For members of the community of gay, lesbian, transgender, and gender non-conforming people of color, the nearly century-old competitive performance-based culture known as ballroom creates a space of exuberant expression and creativity that celebrates this joyful culture.

The Peabody Ballroom Experience is an arts and humanities collaboration between Johns Hopkins University and members of the Baltimore ballroom scene. The annual event is coordinated by Dr. Joseph Plaster, director of the Winston Tabb Special Collections Research Center, and legends and icons from Baltimore’s ballroom scene. We developed a website that’s a platform for exchange of knowledge between the university and ballroom communities in Baltimore and beyond.

The goal of the project is to create diverse opportunities for faculty, students, activists, and performers to come together as partners in education and creative expression. The website amplifies the voices of the ballroom community and makes the experience more broadly accessible. Launch website