AND THEN THERE WERE HOUSES:
A Conversation With The Pioneers
By Lee Soulja
In 2010, I sat and had a conversation with the Ballroom Pioneer Paris Dupree. I wanted to know exactly how the Houses got started. Paris was considered a Ballroom pioneer because she had been a part of the Ballroom scene dating back before 1985 and her House was amongst the first to open. From the moment that she began to speak, I became totally captivated. What she told me on that day was truly a history lesson. Learning this history inspired me to want to know as much as I could about Ballroom.
Paris said to me that before she could explain to me about the Houses, she wanted to make sure that I had a real understanding of the true history of Balls. She explained that Balls have been happening for a very long time, probably longer than most people thought. Balls are a very essential part of the underground Drag world. She added that walking Balls was one of the ways “The Girls” would build a name and gain a fan base. “The Girls” is what Paris called the participants in the Drag scene. In the beginning, these Drag Balls were costumed dances that featured a contest for the best costumes. Usually there were three prize levels, 1st place, 2nd place and 3rd place. Paris added that she also knew that these events would often have themes for the contestants’ costumes such as Vegas Showgirls or Hollywood Starlets. The contestants would walk up and down the Ballroom floor to showcase their looks and to compete for the biggest applause from the spectators until the winners were determined.
In the 60’s, everything began to change. A panel of judges became a staple at Ball events as well as a better scoring system to speed up the process to determine the winners. At that time, the Civil Rights Movement was also fostering a climate for change. The movement was empowering all minority groups to take a stand against racism and social injustices. Simultaneously, the movement was also causing a real shift in the attitudes of The Girls of color especially the Black girls in the drag world. They were becoming less passive about constantly losing undeservedly to the White participants.
Up to this period of time, The Girls had been divided by race. The Black girls were known as “The La Chanels.” The Latin girls were “The Delightful Ladies” and the white girls were known as “The Pattie Girls.” There was also a set of girls from Brooklyn which included Paris known as, “The Brooklyn Ladies.” A very popular person of this time period was Crystal La Asia. She was so well known for her beauty, that the Latin girls would begin to call her, La Bella (The Beauty). However, the Black girls didn’t know how to say or to spell that properly and would begin to call her Crystal LaBeija. Crystal would in time simply begin to use that as her name. In 1967, at a Drag Pageant, Crystal had enough of losing to unprepared and inferior white contestants. She decided to rebel and confronted the pageant organizer named Flawless Sabrina. This Legendary moment was captured in a 1968 released film titled, The Queen.
By the time that film was released the Black girls known as The La Chanels had begun to align themselves under Crystal forming The House of LaBeija. The Brooklyn Ladies at that same time began to align themselves under Paris and would become known as the House of Dupree. With the opening of these houses, the Harlem Drag Balls which had been the blueprint for creating safe and affirming spaces for LGBT people was now entering a new era. Crystal’s rebellion had actually inspired a change, a movement and the creation of The House System. This system is the foundation of Ballroom that still exists today. History recognizes that the first Houses were LaBeija, Dupree, Corey, Pendavis, and La Wong. All named after prominent figures in NYC’s Underground Drag community.
Duchess La Wong recalls how wonderful this period in time was. She added that most people think that she was the Founder of the House of La Wong but says it was actually Pierre La Wong. However she would become the Mother that most people would actually know. Later when Butch Queens (gay males) became a part of the scene, her boyfriend Larry Levan (Paradise Garage and House Music Legend) would become the Father. Duchess said that creativity was always centered at Balls because the girls back then were very talented. They would create their own looks. When asked about her favorite moments, she explained that she would only walk for the Grand Prize category at Balls. Her battles against her friends such as Paris Dupree, Avis Pendavis and Crystal LaBeija were the highlights.
In the 1970s, Ballroom would begin to change again. Ballroom had always been a space created by The Girls for The Girls. The men were there as spectators, escorts or the help (hairstylists, makeup artist, dressers, etc). However in the 70s came the creation of Butch Queen categories. In 1974, Miss Jay Dior, with people like Erskine Christian, David Ultima, Frank Lakins and others in mind decided that there should be a couple of categories for the beautiful men that were attending the Balls. The first Butch Queen category was Face. Erskine walked that night and won. He became the one that everyone wanted to beat.
In 1975, Erskine would open the House of Christian. In 1976, Stephanie and Diane would open the House of Lakins. In 1977, RR would open the House of Chanel. In 1978, Richard and Larry would open the House of Ebony. In 1979, Kevin, Thomas and Artie would open the House of Ultra Omni and Michael, DoRay, Margo and Track would open the House of Princess. These Pioneers and their new Houses would bring a lot of excitement and new talent to Ballroom. One could also say that this was also the first generation of youth creating 
change.
David Ultima says he discovered the Balls in the early 1970s with his friend Tony (better known as Seahag). One morning they were walking by a club in Harlem called Up The Down Staircase when they witnessed Pepper LaBeija’s amazing and dramatic entrance. She was being carried in on a throne by four beautiful muscular men. David said that they were so captivated that they just followed the crowd inside. He recalls that it was about 7am in the morning and that they stayed until around 1pm that afternoon. He added that today Balls are only about money and less about the talent and creativity. Dorian, Avis and Paris were master tailors. They created their own outfits. That’s so rare today. He concludes that creativity is disappearing.
Larry Ebony who says that he discovered Ballroom when he was 17, thinks the kids today take it all too seriously. He and Richard created the House of Ebony simply to have a family. However, he still enjoys coming to the Balls as a way to see all of his friends. Overall Father John Infiniti says he became aware of Ballroom when he met his friend Crystal LaBeija at a nightclub called GG Barnums. Crystal would always tell him that he should walk a Ball because he was always so well dressed. In fact, Crystal would be the one to take him to his first Ball in 1979 when he was 18. John’s first House was the House of Xtravaganza. He is the last of the original Xtravaganzas alive. He feels that the difference between today and his era is what they allow on the runway. Everything is watered down now and there are no strict criteria.
Kevin Omni speaks proudly of his history in Ballroom. He was 17 when he attended his first Drag Ball in 1975. However, he was 20 when he attended his first House structured Ball given by Paris Dupree. It was called April In Paris in 1978. He has fond memories of the Ballroom community in that era and how everyone supported each other. Brian Omni says that he was 17 in 1982 when he discovered Ballroom. Father Mic Omni says that he discovered Ballroom in 1984 at the age of 19. He adds that he was inspired to join the House of Omni because they always displayed a family structure. Brian recalls one of his favorite moments. It was when Kevin told the judges that he would actually buy the fur coat right off the back of his competitor on the spot if he could produce a receipt proving that he actually paid for the coat. Well, no receipt was produced and Grand Prize went to Kevin Omni!
Chris LaBeija says that he was 22 years old in 1983 when he discovered Ballroom. The first Ball he attended was Pepper LaBeija and Dorian Corey’s Fantasy Ball in 1984. Robbie St. Laurent says that he discovered Ballroom in 1982 through Michael Dupree at the age of 19. He added that he would like to see more worldwide commercial acceptance for Ballroom’s talented individuals. Queen Mother Brenda Soulja says that she was 15 in 1981 when she discovered Ballroom. Needless to say her favorite memory from that era was the night she won Grand Prize for Femme Queen Performance. It was a brand new category back then making her the first to ever win.
The final person I talked to about the Pioneer era was Fran Lakins. She says she first discovered Ballroom in the early 1970s before she had transitioned. She fondly remembers shopping with her friends Duchess La Wong and Paris Dupree in the Garment District for beads and things to prepare for the Balls. She enjoyed attending the Balls of that era at The Crystal Ballroom and the Up The Down Staircase club in Harlem. However, her favorite memory was battling Erskine Christian for face back when she was still Frank.
Making moments was the true path to earn status. However, real moments are so few and far in between each other in today’s time. The magic, ingenuity and creativity of the Pioneer era has faded. Each decade since then has brought new Houses and more people to the scene. Today there are so many Balls and walkers per category that it appears the enthusiasm and motivation for productions is simply disappearing. BUT Appearances can be deceiving. Ballroom is a global phenomenon now and other countries are making their presence known. New categories and new ideals are showcasing the voices of a new generation. Ballroom is constantly evolving and changing. Maybe that is the true legacy of its history.
