HOUSE OF GVASALIA
Gvasalia began in Vancouver under the legendary mother Posh Gvasalia and now has chapters in Calgary and Edmonton. The Calgary scene was sparked by Mother Katria Gvasalia and Princess Sen Gvasalia, who learned from Posh and returned to Calgary to build locally. They co-founded Vogue YYC, Calgary’s main drop-in ballroom sessions.
Vogue YYC’s weekly drop-in sessions rotate through numerous categories and styles, open to all, with a focus on education and respect.
“We’re guests in this culture,” says Sen. “We prioritize history first, and we want this to be here for the people who need it most.”
Prince AB Gvasalia, one of the chapter’s standout competitors, agrees.
“Being in ballroom gave me a space where both my queerness and ethnicity could exist and be affirmed,” he says.
HOUSE OF PINKLADY
With roots in Toronto, the international House of PinkLady was the first house to expand into Canada from New York. It has chapters in Montreal, Calgary, Vancouver, and beyond.
“I was a part of the inception of the kiki scene in Canada with the House of PinkLady,” says SlimThick. “PinkLady also started the Toronto Kiki Ball Alliance [TKBA] with the Legendary Houses of Twysted and Vixen. They went to New York to walk a ball by the founders of my kiki house and offered to bring a chapter back to Toronto. We were the first international chapter before Europe.”
“The Calgary chapter was built from scratch by one of my kids, Arson PinkLady,” says SlimThick. “He said, ‘There’s no way I’m from Calgary and my house isn’t here.’”
HOUSE OF GALORE
Founded in Calgary, the House of Galore holds the distinction of being the city’s first homegrown house.
“We started Galore because there was only one house here and the scene was still small,” says Father Cardi Galore. “Having more houses brings healthy competition and helps the scene grow.” “
We joke that we’re the Banjee House of Galore,” Cardi laughs. “We’re polished, but we’re also not afraid to get gritty … We’re not just about performance. We give people rides, places to stay, whatever they need. I treat my role as father seriously. [Genuine community], it goes beyond the ballroom.”
Vogue YYC hosts outdoor sessions every Sunday from 5 to 7 p.m. for the rest of the summer. Follow @vogueyyc on Instagram for location updates. Outside of summer, visit Decidedly Jazz Danceworks at 111 12 Ave. S.E. for drop-ins.
