Events & Gatherings
Public Talk: Ballroom History with Ralph Escamillan
Join us for a public talk with legendary OA Mother Posh Gvasalia, who will explore the foundations of Ballroom history, both local and international, and share insights into Ballroom etiquette. The presentation will be followed by a Q & A and the first in a series of three workshops on ballroom culture and technique.
Remai Modern is proud to take part in this new programming initiative that celebrates Ballroom culture and fosters community through creative exchange.
The contemporary Ballroom scene is a queer subculture and community founded in Harlem, New York by Black, LatinX Queer and Trans folks. It was pioneered in the 1960s by Crystal LaBeija. Join us for a public talk by Ralph Escamillan that explores the history of the artform, Ballroom etiquette and how it continues to resonate across cultures, time and geographical locations.
Registration for this public talk and concurrent workshop series is managed separately. Sign up to attend the workshop series here.
The project is conceived by artist Aldeneil Española and presented at Remai Modern in partnership with Dance Saskatchewan.
Also happening at Remai Modern – Ralph Escamillan Croquis, Friday, May 27, 7 PM. Get tickets.
Event/Exhibition meta autogenerated block.
When
June 25 at 6:00PM–7:00PM
Where
Riverview Room
June 25 at 6:00PM – 7:00PM
Ralph Escamillan is an award-winning queer, Canadian-Filipinx performance artist, teacher and community leader based in Vancouver, BC.
Escamillan first trained in break dancing then explored a multitude of other street dance styles including hip hop, house and waacking. His passion for dance expanded to include training in vogue, ballroom, ballet, modern and jazz. He is a graduate of the contemporary dance program, Modus Operandi, in 2015.
Escamillan has been in the ballroom scene since 2014, performing under the alias “Posh Gvasalia Basquiat” and founding his own Kiki House of Gvasalia in Vancouver and is the Canadian Mother of the Mainstream House of Basquiat since 2024. The founder and Artistic/Executive Director of the non-profit organization VanVogueJam, Ralph shares his passion for Vogue/Ballroom culture at his weekly pay-what-you-can classes and vogue balls, acting as a beacon for the queer dance/culture in Western Canada.