“ Walk Body to Adele-- Will People do it? Maybe not. Can it be done? Yes!” (W/ Jay Jay Revlon)
Jay Jay has many hats. His focus is curating events, DJing, Ballroom (voguing) and mentoring. Listed as Time Out’s ‘One to Watch’, Jay Jay is a committed community activist and dedicated to creating safe spaces and conversations for QPOC and LGBTQ+.
He does this through his own club night ‘Let’s Have a Kiki #theparty’ and as a volunteer peer to peer mentor at Stonewall Housing. Throughout his career, his events have raised money for many charity organisations with whom he continues to work and support.
Jay Jay has been an early and devoted influence on the London Ballroom scene for the past five years and has been instrumental in defining how Ballroom in the UK is run. As Father of the ‘UK House of Revlon’ and founder of the ‘Kiki House of Tea’, Jay Jay is a leading authority of Ballroom in the UK.
From leading workshops at Tate Britain and SouthBank Centre, to bringing his inclusive flare to The Marlborough for Brighton Pride, he is a frequent collaborator with LGBTQ+ artists such as Honey Dijon and Years & Years. Jay Jay’s love for dance, voguing and DJing has taken him around the UK and Europe as a major force in the dance and music world.
A hugely in demand DJ, Jay Jay’s talent behind the decks has seen him play up and down the UK, on the festival circuit and internationally, bringing his signature mix of House, Afro House, Classics and Ballroom beats. As well as having his own BoilerRoom Set, his credits include playing for Rinse FM, Fabric, The Royal Academy, National Portrait Gallery, Bussey Building, as well as playing for brands such as Levi’s, G-Star, JW Anderson’s LFW Afterparty and many more.
In the episode we discuss
Ballroom culture- where it's been and where it's going?
Music- How Jay Jay got into Dj'ing and what does the future hold?
Theatre and what made Sundown Kiki at The Young Vic Theatre in London special for the culture and him?
How to uphold values of culture and support each other in the community when it can turn into a monetisation scheme.
How Drag and ballroom culture have become a pop/ soundbite moment often. And what separates that from the experience of-- vs it's visibility. Can certain things be problematic?
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