Contributing

What happened to Benny Ninja?

What happened to Benny Ninja?

Ninja was involved in the Metro-North train derailment that took place on Sunday December 1, 2013. He survived the accident but was “emotionally shaken” and suffered “some injuries.” Following his accident, Javier Ninja now occupies the role of Father of the House of Ninja.

Is Willi Ninja in vogue?

In 1989, Ninja starred in the music video for Malcolm McLaren’s song “Deep in Vogue,” which sampled the then-unfinished movie and brought Ninja’s style to the mainstream….

Willi Ninja
Occupation Dancer and choreographer

What happened Paris Dupree?

Death. Paris Dupree died in August 2011 in New York City. He was sixty-one years old.

Did Madonna invent voguing?

When Madonna was a rising star in New York, she often frequented dance clubs, which is where she learned about voguing. Though Madonna never claimed to invent it, it still left a sour taste in the mouths of many LGBTQ people of color.

Who is the father of ninja?

Benny Ninja (né Benjamin Thomas) is a self-taught Vogue-style dancer from the underground clubs based in Westchester, New York. He is best known for his involvement in ball culture. He is the father of the House of Ninja, a post given to him by the late Willi Ninja of Paris is Burning fame.

Who started Voguing?

Recognized as the “Grandfather of Vogue,” Willi Ninja rose to prominence in the Harlem Drag Ball scene in the 1980s and took the dance form of voguing around the world. Willi Ninja founded the House of Ninja in 1982, acting as a “mother” to a group of adopted gay and transgender “children” in New York City.

Was rupaul in Paris is Burning?

Besides challenges, Rupaul’s Drag Race has also popularized many phrases and terms that many do not know were used by the Black queer community in the 80s and 90s, and were documented in Paris is Burning. Rupaul is not a perfect individual, and while he popularized drag, he does not represent all drag queens.

What does the phrase Paris Is Burning mean?

The movie’s title may come from the name of Paris DuPree’s ball, by which she meant only that the competition would be hot, but the phrase itself has a darker history. “Paris brennt?” (“Is Paris burning?”) Hitler asked , wondering whether the city had fallen.

Did Madonna steal Voguing?

Madonna released her single “Vogue,” on March 27, 1990. Madonna was and has since been accused of cultural appropriation for the track — all the celebrities the singer mentions in the song are white — while also erasing voguing’s original context as a creation of queer people of color.

What did Willi Ninja do for a living?

Ninja’s later career included runway modeling for Jean-Paul Gaultier, performing with dance companies under Karole Armitage, and providing instruction to Paris Hilton on perfecting her walk. He opened a modeling agency, Elements of Ninja, in 2004, and made an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.

Where did the name Willi Ninja come from?

Willi was born to a black mother and was of mixed racial ancestry, claiming to have Irish, Cherokee, and Asian ancestors. It was from fellow voguers in Washington Square Park that Jennie Livingston first heard his name.

Who is Willi Ninja in Paris Is Burning?

William Roscoe Leake (April 12, 1961 – September 2, 2006), better known as Willi Ninja, was an American dancer and choreographer best known for his appearance in the documentary film Paris is Burning.

Who is Benny Ninja from America’s Next Top Model?

Benny has been voguing since the early 1990s and is one of the most recognizable faces in the ball scene. Benny has appeared in America’s Next Top Model as runway coach/instructor