Kiki

The classic 1990 documentary Paris Is Burning presented an unprecedented look inside New York City's underground drag ball culture in the mid-to-late 1980s, where African-American and Latino gay, transgender, and transsexual communities came together to throw elaborate costumed runway dance competitions (their dance moves eventually became mainstream thanks to Madonna's 1990 single “Vogue”). Drag balls are still very much alive in NYC, full of vibrant young dancers who are not only breathing new energy into the scene but also creating their own sub-culture called kiki. Sara Jordenö's documentary Kiki shifts between raw footage and staged set pieces as it follows several dancers—including Kiki co-writer Twiggy Pucci Garcon—as they practice, prep, and compete in balls. The scenes are electric and inspiring, with dancers busting often-acrobatic moves while decked out in truly original costumes. But Kiki is about much more than just dance, telling a tale of community and activism as the open and accepting kiki world serves as a safe haven, providing structure and family for many kids who have been ostracized by parents and peers for being gay. It also provides a forum to fight for causes affecting their lives, with the kiki youth here advocating for LGBTQ issues and hosting support groups with as fierce an intensity as they bring to the dance floor. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. (P. Morehart)