PLEASE NOTE: Pre-sales are closed, there are a handful of tickets left on the door, first in first served! All tickets on the door are $25.00.

Take yourself to temple!

PACT House has partnered with PYT Fairfield to present TEMPLE, a day long celebration of ballroom culture at PACT in Erskineville on Saturday 30 April!

From its conception in Harlem NY to the streets of south-west Sydney, ballroom culture has allowed queer and trans bodies of colour, black bodies especially, the opportunity and confidence to take up spaces unapologetically and amplify our voices. It’s in spaces like these that we reach the peaks of celebration, self-love and community support.

Elevating self-care to the heights of worship, TEMPLE is taking the joy of ballroom culture to praise and practice public devotion and devotion to the self. Speak in tongues and feel the holy spirit of the legends and icons who paved the way for future generations to walk freely in their truest forms.

Join us for a day devoted to helping you find your inner deity, with movement, poetry and self care workshops, installations and delicious food from the heart of south-west Sydney, plus live performances from local artists...

Billy Keohavong, a first-generation Laotian-Australian Artist, storyteller of lived experiences and desires, and is a beacon of creative chaos.

Demon Derriere, a body positive activist, booty manipulator and creative director of body positive festival Big Thick Energy.

Fetu Taku, a multidisciplinary artist committed to cultivating dance/movement spaces through her artistry in community and commercial platforms.

Imbi, a multidisciplinary artist. Regardless of what form his art takes, imbi always creates with consistent intention and emphasis on ritual and authentic connection.

The Pioneers, award winning and intentionally recognised Sydney based dance collective who explore and create with various street dance styles.

Tunes pumping by proud Kombumerri man DJ Salllvage, a DJ, producer and dancer mixing the decks with an intersection of queer club culture and connection with Country.

Movement workshop with Ballroom (Vogue) QTBIPOC legends Kiki House of Silky, poetry with Yuin, Djiringanj rapper Prodikal-1 and self care workshops with internationally recognised Tongan-Australian choreographer, movement director, and lifestyle coach, Sela Vai.

Plus installations and delicious Vietnamese street food, cooked by Mây’s Aunty. All coming to you from the heart of south-west Sydney!

Tickets on sale now through Humanitix. Tickets to TEMPLE include access to all activities throughout day, but registration for workshops and panels are essential, simply forward your ticketing information and workshop RSVP to gabriela@pyt.com.au

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This event will involve strobes, flashing lights, haze, nudity, loud music.

Free tickets are available for Trans BIPOC. Please contact ballroomaustralia@gmail.com or Instagram @ballroomaustralia

About the curators

Eliam Royalness is a choreographer & performer from Sydney’s south-west and has been creating dance works since his teenage years. He originates from Wellington NZ and from the influence of his Polynesian heritage, has a strong sense of purpose and direction. Equipped with the raw training in various street dance styles, combined with his calm character quality and respectful yet diverse take on dance, Eliam is a unique being with an interesting viewpoint on dance. Eliam is the founder and director of Australia’s national champion megacrew, The Pioneers MC, who’ve represented Australia at Hip-Hop International in the U.S. He is also a leading figure of Australian Ballroom (Vogue) with the House of Sle (AUS) & the House of Oricci (USA). Eliam’s style is influenced by elements of various genres under the street dance umbrella. He’s trained in the foundations of Waacking, Hip-Hop Grooves, Afro, and Vogue; and incorporates these foundations into his movement and choreography. Eliam’s inspiring drive and passion shows in his creations, personality, and his continued work through The Pioneers MC and his various ventures.

Mây Trần is Western Sydney based performer of Vietnamese descent. Their work explores the re-discovery of identity through a framework of neurodivergence and celebration of the self. Last year, they played to a sold out audience inHot Mess at KXT. In June of this year, they will be performing in Dino Dimitriadis’ rendition of Sarah Kane’s Cleansed at the Old Fitz Theatre.

About the event

A program of PACT Centre for Emerging Artists, PACT House is a curatorial opportunity that will enable emerging curators to collaboratively realise a live art event in 2022. This PACT House curatorship is in partnership with PYT | Fairfield. PACT House has been made possible with the support of the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body; the NSW Government through Create NSW; and the City of Sydney through its Cultural Grants program.

PACT is committed to the health and wellbeing of our employees, artists, and visitors. In order to keep our community safe, PACT has implemented a COVIDSafe Plan that meet or exceed current government regulations, in consultation with our employees and stakeholders.

If you have any access requirements you would like to discuss prior to purchasing a ticket, such as Auslan or Audio Description, please contact PACT's Associate Producer and Marketing Manager scarlett@pact.net.au by COB 27 April.

PACT is a fully accessible space with a small ramp at the entrance, flat floors throughout and dedicated wheelchair accessible toilet and accessible street parking (non-dedicated). The closest accessible train station is Newtown Train Station (15 mins). PACT is committed to making our projects and performances as inclusive as possible for everyone to enjoy. If you have any suggestions or would like any information in another format, please don’t hesitate to contact us:

Phone 02 9550 2744 or email info@pact.net.au
National Relay Service ask for PACT on 02 9550 2744

Image credit: Eliam Royalness by Zeinab Mahfoud