DUNE WARS KIKI BALL
FEB 2, 2024
Legendary OA Mother Posh Gvasalia x VVJ x PuSh Festival
On February 2, the cosmic forces of Van Vogue Jam and PuSh Festival converge for a showdown of galactic proportions: Dune Wars Kiki Ball. Hosted by the Kiki Legendary Overall Mother Posh Gvasalia, this astro-glam extravaganza celebrates the creativity and resilience of the QTBIPOC community through Ballroom—a culture founded by Black, Latinx, Queer and Trans folk in NYC, Harlem in the 60’s. The most fab children of Vancouver’s Ballroom scene will compete for cash prizes—and interstellar supremacy—across categories where space-age vogue, fashion and attitude bring the planets of Arrakis and Tatooine into alignment.
Walkers will storm the runway in extraterrestrial hair sculptures, metallic robot chic and sandworm couture, channeling influences from the iconic Houses of Ballroom all the way to the noble House Atreides. Witness Jedi vogue precision with lightsabers in hand, as they walk the line between Real and Bizzare, while Bene Gesserit sisters wield the Voice to deliver reads that echo through the galaxy.
In this climactic face-off, it’s do or do not. There is no try. Fear is the mind-killer and serving supreme Fremen furocity is their only hope. Will performers harness their artistry to restore balance to the universe or to assert celestial dominion? One thing is certain: as prophecies are fulfilled and legends unfold, it’s going to get spicy. May the shade be with you!
ALL AGES FUNCTION
DOORS 3pm > LSS 4pm > END 9pm
DJ - Legendary DJ Blackcat “Charmed Mulan”
COMMENTATOR - Legendary OA Father Bambam Siriano
VKBA OTY Approved
SPONSORS AND FUNDERS
Canada Council For the Arts, HIM Clinic
TICKETING
$15 - Early Bird
$20 - General Admission
$30 - Door Tickets
Please email info@vanvoguejam.com for any low barrier ticket needs + discount for BALLROOM COMMUNITY/WALKERS
CATEGORIES
$1000 OTA Runway (6 Trophies) Female Figure All-American, Male Figure All-American, Butch Queen European, Drags Runway, Femme Queen European, Women's Runway
“The Father, Daughter, Son” - More info here on the Mortis Gods
While the Force is in each one of us, in the beginning the force was synthesized by the Mortis Gods - The Father, Daughter and Son - and in constant flux these three figures were integral to the forces balance in the universe. Create an effect inspired by one of the three Mortis Gods, and bring the FORCE to the runway.
$1000 OTA Performance (6 trophies) BQVF (Butch Queen Vogue Fem), RWT (Realness With a Twist), FQ (Femme Queen), Drags, Women's Performance, Butches Performance.
In Star Wars the lightsaber color denotes your values in the force - choose a lightsaber color and use it to inspire a head to toe look. More info here about lightsaber colors.
$1000 OTA Face (6 trophies) Butch Queen Face, Butch Face, Transman Face, Women's Face, Drags Face, Femme Queen Face
Reveal yourself! Bring it in an effect that incorporates a face cover of some sort and must be revealed for 10’s.
$500 OTA Realness (7 Trophies) School Boy, Pretty Boy, Executive Realness, Transman Realness, Butch Realness, Femme Queen Realness, Drags Realness.
Its Comic-Con season - bring it in a look that makes you blend in the sea of convention goers.
$500 OTA Best Dressed (3 trophies) Male Figure, Female Figure, GNC
In a galaxy far, far away… there was FASHION.
MF - bring it in a all black head to toe look, inspired by the villains of Star wars or Dune.
FF - bring it a look inspired by princes’s Padmé Amidala or Irulan.
GNC - Bring it in inspired by the robots of either Dune or Star wars.
*Must bring references for all effects.
$500 OTA Sex Siren (4 trophies) BQ, FQ, Womens, GNC
Are you my father? Darth Vader’s helmet was used to protect his identity, and cover up the horrible scarring from his battle against Obi Wan, while also creating mystery and intrigue to who he was. Bring it in any helmet from either franchise, and make it HOT.
$400 Bizzare (1 trophy)
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a giant f$&! worm! Bring a worm inspired look inspired by the Sandworm worms in Dune and/or the Sarlacc beast in Star Wars.
$300 OTA Body (2 trophies) Male Figure, Female Figure
You are princess Leia, and stuck on the side of Jabba the hutt as his prisoner. Bring it an effect inspired by the iconic 2 piece Leia wore in this scene.
$250 Pop, Dip and Spin (1 trophy)
You are a Freman on the planet DUNE, you live and breathe SPICE. Show us the ONLY WAY in blue contacts and Freman inspired desert wear.
$200 Commentator VS Commentator (1 trophy)
YOU HAVE THE VOICE. Bring a chant inspired by the world of DUNE, and in an all Blue effect like the waters of life.
$200 Hair Affair (1 trophy)
Bring us a stunning hair affair masterpiece inspired by the sculptural hair pieces of Star Wars.
$200 Club Kid Face (1 trophy)
Bring it as any of the amazing makeup looks from either franchise, must bring reference.
$100 Hands Performance (1 trophy)
FORCE CHOKE! Use the force and in a black glove tell us a story that will be remembered for ages.
Virgin Runway
You're an aspiring reverend mother in training, bring it in all black head to toe inspired by The Bene Gesserit and “secure the bloodline”.
Virgin Performance
Before you become a Jedi, you must first apprentice as a padawan - as a young pupil bring it in cream coloured robe like effect, referencing a padawans uniform.
COMPETITORS
Please come prepared knowing what to expect. If you are walking in a category for the first time.
Please do your research and understand that there can only be one winner per category.
Look up videos on YouTube, come to a VVJ session, look at the resources on www.vanvoguejam.com, reach out to us by e-mail or on Instagram. Please use the resources around you to be prepared. We also encourage you to ask us for feedback before you compete so that you feel strong going into the ball.
We want everyone to have fun, to feel they were able to serve their best, and we want everyone to have a fair chance at competing but you WILL be chopped during your 10s and unable to compete if you are unprepared.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Van Vogue Jam Arts Society would like to recognize we are coming together on the unceded territories of xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-waututh) Nations. We support the rights of Indigenous Peoples as stewards, protectors, and title holders of their lands and waters. We call on all people to change the policies, laws, and institutions in our country so all Indigenous Peoples can have full enjoyment of the rights of Indigenous Peoples.
CULTURAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We also make a cultural acknowledgment to the Black, Lantix, Trans and Queer folks who have founded Ballroom Culture - which we have a privilege of being guests to today. As an organization that is founded by non Black and Latinx people we acknowledge our ongoing need to question and reflect on how we navigate practicing Ballroom Culture locally, and continue our need to learn from the greater Ballroom community at large.
Creative safe space has always been at the heart of ballroom culture and we hope that this event can be a safe space for everyone to enjoy.
Oppressive attitudes and behaviours including but not limited to racism, transphobia, misogyny, fatphobia, ableism, and general bigotry are NOT welcome here. Consent is sexy - AND MANDATORY.
VVJ FAQ's
WHAT IS A BALL?
A BALL is an event that provides opportunities for a breadth of artists from the BALLROOM community to be seen, celebrated and supported, in the competitive BALL format. Individuals are given their “10’s” in order to move on to the battle rounds where competitors are paired into battles until there is a winner at the end of each category. The judges panel is specifically selected from the BALLROOM community. Balls are always accompanied by a COMMENTATOR and DJ for the event to flow.
WHAT IS BALLROOM?
Ballroom is a queer subculture and community founded in Harlem, NYC, by Black, Latinx, Queer and Trans folks - pioneered in the late 60’s by Crystal LaBeija.
WHERE DO I GO IF I'M WALKING A CATEGORY?
Info coming soon.
CAN I WALK A CATEGORY?
We ask all COMPETITORS to do their research/training before walking a category. The RUNWAY is a sacred and important space in BALLROOM. To walk a category without taking time to understand the history, intent, purpose, and category specific nuances is considered disrespectful.
WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE ABOUT VAN VOGUE JAM?
You can learn more about us at www.vanvoguejam.com
WHERE CAN I DONATE MONEY?
You can also donate money to us via our website www.vanvoguejam.com/donate
CAN WE TIP THE PEOPLE WALKING?
This is NOT a drag show, the best way to show your appreciation for the artists is to cheer them on and give them your presence and energy - if you really want to, you can talk to the artists after their category and personally to tip them. Any tips to Van Vogue Jam can be made through our website www.vanvoguejam.com/donate