When HBO Max launched on May 27, the television world was introduced to a competition series unlike any seen before on screen. Inspired by the culture of ballroom, “Legendary” follows eight houses as they vogue their way through nine balls to win a cash prize of $100,000. And while it may look like a dance competition show on the surface, under all the glitz and glam is a series that takes viewers through the history of the dance art form and its continued importance to the LGBTQ+ community.
After screening a recent episode from the series, judge Leiomy Maldonado, MC Dashaun Wesley and executive producers Jack Mizrahi, Rob Eric and David Collins joined the Variety Streaming Room, hosted by Variety’s Caroline Framke, to discuss how they brought ballroom culture to television.
Maldonado, who serves as a judge alongside Megan Thee Stallion, Jameela Jamil and Law Roach, shared one of the reasons that made making the series so special is the way the show highlights the contestant’s personal journey to ballroom…