Following shows like Pose and Legendary, a new series about ballroom culture has emerged. House on Fire, produced by the team behind RuPaul’s Drag Race, follows the House of Miyake-Mugler as viewers see nine members managing the pressures of competition and family dynamics. The first season showcased the amazing world of ballroom culture through reality television.
In the first season, viewers saw Yusef Mugler, the father of the house, keeping his children in check as A.J. Boardraye tried to join the prestigious house.
Throughout the eight episodes, A.J. learned that becoming a Mugler is not as simple as it seems. Impressing Yusef requires more than talent; it’s about respect. A.J. and Yusef talked with me at RuPaul’s DragCon LA 2024 about the incredible season.
For Yusef and A.J., showing their lives to the world was special. Combining this with ballroom culture made House on Fire Season 1 truly special. As A.J. said, “It was an entryway, so people who are interested in ballroom and want to do it can see the journey and see how it goes.”
Yusef added, “This was a necessary moment for the culture, for the community, especially ballroom. It was something that has been pushed down and what better house than to bring to the forefront than the House of Miyake-Muglar!”
The show highlighted the relationships and how each member’s role in the House of Miyake-Mugler impacted the season’s story. Yusef and A.J.’s stories often intertwined. “It’s family. It’s friendship. We fight, and then we love on each other and then fight again,” Yusef said, joking, “You know, we’ll probably fight after this interview.
But we’ll walk out holding hands because that’s my brother.” Yusef mentioned that House on Fire showed true reality. The importance of chosen family was a key focus, which Yusef was glad viewers could see. He noted, “It’s no different than having blood relatives. Brothers and sisters from another mother.”
Introducing the House of Miyake-Muglar to the Audience
Viewers saw New York City play a big role, serving as a key setting. As they both mentioned, “New York is Ballroom.” The origins and history of the scene are centered in this vibrant city. Unlike other shows that feature exotic locations, Yusef stated that for their first season, everything had to stay in NYC.
“Our first season, we were like, we can’t go anywhere. Everything has to happen right here in New York City and keep it authentic as possible. That is the mother. That is the hub of ballroom.”
In this season, A.J. was the viewer’s guide into ballroom, focusing on his journey into the House of Miyake-Mugler. Joining the family is not as simple as just wanting it.
There is initiation, rules, and protocols to follow. If you break these rules, it can hurt your chances of joining. Before A.J. shared his experience, Yusef reminded him, “Ballroom is not a walk in the park.”
“There was a lot I had to learn, but I was up for it. And I made it at the end,” A.J. said. Later in our conversation, A.J. mentioned that the lesson of the season was “stay out of Femme Queen’s business.” It was a messy situation involving a game of telephone.
Yusef defended A.J., saying, “That’s not ballroom though. Ballroom is a place where you can come as you are and be creative. Be all the things. And when you leave, you leave it all on the floor. And you have a family. Or not.”
Despite the season’s love and support, A.J. and Yusef admitted there was no shortage of drama! They happily discussed the most shocking moments. A.J. noted that he was surprised when Roz Mugler, Lorenzo, and Andre talked about him behind his back.
All episodes of House on Fire are available to stream on WOW Presents Plus.
