Latest news with #ballroom
RNZ News
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
How Samoa's Ballroom scene is carving space for Pacific futures
By Dinah Lewis Boucher , ABC Advocates say the goal isn't just about existing — it's about thriving at home. Photo: ABC / Dinah Lewis Boucher On a warm Tuesday night in Fugalei in Apia, Samoa's capital, the air hums with anticipation as a local hall fills with young people. With the Boom Kaisi Ball just days away, Pacific Rainbow+ youth have gathered for a series of workshops designed to build confidence and community in preparation for their ballroom debut. Rooted in queer Black and Latinx resistance, ballroom culture is an underground art form of performance, fashion, and chosen family now finding resonance in Samoa. It's characterised by elaborate balls, where individuals or "houses" compete in performance and dance categories. Still, beyond competition, it serves as a safe space and chosen family structure for queer individuals, fostering a sense of belonging and self-expression. Miss Samoa Fa'afafine, Ella Ganza says it means a lot to be in 'the motherland' championing community. Photo: ABC / Dinah Lewis Boucher "Ballroom is made for the confident girls," Ella Ganza said on the mic as music started to blast and participants eyed the runway, preparing to walk. As the reigning Miss Samoa Fa'afafine and Mother of the House of Alexander, she guides Samoa's youth through the world of ballroom, a deeply personal mission to uplift her community. "To see the youth, my younger sisters and brothers, be authentic, feel safe, and be celebrated in a way that's just completely them…I cried almost every night after the workshop," she told ABC Pacific. The introduction of ballroom to Samoa is a recent development, with events and workshops aimed at empowering and creating safe spaces. Photo: ABC / Dinah Lewis Boucher "It's not just about the performance - it's about nurturing a space where our young ones feel safe, celebrated, and completely themselves. "This is a calling. And it's a calling not just for us, but for those who stand with us, to serve, to protect, and to help our youth feel seen." Watching on in preparation to walk runway. Photo: ABC / Dinah Lewis Boucher For Rosie, a cisgender woman and chosen house mother, being part of this community is about allyship and chosen family. "Definitely 'chosen family' is how I'd describe it, because they chose me to be their mother," she told ABC Pacific. Rosie, wears pink flower in right ear, stands with the children of her house. Photo: ABC / Dinah Lewis Boucher As someone from outside the queer community, she said the role helped her practice inclusivity and mentor the younger generation. "This environment, with all the laughter and bonding, brings out their confidence and helps them be more expressive," she said. "I hope what they take from this journey is that they are loved - and that they are safe." Ballroom culture developed as a safe space and creative outlet for marginalised LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly Black and Latinx individuals, who faced discrimination in mainstream society. Photo: ABC / Dinah Lewis Boucher In Samoa, gender diversity has long existed outside of Western binary norms. Fa'afafine, meaning "in the manner of a woman", has been part of Samoan society for centuries. Recognised across Samoa as a third gender, fa'afafine embody a gender identity that doesn't fit neatly into male or female categories. "It's an umbrella term," Ella said, "whereas in the Western world, we like to put labels on every little thing. Are you trans? Are you gay? Are you non-binary? Are you bi? "Some could be offended by it [the term Fa'afafine], but for those who truly understand its beauty, and its truth, it is sacred. It's something that belonged to us before colonisation." Workshops aim to create a safe, confident space for Fa'afafine, Fa'atama, and the wider community. Photo: ABC / Dinah Lewis Boucher Across the Pacific, the acronym MVPFAFF+ is used to honour the region's unique and diverse gender identities. The term, coined by community activist and worker Phylesha Brown-Acton, stands for Māhū (Tahiti and Hawaii), Vaka sa lewa lewa (Fiji), Palopa (Papua New Guinea), Fa'afafine (Samoa and American Samoa), Akava'ine (Cook Islands), Fakaleiti or Leiti (Tonga), and Fakafifine (Niue), with the "+" signifying other gender identities still evolving within Pacific communities. Before colonisation and Christianity swept through the region, identities such as Fa'afafine were respected and woven into community life. Today, while many MVPFAFF+ individuals continue to hold cultural significance, many face discrimination. Runway, is one of the categories in Ballroom. Photo: ABC / Dinah Lewis Boucher "Cultural norms can shut down their potential, but events like this let them shine, and show what makes them unique," Rosie told ABC Pacific. "I just want them to be able to let loose, enjoy the night, and finally experience this freedom for themselves. "It means a lot to them. And it means a lot to me." Slay on the runway. Photo: ABC / Dinah Lewis Boucher Samoan human rights activist Maluseu Doris Tulifau of Brown Girl Woke is the event's key organiser, but said her role wasn't to take up space, it was to make space. "I just want the space for them," she said. "The third gender has always existed in Samoa - but it was washed away by colonial lies." Doris Tulifau, organiser behind bringing Ballroom to Samoa. Photo: ABC / Dinah Lewis Boucher One of the biggest challenges, she said, was that many MVPFAFF+ individuals still felt they had to leave the country to be free. "A lot of our love, support, and funding is coming from the diaspora - because many who left knew there wasn't a space for them here," she said, but stressed the goal wasn't to simply exist, but to thrive. For Ella, bringing the ball to Samoa was about creating a space where Pasifika youth can be seen, celebrated and safe. Photo: ABC / Dinah Lewis Boucher "We're building spaces that don't just allow LGBTQ+ youth to survive, but to thrive, right here at home. We don't want performative allyship. We want mentorship. We want advocacy. We want them to stay. "If everyone keeps leaving because of shame, silence, and fear - how will anything ever change?" Ballroom culture aims to provide a space where Samoa's youth are not just seen, but celebrated. Photo: ABC / Dinah Lewis Boucher Now, Ella is focused on modelling confidence, care, and the kind of visibility she didn't see growing up. "Being a chosen mother, the mother of my house - this is my own way of leaving a legacy. I may not have children biologically, but this is still my way of creating family," she said. "Confidence is how you walk into a room, but it's also how you uplift others. That's what I want to teach. That's how we progress. "I want to be what I wanted to see growing up. I wish I could've walked into a community like the one I see now." - ABC
ABC News
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- ABC News
How Samoa's Ballroom scene is carving space for Pacific futures
On a warm Tuesday night in Fugalei in Apia, Samoa's capital, the air hums with anticipation as a local hall fills with young people. With the Boom Kaisi Ball just days away, Pacific Rainbow+ youth have gathered for a series of workshops designed to build confidence and community in preparation for their ballroom debut. Rooted in queer Black and Latinx resistance, ballroom culture is an underground art form of performance, fashion, and chosen family now finding resonance in Samoa. It's characterised by elaborate balls, where individuals or "houses" compete in performance and dance categories. Still, beyond competition, it serves as a safe space and chosen family structure for queer individuals, fostering a sense of belonging and self-expression. Miss Samoa Fa'afafine, Ella Ganza says it means a lot to be in 'the motherland' championing community. ( ABC: Dinah Lewis Boucher ) "Ballroom is made for the confident girls," Ella Ganza said on the mic as music started to blast and participants eyed the runway, preparing to walk. As the reigning Miss Samoa Fa'afafine and Mother of the House of Alexander, she guides Samoa's youth through the world of ballroom, a deeply personal mission to uplift her community. "To see the youth, my younger sisters and brothers, be authentic, feel safe, and be celebrated in a way that's just completely them… I cried almost every night after the workshop," she told ABC Pacific. The introduction of ballroom to Samoa is a recent development, with events and workshops aimed at empowering and creating safe spaces. ( ABC: Dinah Lewis Boucher ) "It's not just about the performance — it's about nurturing a space where our young ones feel safe, celebrated, and completely themselves. "This is a calling. And it's a calling not just for us, but for those who stand with us, to serve, to protect, and to help our youth feel seen." Watching on in preparation to walk runway. ( ABC: Dinah Lewis Boucher ) 'Brings out confidence' For Rosie, a cisgender woman and chosen house mother, being part of this community is about allyship and chosen family. "Definitely 'chosen family' is how I'd describe it, because they chose me to be their mother," she told ABC Pacific. Rosie, wears pink flower in right ear, stands with the children of her house. ( ABC: Dinah Lewis Boucher ) As someone from outside the queer community, she said the role helped her practice inclusivity and mentor the younger generation. "This environment, with all the laughter and bonding, brings out their confidence and helps them be more expressive," she said. "I hope what they take from this journey is that they are loved — and that they are safe." Ballroom culture developed as a safe space and creative outlet for marginalised LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly Black and Latinx individuals, who faced discrimination in mainstream society. ( ABC: Dinah Lewis Boucher ) In Samoa, gender diversity has long existed outside of Western binary norms. Fa'afafine, meaning "in the manner of a woman", has been part of Samoan society for centuries. Recognised across Samoa as a third gender, fa'afafine embody a gender identity that doesn't fit neatly into male or female categories. "It's an umbrella term," Ella said, "whereas in the Western world, we like to put labels on every little thing. Are you trans? Are you gay? Are you non-binary? Are you bi? "Some could be offended by it [the term Fa'afafine], but for those who truly understand its beauty, and its truth, it is sacred. It's something that belonged to us before colonisation." Workshops aim to create a safe, confident space for Fa'afafine, Fa'atama, and the wider community. ( Image: Dinah Lewis Boucher ) Across the Pacific, the acronym MVPFAFF+ is used to honour the region's unique and diverse gender identities. The term, coined by community activist and worker Phylesha Brown-Acton, stands for Māhū (Tahiti and Hawaii), Vaka sa lewa lewa (Fiji), Palopa (Papua New Guinea), Fa'afafine (Samoa and American Samoa), Akava'ine (Cook Islands), Fakaleiti or Leiti (Tonga), and Fakafifine (Niue), with the "+" signifying other gender identities still evolving within Pacific communities. Before colonisation and Christianity swept through the region, identities such as Fa'afafine were respected and woven into community life. Today, while many MVPFAFF+ individuals continue to hold cultural significance, many face discrimination. Runway, is one of the categories in Ballroom. ( ABC: Dinah Lewis Boucher ) "Cultural norms can shut down their potential, but events like this let them shine, and show what makes them unique," Rosie told ABC Pacific. "I just want them to be able to let loose, enjoy the night, and finally experience this freedom for themselves. "It means a lot to them. And it means a lot to me." Slay on the runway. ( ABC: Dinah Lewis Boucher ) Samoan human rights activist Maluseu Doris Tulifau of Brown Girl Woke is the event's key organiser, but said her role wasn't to take up space, it was to make space. "I just want the space for them," she said. "The third gender has always existed in Samoa — but it was washed away by colonial lies." Doris Tulifau, organiser behind bringing Ballroom to Samoa. ( ABC: Dinah Lewis Boucher ) One of the biggest challenges, she said, was that many MVPFAFF+ individuals still felt they had to leave the country to be free. "A lot of our love, support, and funding is coming from the diaspora — because many who left knew there wasn't a space for them here," she said, but stressed the goal wasn't to simply exist, but to thrive. For Ella, bringing the ball to Samoa was about creating a space where Pasifika youth can be seen, celebrated and safe. ( ABC: Dinah Lewis Boucher ) "We're building spaces that don't just allow LGBTQ+ youth to survive, but to thrive, right here at home. We don't want performative allyship. We want mentorship. We want advocacy. We want them to stay. "If everyone keeps leaving because of shame, silence, and fear — how will anything ever change?" Ballroom culture aims to provide a space where Samoa's youth are not just seen, but celebrated. ( ABC: Dinah Lewis Boucher ) Now, Ella is focused on modelling confidence, care, and the kind of visibility she didn't see growing up. "Being a chosen mother, the mother of my house — this is my own way of leaving a legacy. I may not have children biologically, but this is still my way of creating family," she said. "Confidence is how you walk into a room, but it's also how you uplift others. That's what I want to teach. That's how we progress. "I want to be what I wanted to see growing up. I wish I could've walked into a community like the one I see now."
Daily Mail
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Trump to build 'beautiful and magnificent' ballroom as he revamps White House
President Donald Trump on Friday confirmed that he would proceed with building a ballroom on the White House grounds. 'Just inspected the site of the new Ballroom that will be built, compliments of a man known as Donald J. Trump, at the White House,' he revealed on Truth Social. Daily Mail reported in April that Trump's interest in constructing a White House ballroom dated back to at least 2010, when he approached President Barack Obama 's adviser David Axelrod with the plan. A year later, Trump shamed the Obama administration for using a 'lousy looking tent' to host state dinners during an interview with Rush Limbaugh. Cut to February, when Trump was hosting his first large-scale event in the East Room of his second term. 'This room is packed and - you know I offered to build a ballroom,' he told attendees. In his post Friday, the president claimed that a White House ballroom had been in demand for years. 'For 150 years, Presidents, and many others, have wanted a beautiful Ballroom, but it never got built because nobody previously had any knowledge or experience in doing such things - But I do, like maybe nobody else, and it will go up quickly, and be a wonderful addition, very much in keeping with the magnificent White House itself,' Trump said. 'Just inspected the site of the new Ballroom that will be built, compliments of a man known as Donald J. Trump, at the White House,' he revealed on Truth Social He pushed that the ballroom project wouldn't be a distraction from more important presidential duties. 'There are the "fun" projects I do while thinking about the World Economy, the United States, China, Russia, and lots of other Countries, places, and events,' Trump said. 'It will all be good, maybe even GREAT, depending on who is the President of the U.S.A.!' the president added. The White House did not immediately respond to the Daily Mail's request for comment on where the ballroom will be constructed. A former East Wing aide told the Daily Mail in April that it could possibly be erected as part of the already-existing East Wing, where the first lady typically has her offices. 'I don't think it's impossible,' the official said. 'I'm not an engineer or a construction expert but it certainly doesn't seem impossible that you could restructure the East Wing to create a large ballroom to the president's liking.' Trump previously added a 20,000 square foot ballroom to his historic Palm Beach property, Mar-a-Lago, and also added a ballroom addition to Washington, D.C.'s Old Post Office, as it was transitioning to his Trump-branded hotel. Now that property is a Waldorf Astoria. President Joe Biden used what appeared to be the same tent as President Barack Obama to host his 2023 state dinner with Australia. Biden repositioned it in an area of the South Lawn that would better accommodate Trump's ballroom vision The Truth Social post indicated the president would personally pick up the cost. He reportedly also told Axelrod he would pick up the tab, according to Trump's telling. But in a 2016 interview with Time magazine, after candidate Trump had again brought up the ballroom on the even of the Iowa caucuses, Axelrod remembered the conversation differently. 'I don't recall him saying he would pay for it,' the Obama adviser said. Trump made the ballroom announcement after spending the day behind closed doors, on the heels of his blockbuster public feud with former DOGE leader Elon Musk.
Daily Mail
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Scarlett Moffatt shares powerful body confidence message as she showcases her incredible dance skills during ballroom competition
Scarlett Moffatt shared a powerful message on body confidence as she showcased her incredible dance skills during a ballroom competition. The TV personality, 34, previously took to Instagram to share a video of herself dancing with a pal during the contest, in which she expressed how much fun she was having on the dancefloor. However, Scarlett then re-shared her video on Sunday where she encouraged others to not let their appearance or age stop them from doing what they love. Alongside the clip, which sees her beaming with joy while dazzling in a neon green gown, Scarlett penned: 'I've said it once I'll say it a million times. DO NOT let your shape, size or age stop you from doing something that brings you joy. 'Don't let that silly inner sabotage voice tell you ya won't be able to do it. Don't tell yourself I'll do it when I'm thinner, when I'm fitter or when a,b or c happens. Do it now!' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to Daily Mail's showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. The TV personality, 34, previously took to Instagram to share a video of herself dancing with a pal during the contest, in which she expressed how much fun she was having on the dancefloor The former Gogglebox favourite continued: 'I can't tell you how much joy dancing in two finals with my childhood friend has made me this weekend. I was thinking of nothing but the sheer joy that dance brings me, I hope I can encourage one more person to do the same.' Her inspiring post was met with a plethora of supportive messages from her fans and showbiz pals. Former Strictly star Ian Waite shared: 'Love this darling', while Janette Manrara added: 'Yes yes yes!!!!' Emily Atack commented: 'Omg obsessed xxxxxx', with Karen Hauer remarking: 'Wooohooo yes babe!!' Scarlett cut a glamorous figure in a stunning green embellished ballroom gown, gliding gracefully across the dance floor with poise and confidence. Her chic ensemble featured a plunging neckline, sparkling sleeves, feathered cuffs, silver detailing at the waist, and a dramatic flared skirt. Scarlett elevated her look with a pair of bold orange heels and exuded confidence as she showed off her best moves. To complete the ensemble, she accessorised with green tassel earrings and styled her dark tresses into a sleek up do. Scarlett penned: 'I've said it once I'll say it a million times. DO NOT let your shape, size or age stop you from doing something that brings you joy' Her inspiring post was met with a plethora of supportive messages from her fans and showbiz pals She captioned the post: 'First rule of dancing; HAVE FUN!' It comes after Scarlett enjoyed a very boozy karaoke night in Torremolinos, Spain, earlier this month. The former Gogglebox favourite flaunted her slimmer frame in snaps posted to Instagram, showing off her wild night out with her friends. Scarlett looked glamorous as she posed in a semi-sheer co-ord, which was made up of a shirt and matching wide-legged trousers. Revealing that she now takes the opportunity to let her hair down now she's a mother, Scarlett said: '48 hours in Torremolinos with my besties. 'Honestly, no one is wilder on a night out than a mother, I used to be very mild and now I'm a stay-at-home mam I'm first on the dance floor and last off the karaoke.' Alongside her sizzling shots, Scarlett shared a clip of her singing the night away during a fun karaoke session joined by one of her best friends. She looked over the moon posing for a slew of hilarious selfies with her pals and later posed alongside two glamorous drag queens. It comes after Scarlett flaunted her recent weight loss as she enjoyed a very boozy karaoke night in Torremolinos, Spain, earlier this month Scarlett also shared a fresh-faced snap of herself going make-up-free while posing with a thumbs-up. The former I'm A Celebrity star previously flaunted her weight loss as she enjoyed a sweet family day out to Tynemouth beach in Newcastle last month. She showed off her new look in an album posted to Instagram, and she looked happier than ever in a chic light green co-ord. Scarlett layered her two-piece in a figure-hugging leopard-print body suit as she accessorised her look with a pair of orange-tinted sunglasses. During the outing with her fiancé Scott Dobinson, Scarlett looked every inch the doting mother as she played with their son, Jude, 22 months, on the beach. Sharing the family pictures to her social media, she penned: 'Quick dash to home bargains
Daily Mail
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Strictly Come Dancing star Karen Hauer claims she 'bankrolled' her short-lived third marriage to a man she met online after painful year long separation from Kevin Clifton
Strictly Come Dancing star Karen Hauer has reflected on her protracted and painful divorce from Kevin Clifton led ands subsequent ill-fated marriage to a man she originally met online. The Venezuelan-American ballroom specialist married Clifton, her second husband, in 2015 - three years after joining the Strictly team of professionals. Currently the show's longest serving cast-member, Hauer announced her divorce from the British dancer in 2018, but she admits their separation played out behind the scenes for months before the couple confirmed they were no longer together. Appearing on the latest edition of Paul C. Brunson's We Need To Talk podcast, Hauer, 43, insisted it was she who instigated the separation when it became clear that he had 'distanced himself' from her. She said: 'This one hurt, because we belonged together. You wouldn't say each other's names without following the other person's name. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'I felt that he distanced himself from me, but I was probably doing the same. Because I felt that if you don't want me then OK, I'll retreat, I'll give you your space. It was one of those, where we're both not talking about it. 'I was like, "Do you want a divorce? Do you want to split up? I don't know what I want to do. What do you want to do? Do you know what you want? I don't know what I want. Are we broken up?"' 'So it took a while actually, it took about a year... behind the scenes. In front of the scenes everything was normal. 'We fell apart, and me not knowing... obviously, I didn't know what was happening in his mind and whether he wanted to be with me or not.' Despite calling time on the marriage after just three years, Hauer admitted she would have worked at salvaging their relationship had he wanted to be with her. She said: 'I knew that I would've worked on it - I would've stayed. But at the same time, I couldn't be with someone who wasn't sure of whether they wanted to be with me or not. I couldn't wait. 'I waited for a while, and I was giving him his space to think, and then funnily enough I met someone. I was literally waiting to be loved. 'He just wanted a divorce, and I didn't fight it. Something had to happen in order for him to make a decision, because I wasn't going to make the decision.' Clifton subsequently embarked on a new relationship with documentarian Stacey Dooley after meeting her on the BBC show. The couple welcomed a daughter together in 2023. Meanwhile Hauer went on to date opera singer David Webb, who she was said to have 'quietly split' from back in September 2020, before entering a new relationship businessman with Jordan Wyn-Jones, the man who would ultimately become her third husband. Originally from Brighton, Wyn-Jones was living in Sydney when he started to follow Karen on Instagram. She followed him back and they began to exchange messages before regularly speaking on FaceTime. The businessman eventually relocated to the UK, with the couple marrying in 2022, but the marriage soon crumbled and the couple announced their separation just 16-months later. She said: 'I got myself into a relationship that I shouldn't have. I felt embarrassed that I couldn't keep anyone around me and I said to myself, "No, I'm not going to get into a relationship... spend some time on your own." 'But I don't know how to be on my own.' Looking back on their relationship, Hauer says she kept them afloat through the money she earned as a professional dancer. 'He was saying to me I'm going to get a job soon, I'm going to help out when I can. But I work hard for my money and I was bankrolling everything,' she claimed. 'I wasn't home alone, but there was nothing that fulfilled me. He wasn't providing anything, there was no enhancement in my emotional being, my physical being. 'I was working, doing my thing, coming in and out of the house and letting him settle down.' Shortly before announcing their separation, Hauer revealed they were having counselling to help them with their relationship. She told HELLO! magazine: 'Counselling. You know what I think communication is massive but learning how to communicate, you know, so we get outside help. 'So whenever we're having tricky moments or anything like that, it's just seeing the vulnerable side of each other and understanding it and knowing that both of us are working on things because nobody is perfect.' She added: 'There is no such thing as a happy marriage or a happy relationship with the perfect couple. 'It's about dealing with things the right way and not just running away from things, and I guess that's what makes us tick even better and understand one another.'
