Equinox is the latest to tap ballroom talent in relation to its Pride efforts. In partnership with House Lives Matter, an organization the focuses on activism, social justice and human rights issues that impact the ballroom community, the boutique fitness club has released a campaign exclusively featuring a lineup of the scene’s most notable trans voguers: the Icon Sinia Alaia, the Icon Leiomy Maldonado of the house of Amazon, the Legendary Veronica Miyake-Mugler, the Legendary Chyna Prodigy, the Legendary Asia Balenciaga, the Legendary Tamiyah Miyake-Mugler as well as Brielle "Tati 007" Rheames. But the ballroom influence extended beyond just behind the camera as Yusef Williams, the overall father of the house of Miyake-Mugler, headed up the hair team, while Jacen Bowman, the overall mother of the house of Prodigy did the makeup alongside Tiffany A. Lucio from the house of Balmain.
The video for the project, which is titled “Life is a Ball” was executive produced by the Icon Jack Mizrahi Definitive Mother of the House of Mizrahi, whose voice is also on the background track which was made by Byrell the Great. “Voguing is a celebration of the magnificence of culture. It has also become a sisterhood within the LGBTQ+ community,” Mizrahi said in a release “For us, vogue is not a science. It’s a dance that is conditioning your body at the same time and now, more than ever before, fitness is a required part of the performance.”
The photo and video campaign, which features choreography by Tanisha Scott and was directed by Sammy Rawal, is only one part of the partnership for which Equinox will donate $20,000 to House Lives Matter. On June 8, the campaign talent as well as the Icon Pony Zion will host a voguing masterclass that is open to the public. The proceeds of this class as well as $1 for every post using #PoweredbyPride for the month of June.
"I vogue because it’s a way to express myself. I use vogue to tap into different emotions and use my body to create art. I vogue because it inspires others to dance without care."
"Vogueing has always been a way for me to relieve stress and feel empowered. As you transform being oppressed into being liberated and allowing others to enjoy in that with you. "
"I vogue for a variety of reasons. Since I was a child I’ve always loved to dance so once I became engaged in ballroom culture it truly came second nature. Initially, voguing was an outlet for me at a time when my gender identity wasn’t accepted in the heteronormative environment I lived in. But now I vogue to inspire the new generation of queer kids and to show them that when you're unapologetically yourself and dedicated to your passion, you will break barriers and live out your happily ever after."
"I vogue because it helps me express myself, it makes me feel free like I have no care in the world especially when I spin. I also like to have the spotlight on me."
"I vogue to express myself, which leads me to release the stress upon battles I take on in my everyday life fighting to be comfortable with living in my truth of who I really am. I look at vogue as my outlet to tell stories people would never understand."
"I love voguing because I get to show another side of myself. I get to tap into the sexy goddess who is just enjoying herself and not worried about anything. Vogue is an expression of what story I want to tell you that day."
"The reason why I vogue is because it has allowed me since the age of 17 to express my true inner Self. Vogue has allowed me to release anger, frustration, happiness."
