Welcome to the world of The Ball, where everyone is Cinderella. The balls in question are the voguing and drag balls of Harlem, the subject of lesbian director Jennie Livingston’s award-winning and sensationally entertaining documentary. Voguing, an underground dance invented by black and Latino queers, burst onto to pop scene when Madonna ‘took’ voguing for herself and popularised it. But it’s the originators of the form who are the film’s subject. Voguers affiliate themselves with ‘Houses’, the equivalent of gay street gangs, and compete for trophies at the late-nite balls. For some, these balls are the only escape they have from their otherwise poverty-stricken lives. Livingston uses sensitivity and compassion in documenting her stars. From legendary drag queen Dorian Corey, to hot-voguer Willi Ninja, all are fierce, friendly and for real. Snubbed at the Oscars, this film is one of the liveliest and most touching movies in recent memory. Madonna’s production company financed it out of limbo and onto video release.