Ballroom culture, pioneered by Black, queer crowds in the 60s, thrives at Bushwick nightclub

Open To All (OTA) pre-show host, Jasmin Van Wales, at 3 Dollar Bill on Monday.

Ballroom culture has a long history in New York City. It arose among Black and queer drag crowds who packed underground clubs in the 1960s. It’s changed and grown since then, pushing its way into the mainstream. But ballroom still provides a safe space for the LGBTQ-plus community … provided you know where to look, and that you can stay up late enough.