Local Luminaries Light Up the Night at Legendary Children, a QTBIPOC Celebration

by Alex Garland

As the sun set over Elliott Bay, the pink and purple lights of the Seattle Art Museum’s Paccar Pavilion at the Olympic Sculpture Park began lighting the stage for the seventh annual Legendary Children event, Seattle’s summer-ending party celebrating the queer, transgender, Black, Indigenous, People of Color (QTBIPOC) Ballroom Scene. With the event’s first return since the pandemic began, the crowd was eager and engaged as artists of all ages took the stage.

Drag queen Aleksa Manila stands on stage and addresses the crowd through a microphone while DJ Kween Kay$h stands behind her — Drag queen Aleksa Manila has emceed Legendary Children events in the past, and reprised her role again this year. In the background: DJ Kween Kay$h. (Photo: Alex Garland)

Co-hosted by emcee Aleksa Manila, CarLarans, and Goddess Briq House, the event space filled quickly with a swaying audience who showed their support vocally and monetarily with folded bills raining on the stage as the artists were tipped. Public Health — Seattle & King County was also at the event giving out free COVID-19 boosters and monkeypox vaccines.

The Emerald spoke to two performers about what the event meant to them and what advice they had to pass on to younger artists.

Hot Pink Shade performs, leaning backward so her hair touches the ground — Performer Hot Pink Shade. (Photo: Alex Garland)

Hot Pink Shade is an artist in the Ballroom community who feels empowered to help celebrate other Artists of Color at Legendary Children, “but at the same time, I can also sit back and celebrate my art, my hard work, what I’ve done to earn the status of being a legend. It’s about coming together and being a family.”

Performer Hot Pink Shade performs onstage at Legendary Children — Hot Pink Shade dazzles the crowd. (Photo: Alex Garland)

When asked about their advice to young artists, they responded, “Follow your dreams, follow your heart. Don’t compromise who you are to be somebody else. There will always be a cookie cutter. Stand out, do you, be you.”

Kylie Mooncakes 007 dances at Legendary Children. (Photo: Alex Garland)

Mooncakes 007 has been with the SeaTac Ballroom community since its inception and feels this night is special. “A lot of the Ballroom kids [don’t] know we have a Ballroom scene out here, get to perform, and collect a check, but also, it’s a way to give us a little visibility. Hopefully, Black and Brown people who come to this event know that there’s a Ballroom scene here if they do want to be a part of it, and they do want to engage with that. If not, then I hope that they know it’s happening and it’s going well and flourishing the best we can.”

When it comes to advice for burgeoning artists, Mooncakes 007 says, “Stay genuine to yourself. That means hold your boundaries. You don’t have to be an asshole. But maintain those boundaries and know where you stand and what you stand for, and continue to work towards those goals. Remember, at the end of the day, no matter how successful and rich and elevated you become, there was always a community that was there to support you before you were any of that. So make sure you’re always giving back to it. Make sure you’re always honoring it the best you can.”

Members of Coach Cosby’s Cutting Up Dance Team perform, some standing with their hands raised, others squatting and dancing — Coach Cosby’s Cutting Up Dance Team taking the stage. (Photo: Alex Garland)

Davida Ingram, a co-organizer of Legendary Children, stands on stage holding a microphone and addresses the crowd — Davida Ingram, a co-organizer of Legendary Children, addresses the crowd. (Photo: Alex Garland)

A crowd gathered at the Seattle Art Museum’s Paccar Pavilion at the Olympic Sculpture Park to watch the Legendary Children event. (Photo: Alex Garland)

Seattle Icon DJ Riz Rollins smiles at the camera, wearing headphones and standing behind his mixer — Seattle Icon DJ Riz Rollins keeps the party going. (Photo: Alex Garland)

Editors’ Note: Article has been updated to accurately reflect the event’s co-hosts.

Alex Garland is a photojournalist and reporter. With a degree in emergency administration and disaster planning from the University of North Texas, Alex spent his early professional career as a GIS analyst for FEMA. Follow him on Twitter.

📸 Featured Image: Drag performer Kylie Mooncakes 007 performing at Legendary Children on Sept. 23. (Photo: Alex Garland)

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