A Place to Dance: How Richard Lamberty Brought Change to the Ballroom

Who says only girls can twirl and boys must take the lead on the dance floor?

Celebrate same-gender ballroom dancing with renowned dancer Richard Lamberty as he breaks traditional gender roles, while promoting diversity and inclusivity in dance.

When dancer Richard Lamberty was a child, he loved dancing—especially ballroom dancing. But he was always jealous of the moves female dancers got to do. Intrigued by the female dancers’ different steps, Richard developed the skills to dance either role in order to compete with a male partner in the Gay Games in Europe. He then came back to the United States and cofounded April Follies, the longest-running and largest queer partner dance competition in North America.

Richard Lamberty is a two-time world champion ballroom dancer whose story inspires the LGBTQIA+ community to put on their dance shoes and do what they love.