Glamorous gay dance scene a 'family affair'
Competitions are extravagant pageants that draw thousands of spectators
By Brooke Sopelsa and Drew Katchen
msnbc.com
updated 9/24/2011 7:17:15 AM ET
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44630018/ns/us_news-life/#.Tn8U8U9aPUJVoguing, drag queens and strutting on the runway — they're all part of a vibrant dance scene in the gay community where performers battle it out in competitions known as "balls." Participants perform in categories ranging from prettiest face to most bizarre costume.
This national scene, which traces its roots to the Harlem Renaissance, isn't just about what happens on the dance floor. Competitors are part of teams, known as "houses," and these groups provide family-like support for many of the performers.
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Posted on
Advocate.com September 25, 2011 07:00:00 AM ET
Go Inside the Latex Ball
By
Advocate.com Editors
http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2011/09/25/Go_Inside_the_Latex_Ball/MSNBC goes inside The Latex Ball in New York City, introducing viewers to a world most prominently on display in the noted documentary Paris is Burning.
"It's like a pageant and a basketball game," says Luna Luis Ortiz, father of the House of Khan, on the competition.
