Vogue
Vogue grew up in the ballroom culture of New York, created by Black and Latino LGBTQ+ communities, where dancers competed at events called balls. Its sharp poses and lines were inspired by the photos in fashion magazines, and it takes its name from one of them. Studios teach it in groups and often split it into styles: old way, new way and vogue femme.
What it is for
Section titled “What it is for”- Confidence and presence: vogue is about attitude and performance.
- Clean lines and arm control — the hands and arms tell much of the story.
- Flexibility, core strength and control for spins, dips and floor work.
- Cardio and stamina in the faster styles.
- Knowing a dance with a strong history and community — teachers often share the ballroom culture behind it.
Equipment
Section titled “Equipment”- Knee pads: essential for the duckwalk and floor work.
- Shoes: sneakers or bare feet, depending on the class. Some vogue femme classes are danced in heels.
- Clothes: comfortable, fitted clothes that show the lines of the body.
- Water and a towel.
How a class goes
Section titled “How a class goes”- Usually 60–90 minutes.
- A warm-up with stretching and strength work for the legs and core.
- Hands and arms: hand performance and arm control.
- The elements of vogue femme: the catwalk, the duckwalk (moving low, on the balls of the feet), spins and dips, and floor performance. Old way classes focus on poses and symmetry; new way on lines, flexibility and clicks.
- The dip — a drop to the floor onto the back with one leg bent underneath — is learned slowly, after preparation. It is not for a first class.
- Many classes end with walks or a small battle, in the spirit of the balls.
Who it suits best
Section titled “Who it suits best”- Anybody who wants to perform and feel confident in their body.
- People who love fashion, stage presence and strong character.
- Dancers who want better arms, lines and attitude — for example, from High heels.
- Beginners, in a beginners’ group: you start with walks and hands.
- It is less suited to anybody with knee, back or neck problems: the duckwalk and dips load them heavily. Ask your doctor, tell the teacher and build up to dips slowly.