🔥 Fierce Foundations Festival 🔥3rd to 6th July 2025
Project at the initiative of The European Chapter of The Iconic House of St.Laurent, funded by Hauptstadtkulturfonds, in cooperation with House Lives Matter & supported by HAU Hebbel am Ufer (HAU2). Ticket Link for Panels coming soon!
Beyond Ballroom Panel Talks during Fierce Foundations:
The public panel discussions provide a deep insight into ballroom culture and its social significance. With international Guests, we will explore key topics such as community building, education, and health awareness within the ballroom scene. This format is open to active ballroom participants and those interested in culture, academia, and politics who want to understand the movement’s importance and structure.
These panels will be moderated by Tabytha Maison Margiela a renowned human rights specialist and activist focusing on the rights of BIPoC transgender and queer communities. She is also known for her work on the documentary The Stroll, and as co-host of the podcast FQ Crazy Sexy Cool.
TICKETS VIA HAU
https://www.hebbel-am-ufer.de/programm/festivals-projekte/fierce-foundations-international-ballroom-festival
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BEYOND BALLROOM PANEL TALKS
🔥FRIDAY 04.07.2025 - 8 pm 🔥
Beyond Ballroom: Introduction House Lives Matter
A central point of the Fierce Foundations Festival was hosting the European HLM Conference in cooperation with board members of the House Lives Matter initiative, which advocates for the community building, well-being and rights of individuals in the ballroom community, as well as the challenges faced by members of ballroom houses (chosen families in the scene). HLM is a volunteer-based grassroots initiative with an overall Planning Committee to ensure that different regions, houses, and perspectives are considered equitably in their work. HLM operates as a horizontal collective, with two queer women of color leading the initiative, which has partnered with the Hetrick Martin Institute who serves as fiscal sponsor and partner in the work HLM does, with focus on the Kiki scene (young Ballroom members) in NYC.
The panel aims to explore HLM’s founding in 2014, its key commitments, and the impact of the leading board members in Ballroom and beyond. It will also discuss the expansion of the HLM Conference to a global concept, providing impactful resources to foster empowerment, education, and the building of new leaders to create change within the Ballroom community.
Panel Guests:
Legendary Dr. Jennifer Lee
Legendary NYC Mother Jonovia Lanvin
Icon Founder Michael Roberson Maison-Margiela
Icon Arnold St. Laurent
🔥SATURDAY 05.07.2025 - 8 pm 🔥[Open to all]
Beyond Ballroom - Trans Excellence & Impact beyond the floor
This panel aims to honor the resilience, creativity, and leadership of trans individuals of different generations in ballroom, offering insights into their immense impact on and off the floor. The conversations with panel guests from the USA, Europe, and Germany aim to share their professional journeys and acknowledge their pivotal roles and influence in different sectors and Regions.
Beyond celebrating achievements, this panel will also address the ongoing challenges of discrimination and the need for structural solutions. Discussions will highlight the importance of active allyship, strategies for meaningful support, and pathways toward sustainable leadership by trans individuals. Audience members will be able to engage with questions about fostering trans leadership and ownership, creating impactful concepts, and building stronger collaborations across communities.
Panel Guests:
Icon Queen Tempress
Legendary Overall Mother Asia Allure
Legendary Father Suave St. Laurent
Overall Princess Nekia St Laurent
Legendary Mother Lasseindra Xclusive Lanvin
Legendary Naimah 007
Alpha Miyake-Mugler
Hausvrau St. Laurent
Luluh 007
Jamila
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OTHER FESTIVAL PROGRAM :
🔥Thursday 03.07.2025 | Workshops 🔥
[Only for Ballroom]
🔥Friday 04.07.2025 + Saturday 05.07.2025 🔥
[Only for Ballroom]
- All day: House Live Matters Conference
🔥Sunday 06.07.2025 - The Revolution Ball [Open to all]🔥
- More info here
https://fb.me/e/35VqawccU
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Why Fierce Foundations Festival?
The idea of organizing a House Lives Matter conference in Berlin emerged in 2019 as a response to conflicts within the community and the need for guidance on building a community network that can take action in times of need. A community with tools to navigate sensitive situations and grow leadership, as well as a shared understanding of the care, responsibility, accountability, and legacy within Ballroom. Thus, connecting with HLM, an organization that has successfully built structures promoting health, education, and social justice for BIPoC and queer individuals within the Ballroom scene, was a clear choice.
We hope that the festival Fierce Foundations and the House Lives Matter conference in Berlin will provide an opportunity to connect and learn on a personal and collective level. Throughout the program, we encourage the Community to hold space off the floor and connect across generations and international scenes.
Inspired by our godfather, the Iconic Vjuan Allure, our mission is to foster connectivity and growth in recognition of his vital work in Ballroom. As the House of St. Laurent, this festival is a platform to emphasize the importance of community and solidarity within the Ballroom scene, especially at this critical moment when trans rights are under attack globally.
Ending with the grand finale on Sunday, the Revolution Ball, bringing the energy of ballroom culture to the heart of Berlin.
Please Note: Tickets are needed for all public events, such as panel talks and the Revolution Ball.
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About House Lives Matter:
Founded in 2016 in New York City, House Live Matters (HLM) is a home-grown peer leadership and advocacy project that promotes wellness, quality of life, rights, and resiliency among youth and adults in the House Ballroom Community (HBC) and mobilizes HBC members from different Houses and regions across the US (and globally) around a shared advocacy agenda.
As a community-driven initiative founded by and for the House and Ballroom community, their mission focuses on improving health and wellness, building alliances beyond the floor, and mentoring leaders to drive social change.
Formats such as panel discussions, storytelling, roundtable debates, and hands-on sessions delve into the history, significance, and impact of ballroom culture.
House Lives Matter (HLM) and the House of St. Laurent invites Ballroom to the 2nd INTERNATIONAL HLM CONFERENCE during Fierce Foundations. We encourage all House Leaders and Ballroom Members to join the two-day gathering for Ballroom only, supported by House Lives Matter Representatives from the USA.
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