Elon’s annual Kiki Ball combined education, performance and community to showcase ballroom culture while giving students a supportive space to express their identities.
Elon University’s Gender & LGBTQIA Center (GLC) hosted its annual Kiki Ball on Feb. 27, bringing sparkling runway walks, drag performances, music and ballroom culture to campus while creating a space for students to celebrate identities and communities.
This year’s celebration featured a “Diamond Dust” theme, encouraging sparkling outfits to match ballroom glamour. The event was hosted by local drag performers Honey Z and Giselle Cassidy Carter, who gave energetic and interactive performances, encouraging students to participate in the ball’s various competition categories.
The Kiki Ball is an annual event organized by the GLC to celebrate the QTPOC (queer and trans people of color) community on campus and introduce students to the history and traditions of ballroom culture. Rooted in black and LGBTQIA communities, ballroom culture has played a significant role in shaping drag performances and overarching LGBTQIA expression.
Kate Campbell, the GLC’s graduate apprentice, said that the purpose of the evening is to both celebrate and educate the campus community about ballroom culture and the communities that shaped it.
The event also included educational components that allowed attendees to learn about ballroom history. The RISE team, which oversees the GLC’s QTPOC initiative, hosted a table that featured photocards highlighting influential drag performers and important figures in ballroom history. These helped provide context for students who may not have attended the program before or were unfamiliar with ballroom culture.
Beyond the educational focus of the Kiki Ball, students were encouraged to take part in performances and walk the runway. Attendees donned themed outfits and competed in various performance categories in order to show off their flair. Hosts and audience members all cheered as students stepped onto the runway.
Organizers say one of the most important pieces of the night is creating a welcoming environment where students can comfortably express themselves. Maverick Powell, a GLC student employee who helped plan and work the event, said the supportive atmosphere helped participants feel motivated to walk the runway.
“Everyone was just really happy to be there and encouraging of each other,” Powell said.
For many students, this program provides a rare opportunity on Elon’s campus to experiment with their identities in a supportive setting. Janeeta Smith, manager of RISE, said the event allows students to explore performing in a way that encourages creativity and accessibility.
“I view Kiki Ball as a way students can express themselves through their outfits and performances,” Smith said.
Although attendance was slightly smaller this year than in previous years, the evening maintained a lively, upbeat atmosphere. By combining educational aspects with opportunities for self-expression, the Kiki Ball created a space where students can both learn from and actively participate in a culture rooted in exploration, identity, creativity and community.