Beijing party people: prepare to get down for a progressive cause. Some of South Korea's most forward-thinking DJs, drag queen dancers, safe space advocates and more are making their way to Dada for an LGBTQ friendly party like no other. One of the main drivers behind this Saturday night extravaganza is Ligrye, a Seoul-based DJ who also helps coordinate progressive parties and other events via the city's Shade collective. Below, he and cohort Diva G – the latter of whom is coordinating a pre-party workshop that'll introduce Beijingers to dance styles like Vogueing (defined as"a highly stylized, modern house dance originating in the late 1980s that evolved out of the Harlem ballroom scene of the 1960s" and Waacking (defined as"a form of dance created in the LGBT clubs of Los Angeles, during the 1970s disco era") – tell us more about the boundary-pushing fun to be had at this one of a kind event.
Tell us about Shade and what it has achieved in Seoul.
Ligrye: When Shade started it was first called Vogue. The current team is made up of members of the LGBTQI community in Seoul, and we’ve put quite a bit of effort into working with DJs, dancers, artists and drag performers from the same community and outside of the community.
We encourage people who come to the party to dress up and express themselves however they choose, free of harassment or judgment. I think that’s really important in keeping and creating a safe space. Overall, Shade arose because there was definitely a need for something different in the LGBTQI scene in Seoul; an event that focuses on music, especially music from different genres, this has been a key element.
In an earlier promo you said"A Vogue dancing workshop will take place at Dada Bar Beijing on Saturday, Jan 27 at 9pm." Tell us about why this will be fun, and why it also serves a greater social purpose.
Ligrye: This workshop is really important because most people think Madonna created Vogue, which is not the case. So this is an opportunity for people to educate themselves and we hope they learn something new. Part of the DJ sets on the night will be Vogue, so it’ll be fun to see people implement what they learn from the workshop.
Diva G: Learning about Vogueing and Waacking will enable more people to improvise and have fun with the music on the night. Gaarbo Waacking Crew will share some dance techniques, but we also want to share more about the culture that these two genres of dance stem from. All people who have a particular interest in fashion and beauty will definitely enjoy this unique experience. That being said, if you’re just looking to have fun, come along.
That earlier promo also mentions that your "soundscapes have shapeshifted ... and evolved to include afrobeats, ballroom house, and experimental world rhythms." What inspires you to incorporate these genres, and how do you think they have made your music more dynamic and interesting?
Ligrye: I think the music is really important; that’s what Shade and our previous party, Vogue, is rooted in.
The music is different to what you will hear in a “gay” club. It’s quite underground and niche but it’s still danceable. We work really hard to make sure that we read the crowd; we curate music for the people there on the night. Setting a tone and a mood is important to me. Afrobeats and vogue music are high energy, it’s so hard to just stand and not dance – you definitely want to move.
You've played Balmain x H&M store openings and the Louis Vuitton collection opening in Seoul, the Seoul Fashion Festival, and the Playboy Korea launch party. What was it like to take part in these events?
Ligrye: I think playing these branded events have been great opportunities. They’ve given me the chance to play and explore genres I wouldn’t normally play on a regular club night.
Also seeing how much work goes into these major events is amazing, so it's been a big learning experience for me. For example, playing Ultra Music Festival in Seoul was really fun, it’s amazing when you have a really big crowd and you are vibing off that energy. In that instance, as a DJ, it’s just pure euphoria to see a huge crowd jumping and enjoying my music. I’d really like to do more of those in the near future.
What's next for you and Shade?
Ligrye: I’d like to keep focusing on DJing, and this year I am focusing on getting producing off the ground and I’ll be releasing monthly mixes.
In terms of Shade, we've have had a really good run so far. Our last event was with Yaeji and that was amazing. In 2018, we have some major artists booked. The team has been amazing. We are going to focus on big acts, more pop-ups like the Shade x Most Girls Smell Good collaboration, and we definitely want to take Shade to more countries in Asia.
The Shade and Most Girls Smell Good Click party will be held at Dada on Jan 27. The Vogue dancing workshop starts at 9pm, and the DJ set will be held from 10pm onward. For more information, click here.
More stories by this author here.
Email: kylemullin@truerun.com
Twitter: @MulKyle
Instagram: mullin.kyle
Photos courtesy of the promoters