A photo of a Vogue Rites night. A performer reclines on the floor in a position, while onlookers watch on laughing and clapping.
This Bright Land
Performance

The Butterfly Ball

with Vogue Rites

Sat 20 Aug
18.00-22.30
£5.00-£22.50

Tickets

Free NHS workers
  Unwaged
Concessions £5.00
  Disabled
  Senior 60+
  Community
Standard £16.50
Backer £22.50
Edmond J. Safra
Fountain Court

Vogue Rites invites you to the Butterfly Mini Vogue Ball, a night honouring transformation and joy.

Join us as members of the Voguing community walk the runway, in a catwalk spectacular, competing in categories across fashion, beauty, realness and performance for prizes, in relation to the theme of the butterfly! 

In its metamorphosis from the common, colourless caterpillar to the exquisite, winged creature of delicate beauty, the butterfly has become a metaphor for transformation and hope. Across cultures, it has become a symbol for rebirth and resurrection, for the triumph of the spirit and the soul over the physical prison, the material world. The butterfly symbolises transformation and joy. Its dance reflects the need for movement from where we are to our next phase of being.

This event is a celebration of global Vogue culture, so we ask that if you are not part of the Ballroom community, you learn about the scene’s history and cultural significance.

There are some categories that have an adult theme and are not suitable for younger audiences. Please be respectful of the performers and staff at all times. Somerset House staff may ask you not to take pictures, please ensure you listen to staff when asked to stop photography.

About Ball Culture

Originating from Drag Balls that date back over 150 years ago in Harlem, New York and founded by Black and Latinx members of the LGBTQI+ community, Ballroom is an intentional space that celebrates and prioritises LGBTQI+ People of Colour.

Pioneered by Crystal Labeija, ball culture has spread across the globe - thanks to one of its many competitive categories - Voguing, an improvisational art form/dance with rhythmic movement inspired by models' poses in fashion magazines. Voguing has since become a powerful representation of the socio-political struggles of LGBTQI+ people of colour.

"Balls" are competitions/events where individuals and houses come together to compete in categories across fashion, beauty, realness and performance for prizes.

"Houses" are family units that are formed as support networks, with parents of each House guiding & caring for their children and as teams to compete together at Balls.

Ballroom Terms

While you're at the event, there might be some terms you're unfamiliar with. Below, we've unpacked some of these terms.

OTA: open to all
FQ (fem queen): trans woman
BQ (butch queen): gay man
FF (female figure): trans woman, drags, cis woman
MF (male figure): transman, butch queen, butch, cis man
NB: nonbinary
GP: grand prize
TBA: to be announced
Effect: outfit/look
10's: if you get your 10's, you will continue to the battles.
Chop: being cut from the category.
Shade: to throw attitude and indirect insults

COMMENTATOR & JUDGES

Commentator: Kevin JZ Prodigy.

Judges:
Axelle Gucci
Kyle London Tisci
Alize 007
Kenzo Mugler
Bronze 007

Booking your ticket

This Bright Land is all about platforming communities and artists and creating an open, inclusive, and welcoming space for everyone to celebrate together. We've created a range of ticket prices to keep these events as open as possible, to as many people as possible.  

We’ve made tickets affordable with prices starting at £5 to ensure This Bright Land is open to all. We have: 

  • Free tickets available for NHS workers and Job Seekers 
  • £5 tickets available to those who are disabled abd those receiving a pension and audiences who might otherwise be unable to attend.  
  • Standard tickets at £16.50
  • Backer tickets at £22.50

If you are not part of the Ballroom community, we please ask that you learn about the history of Ballroom and buy a standard or backer ticket. If you can afford to pay for a backer ticket at £22.50, we would really encourage you to do so. These tickets are directly contributing to keeping prices low for those who otherwise wouldn't be able to come.