'Magical queer joy': Majestic Ball brings Big Top theme to the Paramount Theatre in Austin

"Theydies" and "gentlethem," boys and girls, divas of all ages: Welcome to the "Three Ring Spectacle."

Presented by the Paramount Theatre, "The Majestic Ball" was a night of extravaganza and awe, bringing together the Austin queer community in a big show of looks and glamour. The now-annual Pride Month event revives the underground "ballroom" culture that inspired artists such as Madonna and Beyoncé to the historic stage on Congress Avenue.

This ball, however, features zero waltzes and major glam, with attendees expected to don circus-related garb worn in a celebration of queer expression. 

For those unfamiliar with the competitive ballroom format — or haven't seen the 1990 movie "Paris Is Burning," or the TV show "Pose," which aired from 2018 to 2021 — think of it as the queerest disco-runway-family reunion with a ton of glitter and glam.

Or as Natalie Sanders, House Mother of the House of Lepore and host of the evening’s festivities, put it, the ball was “a safe space created for People of Color individuals who did not have that in their pageantry, so they created a safe space for people like themselves.”

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Here are the most entrancing acts you missed.

Step right up

Upon entering the doors of the Paramount, guests were welcomed by a stilt walker who guided guests to the main stage. Flocked around were guests who dressed "to theme" in red velvet coats amongst rainbow-clad allies and lacy tanks. Before the event fully kicked off, people danced up the aisles to a mix of queer R&B and pop hits by Austin’s DJ and prime R&B mixer BabiBoi. 

As co-producers Ryan Thompson and Sawyer Stoltz welcomed the crowd to the madness, they acknowledged the significance of providing a platform for Black and brown queer people in Austin and Central Texas at large.

On this, Thompson said, “When this theater was built, I don’t think they could have ever imagined this kind of event. I hope they’re rolling over in their graves.” 

Diamond-grade performance

If there was an award for masterful lipsyncing, Diamond Dior Davenport might reserve a whole room for her trophies. 

The curtains whipped back to reveal a gorgeous set and the diva herself, draped in a salmon gown. Of that moment, Davenport later said, “Hearing everybody gasp when the curtain opened to see the whole stage: That was breathtaking. They just shut up.”

But the hushed awe didn’t last long. The crowd cheered as Davenport belted, leaped and twerked her way through a drag performance that honored the iconic R&B songstress Ciara. 

After a costume change, Davenport made the venue her runway in a Missy Eliot-inspired, pink rouched tracksuit with leather, accompanied by knit-clad backup dancers. The crowd lit up with elation. 

Davenport made the guests “lose control” with a trail of dancers doing high kicks and dips. The 20-minute-long number primed the audience for the OTA ("Open to All") runway walk. 

Mother is home

Draped in a crimson gown, hostess Natalie Sanders, who helped usher in ballroom culture to Central Texas with events such as "ATX Vogue Nights,"  joined Davenport to take us into the next act.

Mother Lapore set the house rules simply: "Know your category, walk it, win it."

At an OTA ball, all participants are welcome to walk for a chance at the category’s prize. For this ball, the four categories included "Face" (looks), "Ringmaster" (dressed to the circus theme), "Bizarre" (two-headed costumes), and "Performance" (voguing with aerial silk).

Each category promised a grand prize of $1,000, backed by the Paramount Theatre, and a $100 runner-up prize, sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign. 

'Face' Off

In ballroom, we judge a book based on its cover. And, honey, did they read.

Getting intimate, competitors in the "Face" category gave their kissers a tour around the room so that all could admire what has been gifted to these lucky individuals. At the biggest ball in Texas, that effort is a little hard, given the house packed to the rafters. 

Still, hand fans flared and shouts whooped as competitors walked on the big stage for their final judgement. 

Ringmasters in red coats

For the "Ringmaster" category, competitors were required to don a red coat, black gloves and a top hat. As with the other categories, any folks who missed even the smallest detail in their attire were asked not to walk.

“I love your confidence, y’all,” Lapore remarked after off-theme walkers were quickly escorted off the stage.

In the end, it came down to two competitors, with a slender entrant identified as "Ivan" taking the grand prize in a red distressed coat with a sequined top hat and pants to match.  

Definitely a 'Bizarre' category

Even the most ambitious category, "Bizarre," came with stiff competition.

Conjoined mummies battled up against a tubular clown with a Pride skirt and massive gloves. The winner was the two-headed clown, which was original but messy. Arguably the most underrated character featured a more refined look with a black-and-white big-top skirt and a moving psychic mannequin head affixed atop their head. 

And for the final act

Due to some misunderstandings about technicalities of the rules, the audience became especially riled up during the "Performance" part of the evening. 

In co-producer Ryan Thompson’s favorite moment of the night, there was a misunderstanding about the use of  “aerial silk” in this night’s performance. While the rules did require the use of “aerial silk," they also said that competitors must “embody either a gymnast or a tightrope walker.”

“I think that was a gag moment for sure,” Thompson said.

From the balcony, spectators shouted “Let them walk! Let them walk!” as the judges pushed aside any competitors who did not take the stage with aerial silk.

Ultimately, the hostess allowed all who embodied gymnasts and acrobats to perform during the most raucous moments of the night. The divas did their dips, duck-walking across the stage in a grand finale performance.

With many thanks and lots of love, the night was full of magical queer joy, which is just what ballroom culture aims to achieve. 

Sanders: “Every queer community deserves ballroom to know that there is a space for you to be loved and to love.”