| A
Angel — A Vogue Femme performer with softer and daintier execution.
Arms Control — A category solely dedicated to the dexterity and coordination of ones "slight-of-hand" arm and wrist movements; hand tricks and illusions.
B
Battle — When one voguer challenges another, in or out of a ball.
Box Dip — A floor pose that consists of positioning the forearms flat on the floor, legs over the head, with feet planted to the floor in front.
C
Cat-walk — Upright Vogue Femme sashaying.
Clicking — A contortion involving the arms manipulated up over the head and down behind ones back, keeping the hands locked together.
D
Devil — A Vogue Femme performer with dramatic and stunt-filled execution.
Dip — In vogueing, a ground-level stunt.
Duck-walk — Crouching, foot-sliding and scooting movement requiring balance on the balls of the feet. Sashaying in a squatted position.
H
Hairpin — An extreme backbend dip where your butt touches your head.
Hand Performance — Illusions, precision, or flamboyant interpretation executed through that part of the body; see also Arms Control.
K
Kansai — An "Old Way" dip, inspired by a mannequin in a Kansai Yamamoto boutique window (NYC, circa '70s).
L
Locking — Jerky, tense movement of the body, also Popping; also, in a vogue battle, pinning or restraining an oponent with part of your body while performing.
Lofting — A dance performed by banjie or straight boys that combined vogueing arm movements with break dance floor work, named after the now defunct New York dance club where it was practiced (The Loft).
M
Makeveli — A "suicide" dip, requiring a fall to the floor, landing on the back, using one leg as a lever; a prat fall.
N
New Way — The vogueing styles starting in the 90's. Includes Arms Control, with body contortions.
O
Old Way — The vogueing styles previous to the 80's. See also Pop, Dip and Spin.
P
Popping — Freeze frame, staccato-like movement.
Pop, Dip and Spin — An earlier name for the dance now called vogueing, with a style leaning toward graceful acrobats, and transitions that alternate between standing and floor positions; also "Performance."
Pyramid — Several voguers performing together, tiered one in front of the other.
S
Scorpion — Martial art inspired Old Way dip, requiring a prone position, with one leg dangling over the head.
Shwam! — Exclaimed by an emcee when a contestant executes a suicide dip.
See also Makeveli.
V
Verbal Vogue — A category created to test your sharp wit in the art of insults. Contestants are often made to sit in separate chairs and exchange turns at the mic to "roast" each other. Thin-skinned patrons need not apply! Also "Reading", or "Deadly Daggers."
Vogueing — A more recent name given to a dance that has been evolving since the late 60's. Not to be confused with drag, lip syncing, or posing (all separate categories).
Vogueing Femme — A dance style that takes the femme queen technique and exaggerates it even further: pronounced hip movement, cha-cha-based footwork (often in stocking-feet for maximum slide), peppered with classic striptease gestures. Execution ranges from soft and dainty to dramatic and severe.
For the sake of fair competition, the contestants themselves are categorized as such:
Butch Queens (BQs) — Gay males, regardless to which end of the masculine/ feminine scale they choose to identify with (the category specifics determine which way to lean).
Femme Queens (FQs) — Males at varying stages of gender reassignment; from the time they starts taking female hormones, they are no longer BQs. When you have a biologically androgynous male, there exists the flexibility to compete in categories designated for either BQs or FQs, provided there aren't any additional prerequisites.
BQs in Drag — Gay males that do drag, but have not started taking female hormones. They may have their own categories, or compete with the FQs in some instances.
Women (or Female) — Biological. This division does not demand a particular sexual orientation, but does lean toward a feminine demeanor.
Butches — Sometimes referred to as "male illusionists", are generally classified as masculine lesbians, but any female possessing manly appearance and mannerisms can qualify, regardless to sexual preference.
Men — Denotes contestants from the "straight" pool of patrons that still attend these functions. "Male" is used in other cases where sexual preference has no bearing on a particular category's fairness, such as with "Best Dressed Male" or "Male Muscular Body".
Open to All (OTA) — Does not designate gender or persuasion, but you may have to meet other requirements, such as a specific prop or costume.
Amazon — For runway contestants, the tall division, regardless to gender.
Banjy (adjective) — The street —savvy look; also, looking like "rough trade."
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Battle —A tie breaker; a chance for the contestant to show up his opponent. (See also Vogue —cabulary)
Big Boy/Girl — A class of ball competitors, usually 250 lbs. and over; "Luscious" for the ladies
Bring (It) — A challenge; call of defiance; "Come on down, you're the next contestant..." Sometimes contestants are allowed to "call out" a rival
Butch — A masculine female, usually lesbian.
Butch Queen — A gay male, ranging from "straight acting" to flamboyant.
BQ in Drag — A gay male in women's clothes that is not taking hormones. Some can actually pass for women, but this is not required unless specified by the category.
.Chants — Clever rhymes and raps used by the emcee to liven up an competition.
Chop —To disqualify (as in contestant); process of elimination..."Thank you, have a nice day." Also "pack."
Come (for) —To challenge; "Don't come for me, 'cause you don't want it..."
Craft(ed) — Obtained by illegal means — credit card or check writing scams usually; "Miss Thing, that Galliano gown was crafted..."; also Stunkus.
Cunt(y) — Ultra feminine; also, interchangeable with "ovah."
Designers' Delite — A category for aspiring designers and home sewers. "The garment must be made by YOU!"
Father/Mother —A house leader (without regard to gender).
Feel (it) —To be totally absorbed in the moment.
Grand March —The opening ceremonies. The hosting house's members are introduced, along with the categories they represent. Mother and Father are introduced last, for maximum effect.
God(dess) — A title paired with a particular category winner, either currently or consistently. Examples include: label god (always "serves" this category — head to toe, and often layers), and face goddess (dare anyone defy her?).
House — A social group, clique, club, posse, family, fraternity (usually gay).
Icon — A ballroom history maker; beyond the status of a Legend.
Judy — Noun: a close pal; adjective: characterized by favoritism, as in a judge that gives high scores based on friendship.
Legend(ary) —A multi — trophy winner, with a ballroom history; A veteran.
Live (verb) — (Rhymes with "give") to enjoy oneself immensely; "I lived at that last ball!"
Midget — For runway contestants, the petite or short division; anyone shorter than male/female model industry standards.
Shoplifting Model's vs. Luscious (Body) — Two separate female or FQ categories, the later leans toward full-figured.
Model's vs. Muscular (Body) — Two separate male categories, the later leans toward bodybuilding.
Ovah —Variation of "over", meaning "very impressive", also "cunty" or "sickening"; "legendary" on occasion.
Pay (it) — To ignore and move on, as in an unfavorable judges' decision; "Pay it. We'll get her after the ball."
Peeling — A runway stunt in which you remove garment layers gracefully, down to your best ensemble.
Prince(ss) — That son or daughter most likely to take the lead as mother or father, should the current parents not continue their role; "Heir to the Throne."
Punish —To greatly surpass in performance. Also "destroy."
Reading — The art of insults; finding a flaw in your opponent and verbally showcasing and exaggerating it (also "Deadly Daggers"); giving someone a "piece of your mind"
Ruler — Someone currently known for winning a particular category. Rulers come and go, but Legends are forever!
Seed(y) — An undesirable person, or described as such; low rated.
Shade (Throwing) — Underhanded dealings, where usually the "jokes on you"; "Judge number two threw me shade..."
Snatch —To win.
Star — An up-and-coming Legend; a frequent winner that is making a name for themselves.
Statement — An up-and-coming Star; not always winning, but frequently "getting your tens".
Stunkus — See Craft(ed).
Turn (it) — To make a grand show; bring the ballroom to its feet; also "work", "sell" and "serve"(all usually accompanied by "goddammit" or "bitch").
Uglina — Fictional character created to represent unfavorable elements of the ball scene: excessive shade, petty bickering, etc.
Virgin — First —timer, never walked (a particular category) ever.
Walk — To enter a category; "Miss Thing, you should not walk for "Face"...
nt Biker types. |
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