Watching the documentary Deep in Vogue, we were struck by two things. First that – damn Ballroom is big up north in the UK. Second that that Asttina Mandella will go far. And look here we are, our first interview of 2021 with the winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Season 2 Week 1. Boom.
But today we are having a one-on-one zoom rave with Asttina to discuss Deep in Vogue – Dennis Keighron-Foster & Amy Watson‘s documentary that shows that not only is there an LGBT Ballroom scene outside of London, but also that it’s fucking fierce.
We speak with Asttina about being part of The House of Decay, how Ballroom is in her blood and she tells us her favourite Mariah song, if only she can spell her name first!
Asttina, hey gurl, hey! Last week was a big week for you but we are here to discuss the amazing Deep in Vogue.
Yes! We actually filmed it three years ago and I didn’t hear anything back – I was focusing on my drag career. Then last year I was in New York, dancing with Melanie C on her Pride Tour and saw something about Deep in Vogue in a Pride booklet and was like, ‘Huh…?!’ Suddenly Deep in Vogue just became this big thing! I’m so glad it’s properly out there.
How did you become part of a documentary about the North, being a southerner?
Well to me, voguing has always been a sacred thing to a lot for voguers and queer people, especially POC. When we first started the film, it was really about the people up north. It’s not like Pose or Paris is Burning. It’s how the North of England has adapted it. But yeah I am a London English rose! Now I am an honorary northerner. Joshua Hubbard, whom I am obviously with in The House of Decay, brought me into it.
Yes, tell me about how you came to be part of The House of Decay…
So me and Joshua, good old Mother and Choreographer of The House of Decay, met when we were doing a job in London at Sink the Pink. After that he asked me to come do a job with him in Manchester. It was my first time working there and it was…amazing. From there he brought me into the House.
Did you have to audition?
No, I just kind of walked in! But Josh was like, ‘I see your ability in dance and performance and I want to help you grow with that.’
Is that maternal care still present in a House, or is that mythology now?
It’s there. In the voguing community, a house will normally have a mother and a father and the children. Before the structure was there for children who had been ostracised by their families and then they found a family in the Ballroom scene. Luckily most, not all(!), of us are blessed to have great families.
I never like to classify The House of Decay as a family as such, we are more of a creative house. Josh and Grace are the founders and we all have different roles. Josh is Artistic Creator, Grace is Artistic Director and I am Rehearsal Director.
As you were saying you’re a “Lahndahna” dancing “oop Norf”. What are the main differences between the scenes?
When I go to Manchester it’s just a totally different thing. Northerners are just so honest and direct, they tell you everything to your face. They were so welcoming and warm. Down in London we can be a bit aloof and snooty. I love the realness of Manchester.
Before watching Deep in Vogue, I imagined the LGBT voguing scene outside of London to be um…kind of provincial. But this film really shocked me as to how serious it is taken. I loved to see it!
Yeah it is a battle, we are fighting to win, it’s a competition but what you might not see is when we’re all just talking to each other backstage. I’m talking with the House of Suarez, the House of Ghetto are talking to the others that just walked in and we’re all just chit-chatting. Even the audience always have their favourites, but everyone is just supporting the Art.
When it came to Deep in Vogue and filming at the Ball, how was performing and filming at the same time?
It didn’t feel like we were filming a big thing at all. That was the point because Dennis said, ‘We want to keep it natural and raw.’ But I didn’t even clock any of the filming crew because I was so focused on the Manchester Ball. There’s a shot of me swinging on a bar and I have zero recollection of it. I can remember the outfit though – Chun Li as part of a Street Fighter performance!
One of the things I really loved about Deep in Vogue was showing how diverse it was, obviously you have cis, straight women getting involved, you have guys from the rubber scene taking part…do you feel the Ballroom scene is more open than the Drag scene?
It’s kind of a sensitive topic because where people confuse themselves with Drag and being a drag queen. I am a RuPaul standard now because that’s what everyone knows. Drag is an art form, everyone can do it, it’s about expressing yourself.
Ballroom is similar except it was originally for LGBTQ trans-women/men, the Latinos and the Blacks. They were all ostracised and had their own world away from society. But now both Drag and Ballroom have opened up so much.
Drag can have anyone and everyone but within the vogue scene there has to be some reason why you’re into it, a category. Are you about face? Are you about body? Are you New Way? Old way? You can’t just latch onto the scene. Ballroom has a history, it’s part of my history, it’s part of many others’ history. That’s how Asttina Mandella is formed to be who she is. It’s a history that comes from life and culture, whereas Drag’s history comes from within the theatre.
How do your Drag and Ballroom personas differ?
I always say Aston and Asttina are the same person but Aston is my one star Pokemon, my neutral while Asttina is my mega evolution, level twenty-eight. My mutant power is activated when I am Asttina. Drag is the artform I use to express my Art. Asttina is here now but not on show. Whereas I am Ballroom 24/7, it is me, it comes from my heart and soul and my culture.
Both are definitely becoming more mainstream.
It’s crazy. We’ve been given the key, we’ve opened the door and now we’re not closing it! We welcome everyone to come in and absorb what we’re teaching but also those people have to understand it is not their door to close. So if I kick you out – you’re out! Haha….
Did filming Deep in Vogue give you insight to how you come across on film, how to prepare for the confessional part of Drag Race?
Not at all. Drag Race is a reality show, a big fantasy whereas Deep in Vogue was a documentary about the lives of real people, a reality of what we live and what we do. Both are amazing!
Even though I have watched all the previous seasons of Drag Race, I know what happens on the show, but being there completely throws everything offboard. I was not expecting anything and everything to happen even though I know the show. But Deep in Vogue was just like, ‘You do you and we’ll document that.’
Both Drag and Ballroom are their own worlds but there are definitely points where they cross over – like for example, death drop and a dip which I talk about a lot on Drag Race. If you want to term it a death drop in Drag, cool, but understand the real terminology is dip. Ballroom is where it came from.
I kept calling it a dip in Drag Race because I wanted to educate. People can’t take something that is not theirs and call it a death drop! Otherwise I am going to have the voguing community coming after me! Haha…
What else do you have planned for 2021?
Who knows. When we can resume to being less than a metre apart, I can start performing in shows again in shows. I’ve got a couple of music videos in place which we filmed under social distancing. But I’m very OCD and organised. I love a list. I’m actually a mutant witch from Harry Potter.
Now we are named after the biggest-selling single of 2001, so we always ask, what is your favourite Mariah Carey song?
Oh let me have a look at my Music Library, how do you spell Mariah…M-I-R….
No, gurl, it’s M-A-R-I-A-H!!! The Drag Race/Mariah curse strikes again! She will never be a judge on that show! Haha…
Haha…I love ‘Always Be My Baby’. But I really love ‘It’s Like That.’ I also love the one she did with Whitney for the Prince and I…
The Prince of Egypt?
That’s the one! Haha….
Deep in Vogue is available to watch on VOD via Filmrise now!
Asttina Mandella Instagram / Twitter
