2020 House of Suarez CarnEvil Ball

The Vogue Ball is traditionally a large-scale runway event with audiences in the region of 1,000. Performers compete in teams (called Houses) in five categories based around a chosen theme. Trophies are awarded by judges based on style, choreography, costume and attitude. Past judges including The Vivienne (winner RuPaul’s UK Drag Race 2019), Dr Ranj Singh (TV presenter and contestant on Strictly Come Dancing 2018), and the Lord Mayor of Liverpool.

With every other event in the city’s cultural calendar cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the House of Suarez have worked tirelessly to ensure that the 2020 Vogue Ball is able to take place on a smaller scale under safe, socially distanced circumstances under government guidelines. This will make The Carnevil Ball a unique edition of The Vogue Ball, an event already renowned for being a remarkable experience.

Darren Suarez, artistic director of the House of Suarez and founder of the Vogue Ball says; “The Vogue Ball is important more than ever this year as we are all struggling to maintain a positive mind set under the current climate. The Ball has always been a safe space for all who enter and attend and this year is no different, providing a very welcomed escapism from our new norm!

“I feel it is House of Suarez's responsibility to help and support our veteran Houses by providing as much help and guidance as possible. The arts have always picked us up in the past, during times of depression, and I believe the Vogue Ball has a special place in people’s hearts and will hopefully lift people’s spirits!”

Despite the need for a smaller event with limited tickets, all the electrifying hallmarks of the Vogue Ball will remain, with fantastical costumes, outrageous performances and technical excellence in vogue, this year inspired by a carnival theme steeped in surrealism.

House of Suarez was established by Darren Suarez in 2006 as a platform for Vogue Dance and Culture developing the choreography of the vogue style.

Darren was the founder of the first Liverpool Vogue Ball event "Liverpool is Burning" as part of the programme for European Capital of Culture in 2008. Since then the HoS Vogue Ball has been produced independently in Liverpool and from 2010-2020 has grown its audience and participants to form one of the main cultural events in the city's calendar each autumn appearing as a photo story in Attitude Magazine (Nov 2018).

Since 2014 the company has hosted the HoS Manchester Ball in the spring and in 2020 partnered for a fourth time with Contact Theatre  to stage the biggest Manchester Ball to date - named one of the five best dance shows to see in The Guardian (08/02/19), and receiving a five star review in Upstaged Manchester.

In 2014 The HoS Ball was given the official “Legendary” title, an honour bestowed by the international Vogue dance community. HoS and the development of the Northern Vogue scene featured in an independently produced documentary Deep in Vogue, currently streaming on BBC iPlayer.

Since 2012 HoS has run an Academy in Vogue and Contemporary Dance for emerging artists and selected dancers form the professional HoS Company performing in Balls and tours. Since 2014 HoS has also hosted Elements of Vogue showcasing emerging young academy dancers alongside regional dance schools, and professional voguers.

Date: Saturday 24th October 2020

Venue: The Black-E, Great George Street, Liverpool L1 5EW

Doors open: 6.30pm

Show starts: 8pm

Limited tickets available by clicking the link below

The House of Suarez Vogue Ball is supported by: Aaron Terrence Hughes, ADHD Foundation, Arts Council England, Ice Cats, Kitty's Liverpool, The Lisbon, Morecroft's Solicitors, Police Commissioner, Riverside Housing and Sane Seven.

Published: 18-Sep-2020: (5994)