A Ballroom Story: History, Culture, and Euphoria Part 1 with Sydney Baloue

Send us Fan MailIf you’ve ever wondered about Ballroom, then this episode is for you! Today on Dem Bois Podcast, I sit down with my friend, Sydney Baloue, TV writer/producer, dancer, archivist and journalist. Sydney is an expert on Ballroom culture and he breaks down its history and the role it has played in his life. We discuss how we met, his transition journey, his career in TV, and much more!We talk:How the name Sydney chose him - 4:37Going deeper into the Ballroom scene - 16:13Ballroom culture for those who don’t know it - 27:55Sydney’s travel and studies abroad - 35:17His work on HBO’s Legendary - 45:08Click here for transcript!References:Sciences PoLondon School of Economics Edens GardenCliniQCallen-LordeApichaLos Angeles LGBTQ CenterTiq MilanParis is BurningLegendarySara AhmedMaking Gay History Harper CollinsRead more about Sydnes in his bio below:Sydney Baloue is a TV writer/producer, dancer, archivist and journalist. He is in the House of Xtravaganza and he was Co-Executive Producer on HBOMax’s LEGENDARY Seasons 1 and 2. In 2022, he was the first Black trans man in the Writers Guild of America after working as a staff writer in scripted TV on The Vanishing Half at HBO and Tom Swift at the CW. Sydney is the author of Undeniable: A History of Voguing, Ballroom and How it Changed My Life (And the World). He was the first trans man to solely win Grand Prize for “Old Way” at the Latex Ball in 2019.www.sydneybaloue.comhttps://www.instagram.com/sydneybalouehttps://www.twitter.com/sydneybaloueCelebrate 10 years of Dem Bois Inc.!2026 marks ten years of Dem Bois Inc. To honor this milestone, we invite you to join our 10 for 10 campaign by giving $10 a month to help sustain the care, leadership, and visibility that trans men of color deserve.Your support helps build a future rooted in care, visibility, and possibility.Donate today!Donate today to support Transmasc Gender Affirming Grants and Community Wellness Packages for Trans Men of Color!The  Visibility = Possibility™️ Merch is here! - Not just merch, but a movement! Dem Bois Community Voices Facebook Group is a safe, moderated sanctuary where trans men of color can connect authentically, discuss podcast episodes, share powerful experiences, and build support networks. Dem Bois YouTube Channel! - @demboisinc - Exclusive content you won't find anywhere else!