‘DAWTA’ PARTIES

PHILLY BALLROOM AND BLACK QUEER NIGHTLIFE ● By madison moore (@madisonmooreonline ) ● Featuring VJtheDJ (@pumpdabeat ), DJ Delish (@djdeliiish ), and DAWTA (@dawtaaa ) ● ISSUE 03 - Highlight: 4 of 12 —— New York, Philly, and D.C. make the tri-mecca of Ballroom legacy. Philadelphia gave this culture not only the MC voice, but also the sound, now played around the world. And so much more. In conversation with artist and scholar madison moore, VJtheDJ and DJ Delish walk us through 30-plus years of Philly Ballroom and Black queer nightlife, from sweaty house parties and Breakfast Club nights to PUMPDABEAT, DAWTA, and vogue functions that pushed their way into clubs that never planned to host them. They talk family, stolen sounds, and what it means for Philly producers to craft the beats and vocals that fuel a global scene which rarely says their names. Read this full piece in ISSUE 03. Video: Ladonna and Selvin at FIRST FRIDAY, via @ballroomthrowbacks on YouTube (2012) —— ● Pre-order at LINK IN BIO ● Free pickups in PHL and AMS ● Subsidized pricing for members in need (DM us please) ● Shipping starts June 2026

Your eyes ain’t deceiving you…THE FUNCTION HAS RETURNED …4.23.26. ✨ to @dahlak_paradise . We’re keeping with tradition; @jahadm_ ⚜️ on the mic and @djdeliiish U©️ on the ones and twos! You already know the vibes, come through, get ya cute drink from the BAR 👀 and come walk a few cute categories….maybe even a surprise performance might be in the building. You never know when it comes to the goyals. 😉 see you there.

Happy Holidays to everyone that celebrates! Thanks for making this past year at DAWTA one big celebration! Here’s to another year of fun with the goyals!

We will see you all in January! Check out our YouTube, all the clips are in the link in the bio. Happy Holidays! - DAWTA

NOV. 22ND - @dahlak_paradise ! We’re celebrating a WHOLE year. Let’s do that ONE 10pm - 2am - @heyitsjvw , @djdeliiish and @pumpdabeat on the 1s and 2s, special commentator joining us and more. Last year’s photographs from / @capitalkaos

Thank you to everyone who came out to “THE FUNCTION” this past Saturday at @dahlak_paradise ! It was a really fab time! Thank you to @jahadm_ for commentating your @$S off. Thanks to all who came through, we’re still gathering clips of the ‘bigger picture’ later this year. 🤫 stay tuned for the next DAWTA. Love ya. footage x @djdeliiish edit x @djdeliiish

The CREATORS of DAWTA. @pumpdabeat , with a career spanning over 20+ years, he is  a masterminded DJ and ballroom icon. It’s easy to say he IS the sound of Philadelphia. To know him is to love him, to hear him is to dance until your feet hurt. Prepare to be snatched from the bar and thrown back onto the dance floor! @djdeliiish , the Daughter, doesn’t come up far behind him with her very secular knowledge of hip-hop and other none “ballroom” genres and spiritual outlook on music, she brings a rapid fire set full of inspiration and comfort.