The House that Kiki Built 21 April to 1 June 2025

ABOUT

THE HOUSE THAT KIKI BUILT is a process-based transdisciplinary project invoking underground Ballroom practices, aesthetics and performance. Underground Ballroom culture originated in Harlem, New York City by the Black and Latinx queer and trans community in the late 60s, and has now expanded globally. Kiki is a derivative of the major Ballroom scene which focuses on youth-engagement, advocacy and equitable access to Ballroom culture and functions. The Ballroom House is an alternative kinship structure; chosen families constructed by House Parents and Children, providing an informal but deeply committed infrastructure of care, safety and mentorship.

Extending the metaphor of the House, the project harnesses the nexus of creative labouring within the underground Singaporean Ballroom scene and transforms 136 Goethe Lab into a community clubhouse for the community. While in residence, the community gathers as a research and generative network through facilitated practice sessions, category study, discussion and interview sessions with overseas Ballroom figures, contributing to shared understandings of Ballroom’s colourful histories and present(s).

We seek to dive into the epistemologies of situated knowledge in Ballroom culture, deepen our craft and artistries in the expressive modes of Vogueing, fashion-making & presentation, and Ballroom-specific musicking as communal praxes of self-affirming glamour-as-resistance. We will programme several public outreach programmes for new friends and allies who are interested to learn more about underground Ballroom and our local scene and to pick up the many skills that underground Ballroom has gifted to her initiates.

The Singapore Ballroom Community may be small and young in the broader history of underground Ballroom, but has grown from strength to strength since its first Ballroom function in 2018. Growing steadily through the efforts of trailblazers Father Irzie and Vogue in Progress, the scene has made their presence felt through their flagship Balls like the Crystal Ball, Pinki Kiki Ball, Kasicunt Ball, Obsidian Ball, Atlantis Ball, and most recently the Lunar Ball. Houses currently represented in the local scene include: The Iconic House of Mizrahi, The Royal House of Oricci, The Iconic House of Revlon, The Trailblazing Kiki House of Kasicunt, The Kiki House of Sun, The Kiki House of Iman, The Legendary Luxurious Kiki House of Louboutin and the Iconic Kiki House of Pinklady.

Public Events

Last Week Programme (26 - 31 May)
For all events, DM @housethatkikibuilt on Instagram to RSVP

26 May, Monday

Behind the Aperture: Interview with Ballroom Photographer Gerard H. Gashkin
8-10pm, 136 Goethe Lab

Interview on Zoom with Gerard H Gaskin, award winning photographer who has been documenting Ballroom in New York and elsewhere since the 90s. Legends and Icons know him. FQs in the Big Apple and beyond adore him. Come by so you can hear many interesting stories.

27 May, Tuesday

Old Way Class with Felixia 007
7:30-9:30pm, 136 Goethe Lab

The previous Old Way class with Felixia was very magical - experience the Original Vogue style in an expanded way, allowing for authentic expression through poses, precision, style and grace.

28 May, Wednesday

Sex Siren Online Workshop with Yujene Versace
7-8pm, 136 Goethe Lab

Learn to channel your inner Sex Siren with Yujene, who knows how to work a crowd, work the judges, work the Runway! We’ll open the practice space for Open Session.

29 May, Thursday

Vogue Femme Hands Collab Class with Father Irzie and Nicki Kasicunt
7:30-10pm, 136 Goethe Lab

Father and Daughter collab class! Irzie will be conducting a Vogue Femme class, and Nicki will do a Hands class after.

31 May, Saturday

136 Vogue Night 
5-10pm, 136 Goethe Lab
Get general tickets here

So we’ve spent 6 weeks in the Lab as a community. We’ve picked up new skills and techniques from those around us, ki’d, lab’d, and pushed each other to unlock something new - a better sense of the self we want to present on the Runway, a renewed sense of cuntfidence, and a deeper understanding of the culture. 

Let’s bid the Lab a farewell with this Vogue Night - a chance for all to practice walking the Runway. This isn’t a Ball, but an occasion for us to build our confidence and power walking in the various Categories. Those who are more seasoned - take this opportunity to go for the jugular and practice how it’s like to battle all the way to the top. 

This is a NO CHOPS, NO HOUSE AFFILIATION Vogue Night. The perfect opportunity to try walking and get a feel of how it’s like - so that you’ll be able to walk in the future! 

Fifth Week Programme (21 - 23 May)
Please visit here to register

21 May, Wednesday

Becca D’Bus Zhush 101
8-10pm, 136 Goethe Lab

In underground Ballroom, what we wear is not just a “costume”, or an “outfit”. We’re coming with an effect - a head to toe look, a vibe, a story, a persona that allows us to tell our story on the runway, creating moments and solidifying our personal lore in this fantasy world of extravagance and sass.

Ever felt that your effect is not fab, not giving, basic af? Wanting to elevate your HTT Shein look?

Join our favourite PNIB* and Singapore’s BIGGEST Drag Queen as she shares goof-proof zhushing (read: upping the ante and fancy factor) methods to transform basic garments into 10s (potentially GP?) worthy effects. No sewing skills needed. Just safety pins, glue guns, cable ties and lots of prayer. Ooop!

This workshop is catered to both members of the Ballroom community and members of the general public.

Some donated items from the community will go on sale and will be given away for free, first come first served basis! Bring any items that you want to zhush up during this workshop.

*Person Not in Ballroom. After this workshop, Becca will be a Person Hanging around Ballroom (PHAB). Fab!

22 May, Thursday

Sapphire’s Fashion and Bizarre Service with Nathanael
8-10pm, 136 Goethe Lab

How do you make sense of the Fashion categories in Ballroom culture? What does ‘Best Dressed’ and ‘Fashion Killa’ call for? What about ‘Bizarre’? Sapphire will share her weighty thoughts on these as a person in authority about fashion in underground Ballroom and Drag baby! She isn’t THEE couturier of OVAH by Sapphire Blast for nothing, honey! She will be joined by Nathanael Ng, our very favourite party programmer and multi-hyphenate creative and movement artist.

BONUS! Attendees get a complimentary copy of Bobby Luo’s FREAKDOM - a hefty photobook documenting Singapore’s queer nightlife Icon, party organiser and Fashion Killa King many looks through the decades.

23 May, Friday

Easy Breezy Natural Polish - Grooming and Styling with Angel Kasicunt
8-10pm, 136 Goethe Lab

Not just a pretty face and a tall body, Angel is our scene's very own Male Figure Professional Model (Runway and Print, mind you!) and Fashion Media student.

Angel will be dispensing trade secrets behind looking well-groomed, polished and put together (think model off duty glam, Boy Beat, No-makeup makeup) and strategies to put together a cohesive look for Ball Day. This entails knowing your body proportions and styling outfits that can lean more masculine or feminine, or anything in between. You decide what works for you, but knowing some styling principles would take your essence to the next level, darling!

While this workshop is catered more to Butch Queens, we will not turn away anyone who is keen to pick up a trick or two to enhance your natural beauty!

Fourth Week Programme (12 - 18 May)
Please check registration details below

13 May, Tuesday

DJ C2AC Pumpin the Beat! Guest Lecture and Demo on spinning for Ballroom
7:30-9:30pm

Join DJ C2AC as he shares about his journey as one of Singapore’s Ballroom DJs - what he has learnt, picked up with experience, his thoughts of the craft of musically supporting any Ballroom function and the girls as they do their thing on the Runway. He’ll also provide a demo, so that you can observe all the intricacies behind Ballroom DJing. This programme is open to public!

Stay on after, 9:30pm onwards, for an Open Session, C2AC will be spinning!

14 May, Wednesday

1. OVA-H! A Mixer & Exploratory Session for FLINTA friends
7:30pm-late

We’re opening our doors to our FLINTA* friends to de-compress together and soak in the post-Ball-a-palooza: Candy Edition exhilaration! OVA-H aims to provide a safe space for the FLINTA community to explore Ballroom and its various facets. This is an initiative for Sapphics interested in Ballroom - intimidation and braggadocious be gone. Mingle over snacks and good vibes. This event is catered to Sapphics, but we won’t turn anyone who is interested to attend.

 * FLINTA is a German acronym, short for "Frauen, Lesben, Intergeschlechtliche, nichtbinäre, trans und agender Personen," which translates to "women, lesbians, intersex, non-binary, trans, and agender people". It's used as a collective term to encompass diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, particularly within feminist and queer communities. The asterisk indicates that the term is intended to be inclusive of all non-binary gender identities.

*DM @housethatkikibuilt on Instagram for RSVP

2. Sensuality in Heels with Rocio Oricci
8-10PM at Caliente Bugis Midland House Level 7, Blue Room

Sensuality with Rocio Oricci is a class programmed under The House that Kiki Built. Rocio will be instructing a Heels dance class, focusing on heels technique (e.g. catwalks with body awareness), across the floor drills and connecting movement with sensuality. She will teach a short routine for attendees to apply what is being learnt during the class. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from the Queen of Heels herself (her regular classes are in high demand and are fully subscribed all the time!), and leave the studio with a renewed sense of confidence in your body and in heels!

Cap of attendees 30 pax.
*DM @housethatkikibuilt on Instagram for enquiries
* Purchase a ticket at this link
* Note that the venue is at Caliente Bugis Midland House Level 7, Blue Room @ 112 Middle Road, 188970

16 May, Friday

Street Jazz Guest Class with Prince Khan
7:30-9pm at Icon Dance Studio

Street Jazz is a wondrous blend of modern hip hop styles and jazz dance moves, and proponents and practitioners of this genre prize dancer's creativity, musicality and its expression and high-energy and high impact execution. It is energetic and funky, and is well represented in pop music MVs through the decades. Join Izzat aka Prince Khan (who has been a fixture in the many club performances!) as he gives a Street Jazz class to build your movement and dance expression!

Venue: Icon Dance Studio (stone’s throw away from 136 Goethe Lab!)
11A Bukit Pasoh Rd, Singapore 089825
Cap of attendees 15 pax.
*DM @housethatkikibuilt on Instagram for enquiries

17 May, Saturday

1. Glow and Flow with the Kiki House of Iman
12-4:30pm

This programme is for transgender individuals of all identities and expressions. The wonderful, sexy, sensual folks of the Singaporean chapter of the Kiki House of Iman are offering Glow & Flow: A Journey to Self & Body Confidence, a full 4+ hour workshop next Saturday, 12-4:30pm (feel free to stick around after!).

Meticulously designed to help transgender individuals reconnect with and affirm their bodies, join our local Imans as they provide empowering, joyful entry points into ballroom culture (they make statements on the runway, purr!), foster community, creativity, and confidence, and offer safe, inclusive options for all comfort levels and expressions. We’re opening out House to you, dear members of our transgender community, inside and on the periphery of the Ballroom community. 

Expect:
 ⁃ Grounding Circle opening
 ⁃ Fun and lighthearted Icebreakers
- An Intro to Vogue by Bentli Iman
 ⁃ A choice of 2 breakout sessions: Makeup for Confidence by Farah Iman, or At Home in Me (Body Comfort) by Sahab Iman
 ⁃ Snacks to quell the munchies 
 ⁃ A mini Runway Celebration. It’s your time to bask in your glow, babes!
 ⁃ Closing circle

*In collaboration with T Project and Transbefrienders
*Open to members of the public, but they must be trans-identifying.
*Sign up here

2. Introduction to W*acking with Mianbao 007
4:30-6pm

A street dance style originating in the 1970s Los Angeles gay club scene, W*acking is well known for speedy, precise and dynamic rotational arm movements, poses, executed with equal measure of theatricality and unmatched musicality. Rooted in punking, it was historically often performed to 70s disco and 80s post-disco music. Dancers use exaggerated poses, strong musicality, and self-expression to convey emotion and storytelling through their movements. Join our very own Mianbao 007 as she leads beginners in a class to pick up some flamboyant and expressive w*acking moves. Fun fact: Voguers from the Ballroom scene (like Willi Ninja) and W*ackers (like Archie Burnett) used to train together in the 1980s, exchanging movement vocabularies and inspiration that made the lines between W*acking and Vogueing blurrier (but of course, there are clear stylistic and aesthetic differences!). No wonder many local W*ackers are also in the local underground Ballroom scene!

Cap of attendees 15 pax.
*DM @housethatkikibuilt on Instagram for enquiries

Third Weekend Programme (8 - 10 May)
Please check registration details below

Proudly organised and presented by Saigon 007, Duchess Sun and Hime Sun, join the local scene for the first Kiki Ball of the year; Ball-a-palooza: Candy Edition!

Ramping up towards the Kiki Ball are 3 workshops by invited international judges and a Ballroom Talk and session.

8 May, Thursday

1. Arms Control & New Way Workshop by Sattva 007
6:45-8:45pm *SCAPE Dance Studio

2. Vogue Femme Workshop by Legendary Trailblazer Bhenji Juicy Couture
9-10:30pm *SCAPE Dance Studio

9 May, Friday 

1. Face Workshop by Niala Telfar
6:45-7:45pm *SCAPE Dance Studio

2. Ballroom Talk & Session
8-10:30pm *SCAPE Dance Studio

Workshop and Ballroom Talk - Sign Ups Open
https://forms.gle/T7jKGPGs1mQtsES58

The Ballroom Talk is FREE and OPEN TO ALL, but sign ups are required to enter! Please make sure you sign up and invite any friends. See Workshop Schedule here.  

10 May, Saturday

Ball-a-palooza: Candy Edition
5:00 PM - 10:30 PM
*SCAPE The TreeTop, Level 5, 2 Orchard Link, Singapore 237978

Participant and Audience - Sign Ups Open 
Participants: https://forms.gle/SvDysGYRAUcVEAfQ6 
Audience: https://forms.gle/dX2JRvKgV4MD3JRW9

Second Weekend Programme (3 & 4 May)
To register, please email Kristine.Ng@goethe.de

3 May, Saturday
3:30-6pm
Sessionpalooza
Hosted by Duchess Sun and Saigon 007

What is a regular fixture in the local scene, Sessionpalooza returns for an edition held at the House that Kiki Built. This edition of is structured as a practice ball-session as we ramp up towards Ballapalooza: Candy Edition next week. We invite those who are going to be participating and walking in the upcoming Kiki Ball to practice your category, gain confidence when walking your 10s and battle rounds. For members of the public, this will be a great and stress-free opportunity to see how the community members session, practice and prepare together. Join if you want to pick up a move or two, or if you want to ki with us!

4 May, Sunday
12-2pm

This is the second session of a fixed weekly programme. Sha will begin with a 30 minute Yoga segment (centering, mobilisation, sun salutations) before Glenn leads the conditioning segment to build muscle endurance and strength to support suppleness and flexibility. We round the class off with a stretch routine informed by safe stretching techniques of proper muscle engagement, body placement and alignment. 

Beginners to fitness and movement welcome. Go at your own pace!

IMPORTANT: BRING YOUR OWN YOGA/EXERCISE MAT, AND A TOWEL TO DRY OFF.

Soft Opening Week Programme (24 - 27 April)
Please visit here to register

24 April, Thursday

1. Open Session 6-8pm
Hosted by Juneau 007
Beats: Classic Old Way Beats & House Classics
We will open up the practice area and pump some classic Old Way and House beats for you to explore your Vogue. Engage with your peers for tips on technique & variations!

2. Old Way Beginner Friendly Class 8-9:30pm
Delivered by Felixia 007
Taking it back to the foundation and start point of all Vogueing styles - Felixia will deliver a beginner-friendly class on Old Way, also known as Pop, Dip and Spin. After warm up and stretching, Felixia will start from several fundamental poses, lines and shapes, before moving on to drills and posing to music. Brief coverage of catwalk and duckwalk, spins and basic dips is included.

25 April, Friday

1. Open Session 6-8pm
Hosted by Juneau 007
Beats: Assorted Vogue Femme
We will open up the practice area and pump some Vogue Femme and House beats for you to explore your Vogue. Engage with your peers for tips on technique & variations!

2. Vogue Femme Beginner Friendly Class 8-9:30pm
Delivered by Father Irzie Kasicunt
Vogue Fem is the hyperfeminine style performed by many in the scene in honour of Femme Queens past, present and future. Acquaint yourself with the basics of Vogue Femme with Father Irzie in this beginner-friendly class. After warm up and stretching, Father Irzie will start with basic body understanding to execute catwalk and duckwalk before leading across the floor drills. Brief coverage of the other elements of Vogue Femme included.

26 April, Saturday

1. Open Session 5-7pm
Host: Oshean 007
Beats: Assorted

2. Facilitated Community Session 7-9pm
Led by Oshean 007
We will open up the practice area for a Vogue Femme focused session. Oshean will facilitate connecting with Fem essence, presence, understanding Vogue Femme beats and musicality, element variations, peer feedback sharing and battle training tips. Feel free to also session other styles as you wish, as long as you don’t disrupt the main session.

27 April, Sunday

1. Yoga, Stretch and Body Conditioning 12 - 2pm
Delivered by Juneau 007 and Glenn Mizrahi
We will begin with a 20 minute Yoga segment (centering, mobilisation, sun salutations) before a conditioning segment to build muscle endurance and strength to support suppleness and flexibility. Then, we will enter the stretch segment informed by safe stretching techniques that involve proper muscle engagement, body placement and alignment.

IMPORTANT: BRING YOUR OWN YOGA/EXERCISE MAT, AND A TOWEL TO DRY OFF.

2. New Way Study 2-3pm
Facilitated by Glenn Mizrahi
We’ve covered Old Way and Vogue Femme in the previous days, but what about New Way? Join as we watch reference clips and videos to build understanding of this much-misunderstood style of Vogueing. It’s about Elegance, Precision and Grace.

The Artists

Shayus Sharif / Juneau 007 (she/her) is an artist-researcher based in Singapore. Her practice is deeply relational and encompasses para-academic organising, independent programming and performance. Her main interests include strategies of critique from multisecting marginalities, disidentificatory, ludic and parodic interventions, queer and youth music cultures, and dance/movement studies. She is invested in unpacking cultural and gender identities borrowed, imposed and/or reclaimed and their fluxness. She has produced a digital lecture for the Queer Southeast Asian Cultural Festival titled “This is what I want to SEA!”, presented at academic conferences in 2024 IASPM-SEA Conference and 2024 ICTMD Study Group of Gender and Sexuality on Southeast Asian Underground Ballroom and a comparative account of the Singaporean Waacking and underground Ballroom scenes respectively.

This project is assisted by the following individuals:

Father Irzie Kasicunt 007 (he/him) is a Singapore Ballroom trailblazer and Founding Father of the Kiki House of Kasicunt. He has mentored Singaporean ballroom members and spearheaded local Ballroom functions since 2017. He is a Vogue instructor with  Danzpeople, and has choreographed and led performance items for street dance exhibition competitions, recitals and nightlife numbers. As a Ballroom father, Irzie is committed to the values of family, self-development and kindness.

Felicia 007 (she/they) is a visual and movement artist from Medan, based in Singapore. Active in both the Ballroom and Waacking scenes, they are a trailblazer of the youngest Southeast Asian scene - Ballroom Indonesia. As the initiator of KikiHQ, Felicia played a pivotal role in community outreach, leading sessions and classes in Dance Nucleus in 2023. They have performed a number of public dance workshops for the Esplanade and NLB.

Sapphire Kasicunt Revlon (she/her) is a drag artist, performer and couturier. A prominent figure in the Drag scene, she is the Champion of Dragwars Season 1, won Mother of the Year in 2023, and is a regular performer at Riot!, and is a regular nightlife fixture, performing guests numbers for Cvntessa, Baby Boy, Tuckshop to name a few. Within Ballroom, she is the Mother of the Kiki House of Kasicunt and is the first Singaporean to be in the Iconic House of Revlon.

Prince Glenn Pinklady Mizrahi (he/him) is a trained Ballet, Jazz and Musical Theatre performer. He is the first Singaporean to be in a Major Ballroom House, joining the Iconic House of Mizrahi in 2022 and deemed as Prince in 2024 during the Rainbow Ball in Manila. Within Ballroom, he actively walks the Runway, Old Way and New Way categories, and has thrown the Lunar Ball (Major) in 2025.

The Space

136 GOETHE LAB is a new project space at the Goethe-Institut Singapore. Housed in the former library and reading room, the space is intended as a response to the need for physical spaces for the arts, and an ongoing conversation with the public and arts community in Singapore.

THE HOUSE THAT KIKI BUILT is supported as part of the open call for 136 GOETHE LAB, which invited applicants to activate the space with a group proposal.