June 25-26, 2025
Riverview Room
Registration fee $5 class

Remai Modern is excited to participate in a new programming initiative that celebrates Queer expressive forms and brings together communities in the spirit of collaboration and creative exchange. The museum is hosting a series of workshops with choreographer and dance artist Ralph Escamillan. Participants are invited to register to take part in a series of three workshops focused on techniques and categories of ballroom events.

Each workshop will take place at Remai Modern. Workshop leader, Ralph Escamillan, will guide participants through a series of techniques with a focus on building foundational knowledge and skills.

Wednesday, June 25
7:30 PM Runway (60min)
Description: European Runway

Come to class to learn Posh's European Runway. Influenced by Karlie Kloss, Naomi Campbell, Tyra Banks, and Linda Evangelista. Learn how to strut, turn and own the floor. This class will focus on *Runway Battling basics - blocking, shade, mocking.

Thursday, June 26
6 PM Hands (60min)
Description: Hands Performance

One of the 5 elements of Vogue Femme, Hands Performance is also its own stand alone category in Ballroom.

Using just your hands, arms, head and torso to story tell, this class is great for new/first timers to vogue.

Thursday, June 26
7:30 PM Vogue (90 min)
Description: Vogue Femme

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

General Workshop Details:

No dance background or past experience is necessary. Capacity for the workshops is limited to 40 participants and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. If you are facing financial barriers, we are happy to help, please contact us at workshops@remaimodern.org to inquire about support.

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."
 
The project is conceived by artist Aldeneil Española and presented at Remai Modern in partnership with Dance Saskatchewan.

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.

Photo by Sarah Race