Bal Masqué
Bal Masqué
Also known as the Virtual Background Battles (VBB), the Bal Masqué is a recurring hybrid event created by IMPAKT where guests join a collective dance party on Zoom. Guests are invited to compete in a battle for the best costume, which can be created through a combination of digital face masks (think Snapchat/Instagram filters) and virtual backgrounds. Everyone can either use the virtual background and mask options native to Zoom, or by creating their own masks and layers using Snachat’s Snap Camera filter-making software. Special guests were pitted against one another to show their virtual mask dancing skills and the chance to win prizes. The guests live-voted for winners. A master of ceremony doles out awards for Best Self-made Mask and Best Dance Performance. After the initial battles, the ballroom was open to the public, and everyone got to dance to our DJ’s curated danceable selection of obscure up-beat masterpieces, forgotten classics, exotic finds and the occasional guilty pleasure.
Keep it Simple
It’s a virtual costume party! With music and a chance to win prizes– what’s not to love!
Make it Participatory
Everyone is invited to strut in their best virtual mask. Those inclined can take it a step further and design their own. Most important is that everyone can have fun and play with tools they don’t normally use, and dance while doing it.
IMPAKT also commissioned special digital masks to be made by a designer that were available for guests to download and use for the event. There were also specific masks that were worn by the MC and the Zoom moderator during the event that identified them as part of the IMPAKT team.
Cultivate Collectivity
The Bal Masqué was hosted on Zoom, meaning the interface allowed all the participants to see each other (as much as their masks would allow) and see each other collectively dancing and coding in synchronicity.
Create Comfort
The levity of the event meant that– apart from any innate competitive spirit and desire to win– there was no pressure on any of the participants. Inviting people to design their own masks also literally puts it in their hands to decide how visible or obscured they want to be during the event and lets them play with these boundaries.