November 26 – Regina
November 27 – Saskatoon
Registration: $5 per participant

Remai Modern is excited to participate in a programming initiative that celebrates Queer expressive forms and brings together communities in the spirit of collaboration and creative exchange. Participants are invited to register to take part in a series of workshops focused on techniques and categories of ballroom events.

General Workshop Details:

No dance background or past experience is necessary. Capacity for the workshops is limited to 50 with registration on a first-come first-served basis. We are collecting a registration fee and can accommodate those facing financial barriers to participation.

Regina Workshops - Wednesday, November 26th

Sask Ballroom: Vogue Workshops
Registration fee is $5/class

Location: Q Nightclub & Lounge, 2070 Broad Street, Regina, SK

Workshop #1: Ballroom History with Ralph Escamillan (60min)
6 PM - 7 PM

Join us for a public talk with legendary OA Mother Posh Gvasalia who will explore the foundations of Ballroom history, both local and international, and share insights into Ballroom etiquette. The presentation will be followed by a Q & A.

Workshop #2: Vogue Femme with Ralph Ecamillan (90min)
7:30 PM - 9 PM

Absolute basics of Vogue Femme, meant for folks who are FIRST TIME TO VOGUE. We will focus on the elements: Hands performance, Catwalk, Duckwalk, Spins and Dips, and Floor Performance. No dance background required, this class is for those who know nothing about Vogue!

Saskatoon Workshops - Thursday, November 27th

Sask Ballroom: Vogue Workshops
Registration fee is $5/class

Location: Free Flow Dance Company, 224-25th Street West, Saskatoon, SK

Workshop #1: Vogue Femme with Ralph Escamillan (90min)
6 PM - 7:30 PM

Absolute basics of Vogue Femme, meant for folks who are FIRST TIME TO VOGUE. This class will focus on spins and dips. No dance background required, this class is for those who know nothing about Vogue!

Workshop #2: Open Session with Ralph Ecamillan (90min)
8 PM - 9:30 PM

An open session is a time for you to practice and jam with Ralph. Stuck on a certain element? This is the time for you to ask for tips and feedback all while having time to practice.

Instructor Bio:

Ralph Escamillan is an award-winning queer, Canadian-Filipinx performance artist, teacher and community leader based in Vancouver, BC.

Escamillan first trained in break dancing then explored a multitude of other street dance styles including hip hop, house and waacking. His passion for dance expanded to include training in vogue, ballroom, ballet, modern and jazz. He is a graduate of the contemporary dance program, Modus Operandi, in 2015.

Escamillan has been in the ballroom scene since 2014, performing under the alias “Posh Gvasalia Basquiat” and founding his own Kiki House of Gvasalia in Vancouver and is the Canadian Mother of the Mainstream House of Basquiat since 2024. The founder and Artistic/Executive Director of the non-profit organization VanVogueJam, Ralph shares his passion for Vogue/Ballroom culture at his weekly pay-what-you-can classes and vogue balls, acting as a beacon for the queer dance/culture in Western Canada.

Cultural Acknowledgement & Safe Space:

We acknowledge the Black, Latinx, Trans and Queer folks who have founded Ballroom Culture, which we have the privilege of being guests to today. We acknowledge our ongoing need to question and reflect on how we navigate practicing Ballroom Culture locally and continue our need to learn from the greater Ballroom community at large.

Creative safe space has always been at the heart of ballroom culture, and we hope that this event can be a safe space for everyone to enjoy.

Oppressive attitudes and behaviours, including but not limited to racism, transphobia, misogyny, fatphobia, ableism, and general bigotry, are not welcome here. Consent is mandatory.