Michael Cox—better known as DJ MikeQ—is the electrifying heartbeat of modern ballroom and vogue-house culture. Rising from East Orange, New Jersey, MikeQ dove headfirst into the scene in 2003, and by 2005 was spinning nightly across iconic venues in New York and Jersey. As a founding member of the Fade to Mind collective, his 2011 debut EP Let It All Out didn’t just land — it hit— becoming an underground anthem and a ballroom staple. His “spine‑snapping” DJ sets—hailed by The New York Times as “ecstatic ballroom house”—have since ignited dancefloors in nearly 40 countries, from Tokyo to Paris to Sydney.

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Beyond the decks, MikeQ is a true cultural architect. As founder of Qween Beat, the first label devoted to ballroom music, he’s been instrumental in nurturing the genre’s next generation. His influence extends far beyond clubs: he’s scored the film Kiki, performed on-camera in HBO Max’s Legendary and FX’s Pose, and even opened for Beyoncé on her Renaissance World Tour, earning double-platinum plaques and Grammy award certificates along the way. Fiercely committed to preserving ballroom’s roots while pushing its boundaries, MikeQ stands as both visionary mentor and global ambassador for marginalized voices on dancefloors worldwide.