OVĀ Collective And Te Papa Serve Up A Celebration Of Ballroom Culture

Five years after Wellington’s debut Vogue Ball, the creative capital will host its largest celebration of ballroom culture.

Presented by The Kiki House of Marama, OVĀ Collective and Te Papa, a dazzling programme of events will commemorate five years of the growing Wellington Ballroom scene.

A Vogue Ball is a vibrant competition rooted in Queer Black and Latinx ballroom culture, where participants showcase dance, fashion, and performance, most notably through the stylised art of voguing.

Te Whanganui-a-Tara will come alive with community workshops, a panel discussion, and a series of ballroom workshops, culminating in The Grand Kiki House of Marama Ball – Wellington’s biggest Vogue Ball.

Rachel Fox, Te Papa Public Programming Manager acknowledges how special it’s been to work with OVĀ Collective over the past year.

“The Kiki House of Marama are trailblazers of the Ballroom scene here in Wellington and it’s a real privilege for Te Papa to be part of this kaupapa.”

“The partnership reflects our commitment to supporting our rainbow Pacific and Māori communities and celebrating the diverse voices and cultural expressions of Aotearoa.”

Drawing both local and international attendees, the programme not only amplifies the city’s reputation as the creative capital, and a vibrant, cultural destination, but also deepen its global cultural connections.

“We’re thrilled to be able to bring together local talent, and host Ballroom Icons and Legends from USA, France and Australia, many coming to Aotearoa for the first time,” adds Fox.

“These influential figures and international icons have made significant contributions to their own scenes. We’re grateful they will host a special panel talk that delves into the world of Ballroom, its history and culture, how it found its way to the shores of Aotearoa, and its growing presence here in Te Whanganui-a-Tara.”

Formed after Wellington’s inaugural Vogue Ball in 2020, The Kiki House of Marama is Wellington’s first Ballroom House and has since grown to a whānau of 16 Māori, Pasifika, Black, Asian, queer, and trans individuals who are counting down the days to the House’s first Grand Ball.

“Ballroom is more than performance. It’s protest, resistance, family, healing. It’s about creating space for our people to shine, be seen, and to be celebrated,” says Karamera and Romé, co Mothers of the Kiki House of Marama.

“We dreamed of having this kind of space when we first came together as a house; somewhere our community could show up fully, unapologetically, and be celebrated.

“For us, it’s also deeply personal. It’s about honouring our whakapapa, our chosen families, and the joy we feel when we’re seen and supported. We’re not just walking the runway; we’re reclaiming space in the heart of our city.”

The workshops, panel talk, and grand Ball will be documented for a film to be released in the near future.

Key Events:

Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 September: Pop-up Ballroom introduction workshops (Hutt Central and Porirua)

Thursday 2 October: Panel discussion with local and international Ballroom leaders

Friday 3 October: Ballroom workshop with international Ballroom Icons and Legend

Saturday 4 October: The Grand Kiki House of Marama Ball at Te Papa

More info: tepapa.nz/MaramaBall

Tickets available 5.30pm, Saturday 6 September.

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