Willi Ninja

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Willi Ninja , also Willie Ninja (born April 12, 1961 in Queens , New York City, † September 2, 2006 in New York , real name William Roscoe Leake ), was an American dancer , choreographer and artist.

Life

William grew up in Flushing and started dancing when he was seven. As a member of the gay scene in Harlem , he led in the early 1980s in public places and at Drag Balls the Voguing ago, a new form of dance that took up the rhythmic movements of the models on the catwalk and photo shoots.

He appeared with this style in 1989 as a member of The Bootzilla Orchestra in the video clip for Malcolm McLaren's album Waltz Darling . The title Deep in Vogue became a hit especially in Germany, even before Vogue by Madonna in which Ninja also appeared. He also became known through the 1990 documentary Paris Is Burning by Jennie Livingston .

In the New York drag queen scene , Willi Ninja was an important figure and chairman of the House of Ninja . Ninja ran fashion shows for Jean-Paul Gaultier and was part of Karole Armitage's dance company . He also owned a modeling agency since 2004 and was a sought-after runway instructor. He helped Naomi Campbell and Paris Hilton, for example, to find their personal style. In addition to Paris is Burning , Wolfgang Busch's documentary How Do I Look (2006) features several interviews with Ninja.

He had suffered from AIDS for several years from the consequences of which he died on September 2, 2006 at the age of 45.

literature

  • George E. Haggerty: Gay Histories and Cultures: An Encyclopedia. Garland Pub., 2002

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Willi Ninja
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Ninja, willie; Leake, William Roscoe (maiden name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American dancer, choreographer, and artist
DATE OF BIRTH April 12, 1961
PLACE OF BIRTH Queens , New York City
DATE OF DEATH September 2, 2006
Place of death new York