Willi Ninja, known as the Grandfather of Vogue, a dance genre he helped transition from the 1980s New York club scene to the concert stage, died on Saturday in Queens. He was 45. According to Archie Burnett, a close friend, the reason was AIDS-related cardiac failure.
“Paris Is Burning,” the award-winning 1990 documentary about New York’s drag vogue-ball scene, introduced the public to vogueing, with its angular body movements, exaggerated model poses, and intricate mimelike choreography, as well as the colorful characters who populated Willi Ninja’s world. Willi Ninja later appeared in works by postmodern choreographers such as Doug Elkins, David Neuman, and Karole Armitage.
Willi Ninja brought vogueing to a level of visibility and performance perfection that had never been achieved before, according to Sally Sommer, a dance professor at Florida State University. God gave him the largest, broadest dance shoulders in the world, so when he did those things with his arms, it was so impressive.
He also taught models how to swagger, mentoring stars such as Naomi Campbell early in their careers. He recently collaborated with socialite Paris Hilton, whose red-carpet sashay has become her hallmark. He founded the EON (Elements of Ninja) modeling agency in 2004, but he never stopped dancing, appearing on television shows such as “America’s Next Top Model” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” as well as dropping in at local clubs.
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Google had a video Doodle for Willi Ninja. It was illustrated by Rob Gilliam, and Xander Opiyo edited it. The 47-second clip featured several performers from ‘The Iconic House of Ninja’, a community created by Leake. Their identities are Archie Burnett Ninja, Javier Madrid Ninja, Kiki Ninja, and Akiko Tokuoka alias KiT Ninja.
The documentary Paris is Burning, starring Willi and the Iconic House of Ninja, premiered at the NewFest New York LGBT Film Festival on June 9, 1990.
The performance features contemporary House of Ninja members, including Archie Burnett Ninja, Javier Madrid Ninja, Kiki Ninja, and Akiko Tokuoka (also known as KiT Ninja), who dance passionately to honor Willi’s eternal legacy.
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Willi Ninja’s adventure began with his beloved mother’s continuous support when he was born in 1961 and reared in Flushing, Queens. Despite their meager financial resources, she encouraged his love of dancing by taking him to ballet performances at the Apollo Theater. Willi, who was determined and self-taught, refined his abilities and became a great star.
Willi’s specialty became voguing, a compelling dance form that combined stylish postures with sophisticated moves influenced by mime and martial arts. Voguing originated in the Harlem ballroom scene, a safe haven for LGBTQ+ Black and Latino people to express themselves and promote solidarity. It represented self-expression and freedom.