House of Vineyard and House of Confetti present the first ballroom event in Limburg.

Ladies, gents and everyone in between: the groundbreaking House of Vineyard is taking over Venlo! Celebrate the festive season with us, alongside friends, loved ones and chosen family, during an evening packed with sizzling queer performances, live acts and a mini ball event led by Legendary Mother Amber ‘Ambiance’ Vineyard.

Categories of the night: To Be Announced via House of Confetti (10 November)
There are two ways to experience the ball: come along to cheer on the performers or take to the floor yourself. Either way: we’ll all be dressing up and showing what we’ve got!

Spectator: Ready to cheer?
Together we’ll create the atmosphere. Be there, chant, shout, cheer on the performers and celebrate queer expression as participants in various categories take to the floor and give it their all!

Spectator tickets
General: €15 early bird / €20 regular / €25 late bird
Community* only: €10 early bird / €15 regular / €20 late bird (use discount code 26SHOWDOWN)
If you can’t afford a ticket, please contact House of Confetti.

*Community: people who are part of the LGBTQIA+ community and/or are already active in the ballroom scene.

Participants: Ready to walk?
Is this your first time walking a ball? The workshops will help you prepare for it.
During The Living Room workshops, your experience is the starting point. We’re organising five workshop evenings in Venlo, led by Legendary Mother Amber Vineyard, a pioneer of the Dutch ballroom scene, and other members of House of Vineyard. Learn the basics, refine your performance and build your presence. Take part in one or more workshops. [Click here] for more information, dates and tickets.

Take to the floor yourself during SHOWDOWN? You can register from 10 November via House of Confetti.

OTA, Open To All
Everyone is welcome, regardless of experience, age, gender identity, sexual orientation and background. But make no mistake about whose ‘house’ this is. As an ally, you’re a guest, and guests respect the ‘house’. That means making space for queer and trans people, for the participants, and for the culture from which this evening originated.

History of ballroom / DBS
Ballroom emerged in the 1960s in Harlem, New York, for and by Black and Latinx trans women and queer people, following decades of exclusion from racist beauty pageants. They organised their own balls, where queer and trans people of colour took centre stage and were celebrated. During a ball, participants compete against one another in various categories, such as runway, realness and performance. These categories function as codes: ‘realness’ revolves around survival within power structures, whilst ‘runway’ represents the act of claiming space.

In 2013, Amber Vineyard organised the first ball in the Netherlands. A year later, she founded The Living Room and House of Vineyard, the Netherlands’ first ballroom house. Houses are groups of people who have chosen each other as ‘family’ and provide a safe home base where there is room for every individual.

Partners
An initiative by House of Confetti and House of Vineyard. Supported by COC Limburg, Maaspoort, BACKSTAGE, Grenswerk, Venlo City Council, Cultuurimpuls Venlo, VenloKleurt and Rabobank – Give your club a twist.

House of Vineyard and House of Confetti present the first ballroom event in Limburg.

Ladies, gentlemen and everyone in between: the trailblazing House of Vineyard is taking Venlo by storm! Join us this festive season, with friends, lovers and chosen family, for a night of sizzling queer performance, live acts and a mini ball hosted by the legendary Mother Amber ‘Ambiance’ Vineyard.

Categories for the night: To be announced via House of Confetti (10 November)
There are two ways to be part of the ball. You can come to cheer or you can come to walk. Either way, we’re all dressing up and we’re all showing down!

Spectators: Ready to cheer?
We create the space together. Be in the room, chant, scream, cheer, celebrate queer expression as participants take to the floor in different categories and let it all out

Spectator tickets
General: €15 early bird / €20 standard / €25 late bird
Community* only: €10 early bird / €15 standard / €20 late bird (use discount code 26SHOWDOWN)
Can’t afford a ticket? Please contact House of Confetti.

*Community: people who are part of the LGBTQIA community and/or are already active in the ballroom scene.

Participants: Ready to walk?
If this is your first time walking a ball, the workshops are there to get you ready for the floor.
At The Living Room workshops, we start where you are. Five workshop evenings in Venlo, led by trailblazing Mother Amber Vineyard of the Dutch ballroom scene and other members of House of Vineyard. Learn the basics, refine your performance, build your presence. Join one or more workshops. [Click here] for more information, dates and tickets.

To take part in SHOWDOWN, registration opens on 10 November via House of Confetti.

OTA, Open To All
Everyone is welcome, regardless of experience, gender identity, sexual orientation or background. But make no mistake about whose house this is. If you’re an ally, you’re here as a guest, and guests respect the house. Respecting the house means making room for queer and trans people, for the walkers, and for the culture that built this night.

History of ballroom / DBS
Ballroom was created for and by Black and Latinx trans women and queer people in 1960s Harlem, following decades of exclusion from racist pageants. They held their own balls, where queer and trans people of colour were at the centre and celebrated. During a ball, participants compete in various categories, including runway, realness and performance. The categories are codes: realness is about navigating the code of power, whilst runway is about claiming space.

In 2013, Amber Vineyard organised the first ball in the Netherlands and established The Living Room and House of Vineyard a year later, the first ballroom house in the Netherlands. Houses are groups of people who have chosen one another as family, providing a safe home where there is space for every individual.

Partners
An initiative by House of Confetti and House of Vineyard. Supported by COC Limburg, Maaspoort, BACKSTAGE, Grenswerk, the Municipality of Venlo, Cultuurimpuls Venlo, VenloKleurt and Rabobank – Geef je club een draai.