MARCH, 2022 |
Issue 333 |
BOOK REVIEW | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | 39
Qsaltlake.com
the bookworm sez REVIEW BY TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER
And the Category Is... Inside New York’s Vogue, House, and Ballroom Community BY RICKY TUCKER, C.2021, BEACON PRESS, $25.95, 248 PAGES
You love Bette Davis. Always have, always will. Ever since Madonna vowed that she did, too, you’ve voiced your passion while you Vogued, whitegloved hands splayed, slap the floor, frame, pose, pose, pose. It’s not All About Eve this time; it’s all about you when you dance like that. And in the new book “And the Category Is...” by Ricky Tucker, you know where you do it. The culture known as Ball-
q scopes MARCH BY SAM KELLEY-MILLS
ARIES March 20–April 19 Everything that could go right will go right as long as you’re willing to make it work. Get out of your head and try to let things flow. It seems like a good idea to imagine what could go wrong, but resist temptation.
TAURUS Apr 20–May 20 Spend time with someone you care about, whether it be a partner, pet, or friend. Nothing is more comforting than spending quality time. There could be issues bugging you. Put them aside. Things will work out.
GEMINI May 21–June 20 Being overwhelmed can come in the form of work or friendship demands. Set boundaries with the right people
room is a little hard to define. It’s not a single song, although you can’t have Ballroom without music. It’s not one specific place; you can attend Ballroom classes in many places and dance wherever there’s a Ball. Ballroom is “a freedom, a fearlessness... in deconstructing and reinventing oneself in front of a crowd...” And it’s “a thriving arts-based culture founded over a century ago by LGBTQ African American and Latinx people of Harlem.” “In so many ways, house-Ballroom culture is... the invisible creating visibility for themselves,” says Tucker. In his eyes, Ballroom is “smart, innovative, loving, and funny...” At its very basic, it’s pageantry, masquerade, and glitz, and awards are given in various categories that exhibit “realness.” Hand-movements are graded, as are spins, dips, and the way one walks; what you wear is as important as how you dance. And yes, taking because things could go terribly wrong. Nothing is worse than wasted energy on a lost cause.
CANCER June 21–July 22 Accept an offer that challenges your comfort zones. Take care and look when looking into the things you are missing. Don’t spend more than you can afford to lose, but winning makes the game worth playing.
LEO July 23–August 22 Even if the path seems clear, there are obstacles to success that keep popping up. Deal with them one at a time and see opportunities to grow and show. There is always something to be gained in life.
VIRGO August 23–Sep. 2 The ending of a great story comes after a series of losses and sadness. The challenges may get you down, but the way forward is always rooted in the present. So give yourself time to find a happy, good place.
a Ballroom class is better than making a fool of yourself and bringing shame to your House. That, by the way, could be a literal home led by a house mother or father and a multi-membered, created family for anyone who might need one. Ballroom gives trans and gay people a safe place to be themselves and maybe win a trophy for it. It also offers Black dancers a chance to unite “under one cause: freedom” and to display “a powerful performative act of defiance” toward rich, straight, white cis people – even though there are many cis people who are Ballroom fans... There are two ways of approaching “And the Category Is...”: one, if you’re a Ballroom follower or participant. Another, if you’re not. Aficionados of Ballroom will devour every page of this personal memoir-mixed-with-cultural-history. They’ll love author Ricky Tucker’s breathlessly-told tale of finding Ballroom, and himself in it;
LIBRA Sept 23–October 22 No one likes a snitch, but there are good times to tell the truth. A friend or loved one is making a mistake and simply doesn’t understand how the world works. Try assisting by getting others involved.
SCORPIO Oct. 23–Nov. 21 How you feel about a significant other or close friend will lead to great places. The world revolves around whether you like to spin or not. So hold on and enjoy the ride. Just don’t ride alone, Scorpio. That would be sad.
SAGITTARIUS
Nov. 22–December 20.
However, you decide to go forward, do it in style. There will be many eyes on you this month, and it could make you more uneasy than expected. Don’t worry about it and put on a great show. You deserve this.
his experiences in learning how to dance properly; and the sense of insider that he lends overall. Readers will also enjoy Tucker’s extensive interviews with LGBTQ BIPOC: Ballroom members, legends, organizers, activists, house parents, his own “fathers,” and other performers. There, and in his analysis of the interviews, we see how defying racism is a large part of the essence of Ballroom, how HIV activism fits in, and how Ballroom has been appropriated for wider audiences. On the other side of the dance floor, if you’re not into Ballroom, this book will take some getting used-to. Tucker jumps in with both feet and very little preamble to prepare readers unfamiliar with Ballroom culture. Stick around; you’ll get it eventually, if you have patience. If you don’t, then fasten those seatbelts. Reading “And the Category Is...” will make for a bumpy night. Q
CAPRICORN Dec 21–Jan 19
A new career path or opportunity is working out well. Stick with what works, but don’t forget to analyze what is happening around you. A discovery of riches may not be around the corner, but satisfaction always is.
AQUARIUS Jan. 20–Feb. 18 Peaking out and seeing the world is a good idea for you. There has been too much time spent alone to make new friends. Have a party or social gathering either in person or virtually. Make those connections!
PISCES Feb 19–Mar 19 A good friend is about to become an even better one if you play your cards right. The best way to get love is to give it, so give away whatever you desire. The return on investment will be a win-win for everyone.. Q
