This dance style was developed in the 1960’s
in the Black and Latino Gay Ballroom Scene in Harlem New York. It was inspired by Vogue Magazine and the poses models would strike in order to be photographed. Examples of this art form can be seen in the film Paris is Burning.
And fuck Madonna’s video. The bitch!!!!
The five foundational elements of Voguing are: Hand/Arm
Performance, Catwalk, Duckwalk, Spins & Dips and Floor
Performance. From these five pivotal elements arise three primary styles:
Old Way: formerly also known as pop dip & spin or performance. This is the original voguing style and the basis for the development of the subsequent
contemporary styles. Voguing in the old way it its purest form is a dance duel between two rivals. New Way and Vogue Fem grew from this foundational form.
New way: characterized by its precision in creating complex angles, boxes, lines and illusions with the arms, wrists and hands. It was used by performers inspired by the extreme flexibility and poses of contortionists, gymnast, yoga practitioners and haute couture fashion.
Vogue Fem is based on Old Way performance and embodies an extremely feminine appearance and movement. Its influences come from Modern Dance, Ballet, Figure Skating and Pantomime. The two characteristic dynamics in the
presentation of this style are: “dramatic” – very fast with impressive and “soft & cunt” that emphasizes the grace and beauty of women by rather slow movements.
