Courtesy of The house of Enigma
VOGUE - CABULARY
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
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
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.
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
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
Kansai
An "Old Way" dip, inspired by a mannequin in
a Kansai Yamamoto boutique window (NYC, circa '70s)
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)
Makeveli
A "suicide" dip, requiring a fall to the floor,
landing on the back, using one leg as a lever; a prat fall
New Way
The vogueing styles starting in the 90's. Includes Arms Control, with body contortions.
Old Way
The vogueing styles previous to the 80's. See also
Pop, Dip and Spin
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
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
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"
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"...
