Not in a house yet? Walk as a 007.
“We call folks who aren’t in a house yet ‘free agents, 007,’” says Cardi. “You don’t have to be in a house right away to be a part of the community. Come to practice. Learn the culture. Walk a few balls as a 007. If it’s right, you’ll get picked up.”
Want to duckwalk or serve face? Attend Vogue YYC’s weekly drop-ins at Decidedly Jazz Danceworks. Classes rotate through categories, with open sessions to vibe, learn, or walk.
“We want to make sure people are learning the culture, not just the moves,” says Sen. “That means understanding where this comes from and who it’s for.”
Ballroom is built on sweat, joy, and radical care within marginalized communities. It’s in the lineage: how each category, pose, and chant carries a history of survival and celebration.
But care also looks like protection and action. As SlimThick explains, white allies have a responsibility in ballroom spaces, especially when safety is threatened.
“When police show up at our events, we need white allies to be the first to ask, ‘Why are you here?’” she says. “It shouldn’t always be us QTBIPOC folks putting ourselves at risk. If you want to be in our spaces, your allyship has to extend to protecting the people these spaces are for.”
With Pride approaching, there’s no better time to witness this culture in action. Support a ball. Learn your history. Bring a few dollars for the prize fund. And when the MC calls out “Category is…,” don’t just watch. Cheer. Clap. Dip. And maybe, just maybe, walk.
The Vogue Glossary
- 007 – A free agent, not yet part of a house. Still active in the scene, walking categories and earning their stripes.
- 10s – Full approval from all judges. “You got 10s across the board!”
- Body – A category celebrating physical form and confidence. Participants walk with pride in their natural or sculpted frame, whether soft, thick, toned, or muscular.
- Chop – When a participant doesn’t meet the standard or category elements. Eliminated from competition.
- Dip – A dramatic move ending with a low, sweeping drop to the floor (often misnamed a “death drop”).
- Effect – The overall look or costume a walker brings to sell the theme of their category.
- Face – A category judging facial symmetry, skin, bone structure, and confidence. To win, you need more than looks, you need to serve.
- OTA – A category open to all participants of any gender identity or presentation.
- Realness – A category for embodying a role or identity, rooted in trans and queer experiences of navigating visibility and safety.
- Sex Siren – A category focused on seduction and body control.
- Spectator – Someone who attends a ball without walking.
- Virgin – A newcomer walking a category for the first time.
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.
