The Welsh Ballroom Community is the first – and so far the only one – of its kind in Wales. Ahead of their appearance at the Wales Burlesque Festival, Julia Bottoms spoke to WBC founder Leighton Rees Milan about the group’s dedication to honouring their legacy and their plans to throw Wales’ first-ever mini-ball.
The ballroom scene is not just a scene. It’s a movement, a celebration and a testament to the rich history of LGBTQ+ cultures and the enduring strength of its community. Primarily founded by trans and queer people of colour in 1970s New York, ballroom provides an escape for individuals who have felt disowned by society, allowing members to express their most authentic selves. Participants form smaller communities or ‘houses’, whose activities include holding ‘balls’ in which members compete against each other by ‘walking’ in categories in front of a panel of judges.
Since the 1970s, this once underground subculture has flourished into a thriving international scene and was brought to Cardiff four years ago by dancer and choreographer Leighton Rees Milan – the first Welsh member of the Royal Iconic House Of Milan, an American ballroom house founded in 1989. This summer, Leighton and the Welsh Ballroom Community host multiple events, ahead of their fourth anniversary in September. Leighton’s personal journey from Butetown to ballroom has allowed him and the community to fiercely serve, walk and battle as Welsh trailblazers.
Leighton grew up in Butetown which he describes as a multi-ethnic melting pot, citing various multicultural influences on his upbringing. “I was brought up with different types of music and artforms. That’s where I learned to dance. Voguing is a street dance art form, so [that’s how] I knew what it was.” Continuing to train in dance throughout his life, Leighton experienced his first ball in 2018 in Los Angeles, the ‘dance capital of the world’. “I was gagged!” he confesses.
Returning to Cardiff, he began attending Bristol Ballroom Community sessions, deciding in due course to put out a feeler for a scene in Wales on Facebook. The response was overwhelming, and since then the community has flourished as “a safe space and ‘chosen family”.
“It’s really important to people who might not have a sense of belonging”, Leighton adds, “Ballroom is so liberating. It’s like you’ve been teleported to another world; you’re in this place that doesn’t exist anywhere else in the world.” Moreover, the WBC pride themselves as fierce Welsh dragons breathing fire on the runway – “We’re always thinking of ways we can bring Welsh identity into ballroom” – and the community’s very first Welsh Kiki Ball was centred around celebrating Welsh heritage, with Leighton crafting a jacket from the national flag.
As well as celebrating national identity, honouring ballroom’s rich cultural legacy is another integral part of Leighton’s approach. “If we don’t keep the history alive, especially as a new generation of ballroom, then it’s going to be lost. We have a big responsibility as the first Welsh ballroom scene to keep this history and this culture alive.”
Talking to Leighton, his commitment to building something long-term – for the history books – and to honouring ballroom culture’s traditions is clear. “When I learn something, I want to do it correctly.”
The WBC are certainly not moving slowly this summer. On Sat 10 Aug, they will be throwing the first ever Mini Ball Deluxe to be hosted in Wales, a significant milestone for the group (tickets: £15. Info: here) – and preceded, on the evening of Fri 9 Aug, by a workshop led by Mini Ball judges, at National Dance Company Wales’ headquarters in the Wales Millennium Centre. And as part of Chapter Arts Centre’s Wales Burlesque Festival, Leighton will be running an All American Runway Bootcamp workshop on Sun 24 Aug (tickets: £15. Info: here).
Info: Welsh Ballroom Community on Instagram
words JULIA BOTTOMS
