Check out what Vancouver Ballroom scene has to offer at the VVJ Ballroom Showcase!
Early Show: Sun, Aug 15, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Late Show: Sun, Aug 15, 8:30 PM - 10:30 PM
VanVogueJam partners this year with Vancouver Mural Festival to present a showcase of the Vancouver Ballroom Scene. The night will showcase Vancouver’s Kiki Houses – Andromeda and Gvasalia, as well as Tigger 007, and The COVEN. Grab a friend and KIKI with us and the rest of the scene right in your very own backyard!
Van Vogue Jam Arts Society respectfully acknowledges operate on the unneeded territories of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. We seek to honour and uphold these ongoing relationships to the land and its stewards as we work on these territories. As an organization that is also founded by non-Black and Latinx people we acknowledge our ongoing need to question and reflect on how we navigate our practicing ballroom here in Vancouver, BC. We know we do not have all the answers and are always looking to improve by openly seeking discussions about how we can better support, include, involve, and uplift the Queer/Trans Black and Brown folks that founded and partake in the culture we love and share through VVJ. For more information about us please visit www.vanvoguejam.com *Ballroom – in this context is the term used for the Black, Latinx, Trans and Queer community where categories such the dance for Vogue originate from.
VanVogueJam is a Vancouver based non-profit organization helping to support and build the Vogue/Ballroom scene within Vancouver, BC, Canada. By facilitating pay-what-you-can and open-to-all-levels weekly Vogue jams, VVJ seeks to help contribute towards building a culture of dance and competition with the accessibility and safety of the LGBTQIA2+ BIPIOC community at its core. In addition to offering weekly classes, VVJ has recently started to organize bi-annual Balls with one launching during Vancouver’s Annual Pride Week, and another occurring at a different time earlier in the year. These balls draw on both international talent and local talent to judge, participate and help nurture the scene.
House of Gvasalia is a multi-faceted range of performers with experience in dance, voguing, drag, runway, sex siren and fashion. Founded in 2018 by Mother Ralph Escamillan (Posh Gvasalia), House of Gvasalia aims to centre the free artistic expression, community building, development and showcasing of the talent of queer, trans, Non Binary and Gender Non conforming people of colour and all ethnic backgrounds. House of Gvasalia has performed in various PRIDE related events in Vancouver and competed in several competitions across the Pacific Northwest and internationally, including Portland, Seattle, LA, and the Philippines - Winning categories in hand performance, vogue and more, and has become a staple of the Pacific Northwest's growing ballroom scene.
The Kiki House of Andromeda has been bringing sickening monsters and indulgent fantasies to life since 2019. They play with gender expression and push creative boundaries to help shape the growing Vancouver ballroom scene into something wholly unprecedented.
THE VENUE
The VMF Pop-Up Patio presented by Granville Island Brewing is a licensed sit down, open air performance venue hosting a mix of live music, drag, burlesque, talks, workshops, weekend brunch and more! The space is located in a transformed parking lot at Main and 5th, surrounded by leafy trees and vibrant murals. The calendar features over 40 shows produced in partnership with some of our favourite local curators and collectives.
KEY DETAILS
Cabaret style shows with General Admission seating on a first come first serve basis
Groups are welcome, come with friends!
Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks available
Pizza is available for pre-order from Ignite Pizzeria (must order in advance when buying a ticket, not available for order on site)
No cash payments accepted (tap payments encouraged)
No outside food allowed
VMF events aim to be a safe space for people of all ages, genders, ethnicities, abilities and sexual orientations. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to a staff member if you witness/experience any form of harassment while on site, or if there are ways that we can make your experience at the patio more safe and comfortable.
TIMING
Most events are 2hr sittings
Doors open at the event start time listed on Eventbrite
Shows start 20-30 minutes after doors are open
Come early for seats closer to the stage
Pizza arrives when doors open
LOW INCOME TICKETS
We recognize that ticket prices are not accessible for everyone. We welcome guests to send an email to finn@vanmuralfest.com to learn about low income ticket options
NO SHOW POLICY
Ticket holders must arrive within 20 minutes of doors opening to avoid their tickets being resold should there be folks waiting in line during a sell out. Refunds will not be given for no shows. Capacity is limited so we want to make sure seats don’t sit empty if folks are in line.
RETURN & EXCHANGE POLICY
To transfer a ticket to another person, login to your Eventbrite account, go to tickets, select your order, click edit, and change the ticket information accordingly.
No refunds accepted unless due to a government mandated COVID-19 quarantine.
In case of last minute changes to the current Order of the PHO on Gatherings and Events, partial refunds may be given.
WEATHER
Most tables have an umbrella for shade and light rain protection.
Performances will continue rain or shine. In the event of cancellation due to heavy rain we will notify attendees via email and refunds will be available for ticket costs
ACCESSIBILITY INFORMATION
Terrain: Entrance through the laneway, down a slight slope. The venue is on flat asphalt.
Washrooms: One accessible bathroom on site. Bathrooms are all genders
Seating: Attendee chairs range from high stools to low lounge seats and metal bistro chairs with a backrest. Attendees with special requirements can request a specific chair style when arriving on site.
QR Codes: Menus are accessed through QR codes. Servers can verbally list menu items to those without an internet enabled phone.
Public Transport: 5 min from Main & Broadway B-Line, 10 min from Main St Science World Skytrain
Parking: Available at Impark Lot #224 - 2122 Quebec St
Service animals are welcome on site
Please contact sophia@vanmuralfest.com for any questions regarding accessibility
PLEASE READ: COVID SAFETY PROTOCOLS
By entering the venue you are agreeing to adhere to current public health recommendations regarding face coverings, social distancing and group socializing in public.
If you begin experiencing a fever, new cough or difficulty breathing please do not attend. Requests for refund due to COVID-19 can be made by emailing sophia@vanmuralfest.com
Please refer to current government health guidelines regarding quarantining after travel and exposure to COVID-19.
What we're doing to keep you safe:
Sanitizing chairs, tables and touch points between each sitting
Staff wearing masks when interacting with guests
Sanitizer available to guests on site
COVID-19 symptom checks for staff and guests before entering the space
HOLDEN COURAGE MEMORIAL
The VMF Pop-Up Patio presented by Granville Island Brewing takes place next to the Holden Courage Memorial Graffiti Wall. The wall is re-painted annually at VMF in memory of Holden Courage, a local artist, to share joy and demonstrate the incredible skill of graffiti at VMF in the hopes of building better public understanding of this globally respected, yet often locally misunderstood art form. Holden’s family is pleased to continue his graffiti legacy through the Holden Courage Memorial Fund for artists.
Donate at www.vancouverfoundation.ca/holdencourage
PATIO SPONSORS
Granville Island Brewing | Music BC | Portable Electric | Encorp-Return IT | Sparkmouth Sparkling Water | Nesters Market Woodwards | WeWork | Pay By Phone | Hey Ya'll | Hardbite Chips | Bucha Brew | VYNE Drinks | Translink | PayByPhone | JuJu Wines | PYUR Vodka Soda | Virtue Vodka Lemonade | Lonetree Cider
We recognize that our event and murals are produced on the traditional unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlil̓wətaʔɬ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) First Nations. We strive to incorporate the visual culture of these nations in our festival. We see public art as an effective way to celebrate our diverse local cultures and their histories, with special focus on providing a platform for the local Nations' contemporary and traditional cultural expressions and histories.