MikelleStreet
CONTACTAbout UsCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2025 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
Scroll To Top






By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Learn It: 6 Movies and TV Shows About Ballroom and Voguing
There's a ton of voguing content out in the world and has been for decades. If you're just interested in seeing the action take a spin around the Ballroom Throwbacks or SugarChampagne channels on YouTube, any number of voguing-centric accounts on Instagram, or through music videos like Taylor Dayne's "Tell It to My Heart," Queen Latifah's "Come Into My House" or Teyana Taylor's "WTP." But if you want to know more, and maybe learn a little something about the community and the people who comprise it, here's a short list of must-see films and television projects to devour.
The Queen (1968)
Though this documentary wasn't intended to be about the ballroom scene, it inadvertently was. Released in 1968, it showed a drag pageant that (according to urban lore) ended up leading to the formation of the house-ballroom scene. After Crystal LaBeija felt that she was robbed her rightful crown in this film, she started putting on balls by the House of LaBeija. The rest, as they say, is history.
Available on Netflix.
Paris Is Burning (1990)
Undoubtedly the global cultural touchstone for the ballroom community, this Jennie Livingston doc gave most of the world its first in-depth look at the scene. Introducing us to a legion of pioneers like Pepper LaBeija, Willi Ninja, and Octavia St. Laurent, the film breaks down the scene and through the insightful words of Dorian Corey, reveals the purpose it serves for the community that created it.
Available on YouTube.
How Do I Look (2006)
It may not be as lauded as some of its counterparts but this Wolfgang Busch project features footage of the ballroom scene from the early 2000s. Octavia St. Laurent appears in her prime here, as does Jose Xtravaganza, and others like Luna Luis Ortiz who give a fuller view of not only ballroom but the community surrounding it.
Available on Amazon Prime.
Kiki (2017)
Sara Jordeno's documentary provides a glimpse into the kiki community, a subcommunity within ballroom comprising the youngest and oftentimes most marginalized members. While there is footage of kiki balls, the doc moreso centers the stories of queer youth that make up the scene, illustrating their tales of homelessness, discrimination, and resilience.
Available on Hulu.
My House (2018)
Created by Elegance Bratton, this Viceland series delved into the modern-day ballroom scene. Following a new cast of characters like Precious Ebony, Tati Miyake-Mugler, and Alex Miyake-Mugler, it revealed how the scene has changed, becoming a truly global endeavor, while many of the issues that its community members are confronting have remained the same.
Available on YouTube.
Pose (2018-)
Though it is fictional, Ryan Murphy's Pose is possibly the most glamorous ode to the ballroom community yet. The series uses the ballroom community as the setting to tell the stories of trans women of color living in New York through the 1980s and 1990s. Within the various storylines, the show bakes in the real stories of actual ballroom moments and figures like Tracey Africa, a trans model who once booked major beauty deals.
Available on Netflix.
Latest Stories
Glitter, glam, & good times: 'Drag Me to the Catskills' returns
May 29 2025 8:20 PM
15 historic icons who tragically died in the closet
May 20 2025 2:31 PM
16 queens who quit or retired from drag after 'RuPaul's Drag Race'
May 15 2025 12:26 AM
Oh Pit Crew! 31 pics of 'Drag Race's hottest members worldwide
May 13 2025 1:42 PM
49 steamy celebrity Calvin Klein ads the gays won't forget
May 13 2025 1:19 PM
Ranking the highest-earning queens in 'RuPaul's Drag Race' herstory
May 09 2025 4:04 PM
Proud parents: Celebs who love and support their LGBTQ+ kids
May 02 2025 8:57 AM
New 'Boys! Boys! Boys!' podcast explores queer art and identity
May 02 2025 8:19 AM
29 of the dozens of lesbian cops in TV & movies
April 26 2025 5:41 PM
Every finalist queen on 'RuPaul's Drag Race' and their track records
April 21 2025 10:06 AM
'RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars' winners and finalists (with track records!)
April 18 2025 10:04 AM
29 out & proud LGBTQ+ country artists you should be listening to
April 15 2025 3:21 PM
No closets here! Watch these LGBTQ+ films where no one has to come out
April 09 2025 5:04 PM
No Pride flags needed in French Polynesia
April 07 2025 11:16 AM
Out and About with Karan Soni
April 04 2025 10:00 AM
Pedro Pascal is aging like a fine wine — as proven by these 32 pics
April 02 2025 11:22 PM
Jane Hilton's 'Cowboys & Queens' explores the modern American dream
March 28 2025 6:31 PM
8 of Jonathan Groff's best (and most iconic) gay roles
March 26 2025 1:58 PM
27 LGBTQ+ reality dating shows & where to watch them
March 24 2025 11:32 AM
Trending stories
Recommended Stories for You
Mikelle Street
Mikelle is the former editorial director of digital for PrideMedia, guiding digital editorial and social across Out, The Advocate, Pride.com, Out Traveler, and Plus. After starting as a freelancer for Out in 2013, he joined the staff as Senior Editor working across print and digital in 2018. In early 2021 he became Out's digital director, marking a pivot to content that centered queer and trans stories and figures, exclusively. In September 2021, he was promoted to editorial director of PrideMedia. He has written cover stories on Ricky Martin, Miss Fame, Nyle DiMarco, Jeremy O. Harris, Law Roach, and Symone.
Mikelle is the former editorial director of digital for PrideMedia, guiding digital editorial and social across Out, The Advocate, Pride.com, Out Traveler, and Plus. After starting as a freelancer for Out in 2013, he joined the staff as Senior Editor working across print and digital in 2018. In early 2021 he became Out's digital director, marking a pivot to content that centered queer and trans stories and figures, exclusively. In September 2021, he was promoted to editorial director of PrideMedia. He has written cover stories on Ricky Martin, Miss Fame, Nyle DiMarco, Jeremy O. Harris, Law Roach, and Symone.