The TV series Pose and documentary Paris Is Burning brought Ballroom culture to a mainstream audience. Josh Taliani, Indigenous, Italian, queer and Father to the House of Alexander is presenting his solo show.
When did you first discover a love for dance and choreography?
I fell in love with dance as a kid, but I fell in love with choreography as a teenager. My passion for dancing began when I watched artists like Michael Jackson. Seeing all those types of movements got me going. But the thing that made me a dancer was watching the krumping documentary Rise, back in 2005. It’s kind of funny now that I’m queer and part of the Ballroom community, because krumping is the complete opposite. However, as dance cultures go, they both stem from oppression.
You certainly had a lot to figure out – sexuality, culture, religion, not to mention just being a young man.
Yeah, I grew up in Inala, Brisbane, a remote suburban community, where it was about how much you could do to keep yourself going, or otherwise you were doing bad stuff. So, I chose dance while at the same time, trying to figure out my sexuality. I can’t pinpoint when I became okay with myself being queer, but I certainly had those setbacks. When I moved to Brisbane, I met the Italian side of my family and was exposed to a whole different culture. They were not active Catholics, but some of their values came from that.
Joshua Taliani
That’s interesting when you consider the Italian pride in Italian fashion houses like Armani, Prada, Gucci, and Versace.
Oh my gosh, yes! The thing is, they never see that ‘European’ side of themselves because they were raised in the same suburb that I was, which was rough. They have a Northern Italian background and are more the humble, blue-collar Italian/Australian generation. But surprisingly, in the indigenous culture, when it comes to men’s and women’s business, there’s a strong connection. I felt lucky because my mob is very female-based with a lot of nurturing feminine energy, and I was never judged. I’m the only gay one on my Italian side, but I have gay cousins on the Aboriginal side. They all never had a problem with me, and love that I’m not the stereotypical stern-like Indigenous man that is often thought to be the case. I always say that I have ‘the pride of a man and the heart of a woman’. I feel that describes what a queer person is, because there’s always going to be that soft and nurturing side. But you still have to be staunch and strong, because we need to protect ourselves.
“I felt lucky because my mob is very female-based, and there was a lot of nurturing feminine energy.”
This is quite akin to the American First Nations concept of Two Spirit.
It’s so interesting that American Indians talk about the Two Spirit, which we derive from, but no one talks about it here, and I have no idea why. There’s a whole section of Queensland that will talk about it, but then you go further north, and they’re opposite. It’s weird to navigate. In all honesty, the term Two Spirit is generally heard through First Nations queer people. For me, Two-Spirit doesn’t fall into the same level as non-binary or gender fluid. It’s more about your spirit.
Two Spirit could also apply to both Aboriginal and Italian heritage in your DNA.
For sure. In terms of judgment from both families, on my Italian side, they were a bit tough at the start. The thing with Italians is that they’re a very proud people, and I’m representing the name Taliani. I’ve featured on SBS, the ABC, Channel Ten, hosted shows, been on billboards and travelled overseas representing Australia. But now my family realise I’m the same person I always was, and they don’t negatively judge me. They see me just as Josh.
Joshua Taliani Photo credit: @ellamayphoto
What was your coming out like?
I came out when I was twenty. I started telling close friends, who I knew would accept me. Then I told my dad. He’s my only parent still living, and I’m his only son. There’s a part of me that wants to extend the lineage of my family, which I know I can, but back then, I was naive and had the stigma of disappointing my dad. But he’s been the best dad I could ever ask for. He said it didn’t bother him and that he loved me either way.
“They love that I’m not the stereotypical stern-like Indigenous man that is often thought to be the case.”
Do you get actively involved in your Indigenous heritage with events like NAIDOC Week?
Sometimes it’s hard to navigate things like NAIDOC Week because I’m busy with work, but I’ll always go and support the local acts and sometimes perform myself. I like to watch Welcome to Country, to see how the workshops are run and how they engage Indigenous youth. In my family, we share each other’s stories. People who are relatable across different generations, including my aunties and uncles. We find the relevance in our upbringing, but it’s the hurt and badness in them that we come to realise as we get older. It’s a big step of realisation. For me personally, as an Indigenous man, I like to focus on my own backyard before I speak out for others.
For those unfamiliar, can you explain the Ballroom culture?
Ballroom is a subculture in the queer community that has been around since the late Sixties. It is derived from trans women of colour, like African American and Latinx trans women, competing in the art of drag. There’s a documentary called Queen where Crystal LaBeija, the first-ever Mother of Ballroom, was honoured. Drag in the Sixties had something of a pinup doll look, and Crystal lost in the competition to a white woman, which caused outrage. All the Latinx and black African American women were being ostracised and overlooked, even though they were a part of the same hidden minority. That’s what kicked off Ballroom. They wanted a space purely for themselves, to be appreciated. That also means trans, gay, bi – a person in the queer community. Ballroom slowly took over the streets of Harlem, and House developed, where we have our chosen families.
And you’re the Father of the House of Alexander, in the sub-Kiki Ballroom culture?
Yes, we consider Kiki Ballroom not as serious. It’s more like community vibes. We come together with a Ballroom Mother and Father. It’s usually a Butch Queen, which is what I associate as, or it can be a trans man or a butch queen in drag, but it’s usually held by trans women – as the mother.
Who are your favourite music artists?
I’m very old-school. I love ELO (Electric Light Orchestra). I grew up watching Xanadu, and I wanted to be Gene Kelly and take up roller-skating as an art. I also love The Bee Gees, Queen, ABBA, Grace Jones, and Dr. Hook. Ballroom very much stemmed from House music, so of course I love that too, especially artists like George Kranz with ‘Din Daa Daa’.
Tell us about your upcoming solo show, Unveiling Shadows: A Journey Through Silence.
“I always say that I have ‘the pride of a man and the heart of a woman’.
It’s an exploration of survival and self-discovery. It’s also about healing and culture through the intimate storytelling of movement. It revolves around my energy as a queer, black Indigenous man. I’ve realised that there’s so much I’ve shut out from my life, and so many unspoken things. The healing process can be a weird thing. You can just let time take its toll, but that’s not always the best way. This show is something I’ve taken a long time to dive into. It’s not just a performance for the audience, but an honest and genuine healing journey for me.
The Alexander Ball and Josh’s solo show Unveiling Shadows is at the Brisbane Festival in September.
For more: brisbanefestival.com.au
Follow Josh on Instagram @joshuataliani
