Utrecht Ballroom Scene

“Ballroom gave me the space to fully embrace who I am through the expression of my gender, my fashion, and my self-worth in general. I thank ballroom for the person I am today and for the community it has given me.”

“I was very shy at first. Ballroom gave me the space to explore my sexuality, and to dig deeper into places in my life I didn’t think I would be able to get to. It gave me a lot of self-assurance, and an escape from a society that is often sexist and homophobic.”

“Utrecht Ballroom Scene is a place where I feel safe and can express myself as a trans woman. It gave me a close-knit community when I first arrived in the Netherlands alone. Ballroom makes me a better person.”

“Being surrounded by like-minded people, especially other queer people of color, helped me understand and develop my identity and self-expression in a safer way. Ballroom has given me more confidence in myself and my abilities. Through the community activities and classes, it has significantly improved both my mental and physical health. Ballroom gave me the will to live and to want more for myself.”

“As a non-binary person, ballroom gives me the space to explore the limits of the binary and what being non-binary can mean. It has positively impacted my confidence by teaching me that I have value. Being part of a community of progressive queer people gives me a safe space and supports me with questions I have about gender and mental health.”