POSH BALL 2025 “...and action!” 

A Mainstream Ballroom Function 

Presented by Canadian Mother Posh Basquiat and Van Vogue Jam Arts Society 

Saturday - July 26, 2025 

The Pearl - 881 Granville St 19+ only 

DOORS 6pm > LSS 7pm  > END BY MIDNIGHT 

FEATURING DJ - The Iconic DJ MikeQ

COMMENTATOR - Iconic Overall Father Dashaun Basquiat

HOST - Icon Jack Mizrahi Gorgeous Gucci 

TICKETING 

Early Bird Tickets - $35.00

General Admission Tickets - $45.00

Door Tickets - $60.00

Walk Discount, PWYC, Tables - Please reach out to info@vanvoguejam.com

*all online tickets will incur additional service fees * 

CATEGORIES

(UPDATED MAY 27, 2025)

Tag Team Runway 2 trophies - $2000CAD 

THE WORLD OF Guillermo del Toro. Guillermo del Toro is known to mystify his audiences with his playful and whimsical stories, often pulling from real world mythology and folklore. As a TAG TEAM bring it as any magical creature from his lexicon of films like Hellboy, The Shape of Water, and Pan’s Labyrinth. *Must show printed references* 

Performance (BQVF, FQ, RWT, Womens, Drags, Trans Man, Butch, GNC, Legends, Icons) 10 trophies - $1500CAD sponsored by AfroQueer 

THE WIZARD OF OZ. We were off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of oz. Bring it in any version of the many iterations of the film from its original 1925, to the 1939, The Wiz 1978, or the most recent Wicked 2024 version. *Must bring printed reference* 

BQVF - The Wizard of oz 

FQ - Glinda 

RWT - The Tin Man 

Womens - Dorthy 

Drags - Wicked Witch 

Trans Man - The Scarecrow 

Butch - Cowardly Lion 

GNC - Yellowbrick Road 

Legends, Icons - Any character from the movie. 

OTA Face (BQ, FQ, BQID, Women, Transmen, Butch, Legends, Icons) 8 Trophies - $1000CAD 

ALICE IN WONDERLAND. Don't step through  the looking glass… Bring it in an effect befitting the world of WONDERLAND. 

BQ - The Hatter 

FQ - Alice 

BQID - The Red Queen

Women - The White Queen 

Transmen - The Caterpillar

GNC - White Rabbit 

Butch - Tweedledum

Legends/Icons - Can choose any character 

Commentator VS Commentator - $300CAD sponsored by Lawless Whiskey

INDIANA JONES. Indiana Jones is a fictional character and the protagonist of a popular American media franchise, primarily known for his adventures as a professor of archaeology. CHANT with a hat and whip like Mr. Jones. 

BODY (MF, FF) 2 trophies - $500CAD 

SPACE JAM. In a desperate attempt to win a basketball match and earn their freedom, the Looney Tunes seek the aid of retired basketball champion, Michael Jordan. Get us bodied in a character inspired by any cartoon character from the film. Printed Reference Must Be Included

Hands Performance 1 trophy - $300CAD sponsored by TFD Productions

LORD OF THE RINGS. One ring to rule them all! Hands performance with A RING. 

New Face 1 trophy - $200 Lululemon Gift Card

IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE. Wong Kar-wai’s film portrays a man and a woman in 1962 whose spouses have an affair together and who slowly develop feelings for each other. Bring  it in the movie's iconic RED effect - from head to toe. 

Beginner Runway 1 trophy - $200 Lululemon Gift Card 

FAST & FURIOUS. On your marks, get set, WALK. Bring it in a car/racer effect and make the girls eat dust. 

Beginner Performance 1 trophy - $200 Lululemon Gift Card 

CHICAGO. Two death-row murderesses develop a fierce rivalry while competing for publicity, celebrity, and a sleazy lawyer's attention. Bring it in a burlesque-Chicago like effect. 

Pop, Dip and Spin - $300CAD 

007. A solo agent, a heart throb, a killer - bring us the ONLY WAY in a James Bond/agent 007 suited effect. 

OTA Realness (School Boy, Pretty Boy, Executive, Thugs, Trans-Man, Butch, Everyday, Drags, FQ, Legends, Icons) 11 trophies - $500CAD 

PULP FICTION. The iconic Pulp Fiction is a 1994 American independent crime film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino from a story he conceived with Roger Avary. 

Bring it in one of the characters: 

School Boy - Brett

Pretty Boy - Buddy Holly  

Executive - Winston Wolfe 

Thugs - Marsellus Wallace 

Trans-Man - Jules Winnfield 

Butch - Butch Coolidge 

Everyday - Lance 

Drags - Marilyn Monroe 

FQ - Mia Wallace 

Legends, Icons - Any character from the movie 

OTA Best Dressed (MF,FF, GNC) 3 trophies - $500CAD Cappelleria Bertacchi Italian Hatcrafter 

OLD HOLLYWOOD MOVIE. Dress to impress referencing these iconic fashion films from old hollywood. 

MF - Dodge City (1939) > Cowboy inspired suite.

FF - Funny Face (1957) > Vintage Givenchy inspired gown. 

GNC - Cleopatra (1963) > Inspired by the iconic gold looks from the movie. 

OTA Sex Siren (MF, FF) 2 trophies - $500CAD 

INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE. Louis is approached by a vampire named Lestat de Lioncourt, who desires Louis's company. Lestat turns Louis into a vampire and the two become immortal companions. Bring it in a sexy effect inspired by this iconic immortal love. 

Bizarre 1 trophy - $500CAD 

THE WORLD OF HITCHCOCK. Alfred Hitchcock for his suspenseful editing, and incredible story telling. Bring a BIZARRE like effect based on any of his famous blockbuster films like The Birds, Psycho, Vertigo, and Spellbound.

COMPETITORS

1. Please come prepared, knowing what to expect. If you are walking in a category for the first time.

2. Please research and understand that there can only be one winner per category.

3. Look up videos on YouTube, come to a VVJ session, look at the resources on www.vanvoguejam.com, and 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.

4. We want everyone to have fun, to feel they were able to serve their best, and to have a fair chance at competing, but you WILL be chopped during your 10s and unable to compete if you are unprepared.

LAND/CULTURAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND CONSENT

We want to acknowledge that we are coming together to celebrate on the unceded territories of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil- Waututh) Nations.

As an organization founded by non-Black and Latinx people, we acknowledge our ongoing need to question and reflect on how we navigate practicing our Ballroom scene here in Vancouver, BC. We do not have all the answers and are always looking to be better. We are always seeking and open to how we can better support the Queer/trans black and Brown folks who founded the culture we love and share through VVJ.

Creating a safe haven is at the heart of ballroom culture, and we hope that this event will be a space for everybody to enjoy. Oppressive attitudes and behaviours, including but not limited to misogyny, transphobia, racism, fat phobia, ableism, and general bigotry, are not welcome here.

The fight against racism, anti-Blackness, homophobia, transphobia, and sexism is ongoing in Canada and the rest of the world. We all have a lot of work to do in the ongoing fight for equality. We have compiled a list of resources to help you support, donate, educate, and take action to help you wherever you may be in your continued unlearning/relearning process.

If there are ways VVJ can better create an inclusive and safe space, please inform us by e-mail at info@vanvoguejam.com so that we may listen to your input and improve on this for future events.

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 "10s" to move on to the battle rounds, where competitors are paired into battles until there is a winner. The judge's panel is explicitly selected from the BALLROOM community. Balls are always accompanied by a COMMENTATOR and a 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 '60s by Crystal LaBeija.

WHERE DO I GO IF I'M WALKING A CATEGORY?

If you are walking the ball on July 27, 2024, check in at the general ticket desk, and you will receive your wristband. There will be a public casual area designated for competitors, but please know it is not a private or locked room. You will be responsible for your own belongings.

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. Walking a category without understanding the history, intent, purpose, and category-specific nuances is 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 want to, you can talk to the artists after their category and personally tip them. Donations to Van Vogue Jam can be made through our website www.vanvoguejam.com/donate

HISTORY

Ballroom culture, drag ball culture, the house-ballroom community, and similar terms describe an underground queer subculture in which people "walk" (i.e., compete), perform, dance, lip-sync, and model in different categories, designed to simultaneously epitomize and satirize gender constructs, occupations, and social classes, while also offering an escape from reality. Category participants must "walk" one by one to receive full approval from all judges, known as 'receiving your 10s'. Competitors are judged on their abilities, "effect" (costumes, appearance, theatrics, presentation), and perceived "realness" (embodied and/or visual believability, authenticity)—those who get their 10s battle one-on-one against each other for trophies, prizes, and glory

.

Ballroom culture emerged in the late 1960s in New York City, birthed by the Black and Latinx LGBTQ2S+ community, which was excluded from the drag pageant world of white America. The development of the Ballroom scene created safe and inclusive spaces for these communities to explore and experience lifestyles from which they were excluded due to systemic oppression.

Vogue is a freestyle competitive dance form that utilizes 5 key elements in an improvised battle with other competitors. Currently (although open to interpretation within various vogue communities), the five popular elements of Vogue Performance are catwalk, hands, duckwalk, spins and dips, and floor performance.

"For decades, ballroom, ball or house culture has been a way for queer blacks and Latinos to live their best lives – that is, to figure out how to respond to a society that devalued their lives and attempted to erase their presence. Through elaborate performances incorporating and commenting on race, class and gender, the ball community has historically reflected the American Dream and one's exclusion from it." - Les Fabian Brathwaith (Quote from Rolling Stones).

A BALL

An event that hosts a series of competitive categories, each with its own focus, balls were birthed in NYC by communities of Queer Black and Latinx people out of a need for safe nightlife spaces due to the discrimination they faced. Balls are typically centred around creating safe spaces for LGBTQIA2+ POC.

Spectators, competitors, and judges come together to celebrate people within their communities and compete against each other in different categories. Some popular categories are Vogue Performance, Sex Siren, Hands, Runway, Bazaar, and Face. Each category has specific requirements, and a panel will judge competitors on how well they accomplish them. Before competing against others, category participants must "walk" one by one to receive full approval from all judges, known as 'receiving your 10s'. Competitors who make their 10s battle one-on-one against each other to impress the judges until there is one winner.

QUESTIONS?

Please contact VVJ for more information at info@vanvoguejam.com