What is Thee Debauchery Ball?
THE DEBAUCHERY BALL LIVING EXHIBITION IS, on its face, a tasteful, erotically-themed festival series where music, art, and live performance are synthesized into a memorable, highly-charged, sensual, sensory-engaging experience. Its foundation, however, is an odyssey into the world of sexual boundaries and allowance; into the protocol, custom, and social mores; into evolving attitudes and individual empowerment. It is a celebration of brown bodies freed from societal norms and conventional sexual expression. It’s a study of the relationship between collective freedom and individual comfort, all from a Black cultural lens. It’s a party but…
THE DEBAUCHERY BALL IS SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST A PARTY.
Y'all did a documentary about the ball?
Yes! We did! The story of Chicago’s Afro-futuristic, BDSM/kink/fetish-themed House music party and how it has reshaped the Black social scene and challenged the narratives of Black sexuality. Thee Debauchery Ball, tells the story of a single house music event that was intended to pay reverence to the original intention of House Music culture of Chicago. Born in 2005, it has grown to become the only
fetish-themed, BDSM-friendly, body-positive, House party in the city. It has helped to redefine Black music, community, art, and sexuality, all topics that are often maligned in the Black community. The documentary tells the personal story of the founder, the DJs, and the participants who look upon this event and the culture within as a bastion of freedom and an escape from preconceived notions.
upcoming screenings
New Screenings coming soon
official trailer
"You can explore"
-Josh "Stretch" Ishmon
laurels and awards
"You come out in public to find your private self."
-Pia Renee
contact us
For more information, contact us or join our mailing list!