a community. The founding of the House of Melody and the House of Lazer, along with the first Ball during the Berlin Voguing Out Festival, marked the emergence of a local structure.
Events often combined Balls with workshops, film screenings, and panels – emphasizing identity, culture, and the creation of community spaces. Early collaborations with the hip-hop community, particularly through events like Funkin’ Stylez, introduced voguing to a wider dance audience and connected Ballroom to international guests and influences.
Key milestones:
- 2012: First Ball and Berlin Voguing Out Festival – with Hector Xtravaganza
- 2013: Second Berlin Voguing Out Festival; first Ball in Hamburg (House of Lazer)
- 2014: Introduction of Old Way, New Way, and Vogue Fem as separate categories
- 2014: Voguing featured in Funkin Stylez and Battle Room – Guests: Dashaun Wesley, Vjuan Allure, Archie Burnett, Lasseindra Ninja
2015–2017: Spreading of the Culture and Understanding for Ballroom
As the community expanded, it became more diverse – attracting more queer and BIPoC members and fostering the growth of new Kiki and Mainstream Houses. Ballroom education – through workshops, panels, and community organizing – helped the scene gain structure and consistency across Germany.
German chapters of U.S. Houses were established. International exchange intensified, with growing ties to scenes in the Netherlands and France. These transnational connections enriched local Ballroom culture and brought many international walkers to Balls in Germany.
Key milestones:
- Founding of Kiki Houses: Juicy Couture, Angels, Mulan, Twinkle, Hanichu, Dynamite, Monster, Giva, Venus
- Establishment of Mainstream Houses including: Milan, Ninja,Mizrahi, Comme des Garçons, Revlon, Balenciaga, Lanvin, Prodigy,LaConya
- Notable events like the Tit Bit Ball at Südblock, launch of the Community Ball series featuring rotating concepts at St. Georg, co-organized by Leo, Ambrosia, Angelique, LaQuefa, Ceekay, and Jakob
2018–2020: Strong Growth in the New Generation and New Opportunities
The Kiki scene grew rapidly, opening space for young artists, QTIBIPoC individuals, and those with limited or no access to the mainstream scene. Educational initiatives inten- sified, centering on the politics of Ballroom, gender identity, and HIV awareness. The scene became more decentralized, with Kiki Balls emerging in cities beyond Berlin. New Kiki Houses were founded, including Arise, Tea, Marciano, Salem, Solar, Bodega and Louboutin. At the same time, established Mainstream Houses such as St. Laurent, G. Gucci, and Ebony remained active and continued to shape the growing scene. Young organizers and leaders played a key role in building consistent Kiki Balls across multiple regions, marking the spread of Ballroom culture throughout Germany.
Key milestones:
- 2018: First official Kiki Ball by SoExtra (Berlin), Drag-On Ball (Berlin), MTV Music Ball (Berlin), Summer Kiki (Hamburg)
- 2019 /2020: Get in Formation Ball (Hamburg), Rated X Ball (Dresden), Born This Way (Oldenburg), Bread and Butter Ball (location not specified), Icons Galore Ball (Berlin), Love Is in the Air Kiki (location not specified), The Born This Way Kiki (Oldenburg), The Rites of Spring Kiki (Berlin)
2020–2025: Covid & Post-Covid -Wider Growth and Expansion of Local Scenes in Germany
Between 2020 and 2025, the German Ballroom scene experienced remarkable growth – particularly during and after the Covid pandemic. Lockdown periods became a time for self-reflection, cultural research, and discovery of Ballroom practices. Thanks to digital platforms, community members could stay connected and continue learning despite physical restrictions. By 2025, Balls and community spaces were significantly more visible and accessible across the country. After the lockdowns, local Ballroom scenes grew rapidly – emphasizing regional leadership and the creation of new communities. Key initiatives and collectives emerged with educational formats that nurtured new generations: such as Shapes & Shades (Düsseldorf), Moew Mondayz (Hamburg), TrueColours (Leipzig), Kiki Lounge (Berlin), Ovah (Hannover), and Berlin Ballroom Pier (Berlin). The scene prioritized accessibility and empowerment through free workshops, community alliances, and increasingly inclusive spaces.
Key milestones:
- Online panels and workshops, for example, by Shapes & Shades, as well as the first larger Balls held during the pandemic in Berlin, such as the Superheroes Ball or the Rock N’ Soul Kiki.
- Organising of first local functions and increasing numbers of Kiki Balls across many cities, including Cologne, Bremen, Leipzig, Nuremberg, Mannheim, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Munich, Kassel, Hannover.
- The founding of Kiki Houses and the rise of new leadership, in houses such as Laveaux, Louboutin, Mulan, Mermaid, Sun, and Juicy.
- Mainstream Houses were established, including the House of Orrici, Elle, Allure, Margiela, Marc Jacobs, and West.
