Kiki House of Fubu

About Us:

We are a group of multifaceted creatives who are passionate about art in all of its forms.

Leading with authenticity and heart is what we do on both a personal and professional level. This gives us a unique and innovative perspective for our creative expression.

From performing, to producing, to digital strategy, to creative direction, we have the talent, experience, and drive to bring any artistic vision to life.

MISSION:

To elevate culture and community while creating a safe environment for self expression! We pride ourselves on continuing the legacy of our ballroom pioneers. Upholding the authenticity, respect, and integrity of the underground ballroom scene.

Vision:

Our vision is to be a leading force in the Ballroom Kiki scene and society at large, known for our commitment to diversity, inclusivity, and social justice. We strive to inspire, educate, and empower our members to pursue their passions, challenge the status quo, and positively impact their communities.

OUR TEAM:

Organization and Management

Packrat has worked as an executive producer, artistic director, choreographer, model, movement coach and dancer throughout her career in the entertainment industry. She has also been a part of ballroom culture for over 18+ years. Packrat's credits include Madonna, Lizzo, Kanye West, Megan Thee Stallion , Doechii, Khalid, N.E.R.D., Insecure, A Black Lady Sketch Show, Abbot elementary, Legendary HBO MAX, Aluna George, ADIDAS, Under Armor, Faith Evans, Wanda Sykes, Dragun Beauty, House Of Lanvin, Rupaul’s Dragcon, TTtheartist, Step-Up

Revolution, Todrick Hall, Milk Makeup, Leikeli47, and Mason Gross School of The Arts.

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Carlos has worked as an executive producer, choreographer, model, and dancer in the entertainment industry. Carlos has over 20+ years of experience in the ballroom scene. Carlos's credits include Beyonce, Madonna, Lizzo, Legendary HBO MAX, Aluna George, Sam Smith, Ariana Grande, Estelle, Ashlee Simpson, and went on tour with "Sesame Street Live!” He shares his craft and expertise by teaching Vogue around Los Angeles and internationally. He is currently on the Renaissance World Tour with Beyoncé and continues to expand the Ballroom Scene in the West Coast.

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Romonica Stephens is a multidisciplinary creative known for her acquisition + taste as a vibe curator, copy editor and production assistant. Her accomplishments include working on FOX's number one hit series “911” season 6 as a production assistant as well as her collaborative efforts with world-renowned percussionists Bill Summers as a digital consultant on his latest EP Forward Back Vol.1, the original Soul Train diva Damita Jo Freeman on her first book signing event “Are You That Girl on Soul Train”, Forbes Black member Kenneth Williams as the Communications Lead for his non-profit Green Resources & Opportunities Workforce, and former New York Giant NFL player Reggie Stephens on his acceptance to the “Class of 2023 “ Recording Academy voting member.

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Christine is a multi-hyphenate creative who finds joy in guiding projects from concept to fruition. As a freelance Producer, her credits include working on the producing teams for CBS's Emmy Award Winning talk show, The Doctors and VHI's The Amber Rose Show, as well as talk show pilots for Niecy Nash, Keke Palmer, and Sean Hayes. Most recently, she was a casting Associate Producer for the upcoming season of The Great American Baking Show. Beyond producing, Christine's repertoire extends to sales and marketing for various cannabis brands, including her roles as Sales Area Manager for Curaleaf and Director of Sales & Marketing Strategy for Dripp Extracts & Waferz brands. She is also a dancer, yoga teacher, and DJ.

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BALLROOM IS

AMERICAN HISTORY

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Ballroom was birthed in Harlem, New York City and stemmed from Drag pageants dating all the way back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries! In the early 1960s Black and Latino LGBTQAI+ people were becoming weary of the blatant mistreatment in the scene, not even being allowed to participate in many Drag pageants. They channeled their struggle into their artistry and created their own underground scene to celebrate each other. By the 1980s, more elements and categories were added to the drag pageant format allowing for more participation and inclusivity. Eventually this evolved into what we know now as Ballroom today. A historic documentary to watch for more detailed information is "Paris Is Burning" as it paints a beautiful picture of Ballroom's humble beginnings.

"I have the right to show my color, darling. I am beautiful and I know I'm beautiful"

-Crystal Labeija

"how many years has it taken people to realize that we are all brothers and sisters and human beings in the human race"

-marsha p johnson

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WHAT IS A HOUSE?

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From the outside looking in, most people view houses as a dance team. When in actuality, a house is chosen family that has historically served as a sanctuary for many who faced rejection from their own biological families due to their LGBTQIA+ identities.

Each house has a Mother and/or Father, often seasoned and respected members of the Ballroom community, who embody the role of the parental figure, providing shelter, food, support, and guidance to their children as well as leading them at the ball.

House names are often inspired by renowned fashion brands and designers that are admired by the house members and align with their values. This choice is a powerful act of reclamation, stemming from the fact that queer BIPOC individuals seldom saw themselves represented on the runways of these admired fashion brands.

By adopting these designer names and walking balls under them, they assert their presence and ownership, celebrating their own unique talent and style that rivals even professional runway models.

Choosing a name is an important process, as it is a permanent decision that solidifies the house's commitment to the ballroom community and can determine its legacy.

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what is a ball?

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A ball is a friendly competition held between different houses within the ballroom community. Balls are a place to showcase artistic expression through fashion and dance while building community and healthy spaces for BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and allies.

Usually, one house hosts the ball and is responsible for creating the theme, categories, panel of judges, prizes, and providing a safe space for the festivities to take place. The host house creates a flyer that displays what will be offered at their event and invites the other houses to come and enter the competition.

The judges are comprised of a diverse panel of prominent competitors from different houses that have stamped their name and talent within specific categories in the community and sometimes celebrity guests.

These houses then compete in various categories in front of the judges to win trophies and sometimes cash prizes. The more trophies a house has, the more distinguished the house becomes.

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what is a category?

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Categories are sub-divisions that have their own set of requirements and reflect the overall theme of the Ball competition. Some of the categories include realness, face, best dressed, and runway. The most popular category is performance, which is commonly referred to as "voguing".

The goal of this category is to showcase the five elements of vogue which are: catwalk, duckwalk, hands performance, floor performance, and spins & dips. The contestant that executes the movements the best wins the category.

Over the years, ballroom has grown in popularity and categories have broadened to reflect the evolution of artistry and experiences of black, brown, LGBTQ+, and allies.

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BALLROOM'S INFLUENCE IN

THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY

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Ballroom has played an essential role in the development and evolution of the entertainment industry. Many ballroom participants have been the stars behind some of the most amazing moments in music and television history!

Ballroom culture is responsible for inspiring mainstream's fashion, choreography, make- up artistry, hairstyling, etc. Many members of the community never get the opportunity to be in the limelight themselves, but have generously used their creative capabilities to add to numerous celebrities dominating their respective fields!

Ballroom has directly influenced numerous mainstream artists and brands.

Artists Include: Madonna, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Teyana Taylor, RuPaul, Naomi Campbell, Meg Thee Stallion Brands Include: Lanvin, Marc Jacobs, Mugler, Telfar

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EVENT OVERVIEW

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The "Soul Train Ball" will be the official Los Angeles debut for the Kiki House of FUBU. This vibrant celebration embodies community and pure fun and honors a pivotal moment in American history.

The event will be held on October 28th

from 6-10pm at FYI's Campus.

Showing reverence to Soul Train's unapologetic elevation of Blackness during times of struggle and racial adversity, this ball celebrates its legacy and introduces who we are as a Kiki House. We are excited to have some of the original soul-train dancers attending the event, so we can pay homage to them for catapulting the show intomainstream success.

With electrifying energy and inclusivity, the Soul Train Ball offers anunforgettable, boundary-transcending experience. Elevate your venue by hosting this iconic event—a convergence of music, vogue, fashion, history and connection.

WHAT IS A KIKI BALL?

The "Kiki" scene, a subsidiary of mainstream ballroom, focuses more on the fun andcommunity aspects versus intense competition. There will be categories, cash prizes, performances, and a great time to be had by all.

attendance profile

We are expecting a diverse crowd of attendees featuring icons in the ballroom community,original Soul Train dancers, Influencers, and other creatives. Our event is for those who are 21 and up, but we would love to open it up to other age groups.

MARKETING PLAN

The Kiki House of FUBU is working on a comprehensive social media strategy, including flyers, photos, and videos to promote the event. We would love to coordinate a shoot in the FYI space to be able to highlight the venue if possible.

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brand collaboration

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Within a month, The Kiki House of FUBU has already secured partnerships with Beyonce's BeyGood Foundation and The Human Rights Campaign, in addition to sponsorships from The LGBTQIA+ Center of Nevada and The Aids Health Foundation.

We would love to work with you! Sponsor or donate to our events, workshops, and artistic visions.

Collaborating with us offers a unique opportunity to reach a diverse audience and align your brand with a positive and memorable experience. Upon negotiation, sponsors can receive exposure through our marketing and promotional efforts, including social media posts and targeted advertising campaigns. Additionally, sponsors can showcase their brand through on-site activations andsignage at our events.

Alternatively, simply contributing to any of our general expenses and our art is greatly appreciated.

Below you will find the ways you can help our community grow and thrive. Let’s discuss how we can support your brand too!

Designed by Maddie Stein