“With Ballroom communities all around the world, Cardiff has now become Wales' first epicenter for Ballroom culture and has amassed a small but thriving community. Since its creation, Ballroom culture has played an extremely important role in American LGBT+ communities especially, with participants forming 'houses' that functioned as an extended family.

The Welsh Ballroom Community has already received international recognition since its creation during the lockdown in 2020. The community has evolved into a vibrant celebration of queer identity in Wales and offers a safe space for people to connect and meet like-minded people.”

“These images were made In the Valleys of South Wales, the Landscape serves to define the Welsh heritage in which these individuals live or have grown up.  The incredible outfits were made by seven different Fashion designers all from South wales from recycled Welsh Flags. They were designed for a Welsh Ball which took place in Cardiff's Arcades in 2021.”

“In summer 2021, I had been aware the Welsh ballroom community had showcased a Welsh Ball in the Arcades of Cardiff. They are the real superstars of this series of images, I am just truly grateful for being able to work alongside them. The integrity, style, and enthusiasm they show for the culture of Ballroom are what inspired my interest in working with them, they are iconic, to say the least.

Leighton who had founded the Community trusted my vision for the shoot. He understood that it was not only fitting to make these images in the Valleys, but important to homage the welsh Landscape and Welsh Identity.”

“My personal photographic inspiration derives from a Documentary background. My influences for picture-making to name a few are Rineke Dijkstra, Tom Wood, Jamie Hawksworth, and Clementine Schneidermann.”

THE PHOTOGRAPHER

“Laurie Broughton is a Social Documentary photographer from London. He is currently studying Documentary Photography at the University of South Wales. Laurie is the founder of the Police Kicking Kids Collective.

 Laurie's practice explores themes around youth culture and social housing. Through research and exposure to subjects, he aims to challenge himself to look underneath the surface of preconceived notions of identity and cultural stereotypes, through immersing himself within the communities he photographs.

His work questions outdated views on communities with the aim to challenge societal norms in the form of immersive image-making over a prolonged period of time.”