Ballroom: A History, a Movement, a Celebration

By Michael Roberson

A gorgeous, authoritative, and image-filled celebration of pageantry and community created by ballroom culture for Black and Brown LGBTQIA+ people.

The subculture of Ballroom emerged in Harlem in the '60s out of a need for safe and inclusive spaces for Black and Brown queer people, in which family-like "Houses" competed at performative balls, allowing members of this marginalized groups to shine. Thanks to shows like Pose and Legendary, it has grown into a global phenomenon. It offers refuge from the threats and violence against the LGBTQIA+ community while also serving as a testament to the radical nature of queer joy with its pageantry and commitment to chosen family.

Ballroom: A History, A Movement, A Celebration is an exhaustively researched tome honoring where Ballroom began and where it is now. It explores how Ballroom has served the Black and Brown LGBTQIA+ community. Bringing both an authoritative and entertaining sweep to this hugely important and influential cultural sensation, this book is filled with photos, interviews, and stories, presenting a captivating, well-documented narrative about not only how to survive but how to do so fashionably, glamorously, and in the company of one another.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0762489081
• ISBN13: 9780762489084
• Release Date: July 2025
• Publisher: Running Press Adult
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 2.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 8.2" x 9.1"