Ideas worth spreading

The enduring legacy of ballroom

Michael Roberson • TED Residency

In this talk, Michael Roberson discusses the ballroom community -- which drew mainstream notice courtesy of Madonna's 1990 "Vogue" video and Jennie Livingston's 1991 documentary Paris Is Burning -- and its ability to unify traditionally excluded individuals. These self-made families forge bonds that span a lifetime and has developed into a global subculture. He believes that the family dynamics created within ballroom culture can teach the rest of us how to develop healthy communities. In his own words, "ballroom has something to say."

In this talk, Michael Roberson discusses the ballroom community -- which drew mainstream notice courtesy of Madonna's 1990 "Vogue" video and Jennie Livingston's 1991 documentary Paris Is Burning -- and its ability to unify traditionally excluded individuals. These self-made families forge bonds that span a lifetime and has developed into a global subculture. He believes that the family dynamics created within ballroom culture can teach the rest of us how to develop healthy communities. In his own words, "ballroom has something to say."

This talk was presented at an official TED conference.

About the speaker

Michael Roberson

Michael Roberson is an adjunct professor at the New School and Union Theological Seminary and a senior scholar for the Center for Race, Religion and Economic Democracy. He's a member of the sound art collective ULTRA-red and a creative consultant for the FX series Pose.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference.