Post Number 854
Darling dearies! It's your girl Emma, ready to take you on a whirlwind time travel adventure in my magical pink tutu! February 2nd, 1991? Well, thatâs a date to remember, because this is the night I'm whisking you back to the world of the ballroom scene!
Now, for all my newbies, the ballroom scene was like a big family of performers. You know, a group of queens who weren't necessarily drag stars, but were fiercely passionate about what they did. They werenât doing it for the fame; they did it for the love of performance, the joy of dressing up, and, honestly, the fabulous community. Think of it like a pre-Instagram social media, just with way more glitter and feathers!
But let me tell you, the outfits, the talent, and the sheer audacity in those ballrooms were unmatched! Picture this, darlings: Imagine being surrounded by fierce queens from all over the city, all showing off their fierce individuality in handmade costumes and wild performances. It was, as they say, the most wonderful, terrible time of your life!
Iâve been a huge ballroom enthusiast since I started my time travelling, you see! That early drag scene truly resonates with me. I mean, itâs basically the essence of drag: taking the ordinary, transforming it into the extraordinary, and doing it all for the sheer joy of expression. Isn't that what drag's all about?
Now, where was I? Right! This specific night, February 2nd, 1991, is important for the ballroom scene in New York. Can you believe, on that very day, legendary DJ Larry Tee hosted one of his famed parties - âHouse of Xtravaganzaâ. Oh, honey!
Itâs a bit like when a BeyoncĂ© or a Cher show goes on tour! This legendary DJ was hosting a massive event in Harlem and it was where ballroom houses came together, vying for titles and recognition.
Now, if youâve ever been a lover of all things campy, like me, youâll be tickled pink by this next bit, darlings! This was the beginning of the rise of ballroom houses â you know, House of Xtravaganza, House of LaBeija, House of Aviance. I was literally in the room as they were making history! Can you imagine the drama, the glitter, the pure outrageous joy?
Weâre talking the real âI don't need no reason to be fabulousâ attitude, the original queens of being extra before it even became a word! These fierce and courageous ladies gave everything they had on the dance floor, from death drops to hair whips! The sheer spectacle of it all wasâŠwellâŠamazing.
To tell you the truth, I got a little caught up in the moment, you know? I mean, whatâs a drag queen to do with so many other stunning creatures around? Well, my darling dearies, I ended up on stage! I did a little tour jete for them! Talk about a little moment of pink tulle brilliance in the history of the ballroom! You see, the pink tutu is so timeless!
Later on, I went out to one of the legendary clubs, The Tunnel â you know, a proper drag club! Now, that is where things got really interesting. Let me just say, the queens of 1991 certainly knew how to work a runway, and that music was legendary!
It was a whirlwind night. Youâre right darling, I should probably say this; the era was definitely a bitâŠmore liberal in terms of attitude⊠shall we say? So yes, you might find your grannyâs stories a little different to our modern shows. However, in 1991 there was real guts to show off your self on the stage. A real attitude. Oh my, the sass of these girls!
The whole vibe was full of that âanything goesâ energy, you know? Which, considering how drag is all about expression and taking ownership of who you are, is very important for me as a drag queen blogger! That's the true magic of drag â being authentically yourself, with a healthy dose of fabulous, of course.
Speaking of that, let's talk about style! In 1991, there was no one kind of drag. Iâm so blessed to be able to go back to these years! Remember those amazing platforms! There was glamour coming off those! Imagine being able to see the original big, bouffant, amazing hairstyles; remember the massive glitter eyeshadows and the lip-liners? Oh honey, what a feast for the eyes! Every day in 1991, it felt like there was a show going down - in clubs, on the street, in back rooms, and at all sorts of gatherings!
Don't worry, my loves, I captured the looks of this incredible time! Snaps were being taken back then; however, a good âol Instaglam didn't come about until later in my time travels. But fear not! You can trust this pink-tutu-clad blogger, I have the full documentation in my archive â I am always making sure that this drag history lives on! It was an honor to witness those drag legends create such incredible fashion, so I'm going to be bringing back those looks, piece by piece. Oh, yes! Get ready for some seriously *iconic looks for my next performance - with a little 1991 spin!
Now, Iâve really got to dash, darlings. My pink tutuâs practically quivering with excitement to visit another era! Keep an eye out for my next post, as we explore what makes a real Drag Queen!
Until then, stay fabulous!
xx Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
