Radical choreographer. HIV/AIDS activist. House Mother. Willi Ninja protected the youth that society discarded. Reclaim his name this Black History Month.
#WilliNinja #HouseOfNinja #BallroomHistory #BHM2026
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Hashtag
#willininja
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For Black History Month we are featuring Willi Ninja who as a self taught dancer who was influenced by Michael Jackson, Fred Astaire, Asian culture, as well as other voguers of New York. He founded the House of Ninja which still honors his legacy to this day.
#willininja #BlackHistoryMonth #lgbtqia
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🪷 #WilliNinja died 2 September 2006. He is a beloved saint of #Antinous who inspires millions. Last words: "If I gonna die, I want to look as fabulous as possible." Full tribute here: antinousstars.blogspot.com/2025/09/sain... 🪷
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Repost from @manon_productions_llc
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Model: @iconthedragon13 & @jdothado
📸 By: @manon_productions_llc
🎼 By: Aaliyah
#hausofninja #willininja #portraitphotography #creativephotography #manonproductionsllc
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Happy 64th birthday in heaven to my friend Willi Ninja. Thank you for helping create the House of Xavier as a kiki house & for paving the way with every fierce step. Your legacy lives on. Miss you always.
#WilliNinja #HouseOfXavier #BallroomLegend #IconForever
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Happy Heavenly Birthday Willi Ninja! #myhousenameisninja #willininja #nyc #starninja #johndericmitchell
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Father of the @iconichouseofninja @iconthedragon13 and his son @johndericmitchell pumping through the streets of NYC after our photo session.
Stay tuned for the photos.
📸 By: @manon_productions_llc
#houseofninja #willininja #ballroom #runway #portaitphotography #manonproductionsllc
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picture of Willi Ninja Willi Ninja (1961-2006) Willi Ninja was a dancer, choreographer, and the “Grandfather of Vogue.” Willi was best known for his appearance in the documentary film Paris Is Burning. The award-winning 1990 documentary chronicled the Harlem Drag Ball culture which provided Black and Latino youth a space to express nonconforming gender presentations. Willi Ninja founded the House of Ninja in 1982, acting as a mother to a group of adopted gay and transgender youth in New York City. Willi helped create and shape the dance form of voguing that combined exaggerated model poses and intricate mime-like choreography. After appearing in the documentary Paris is Burning, Willi rose to fame as a choreographer, musician, runway model and modeling coach, as well as serving as a direct inspiration to various artists who immortalized the style in their music videos. Willi Ninja’s life illustrates what it means to be a Black gay male in a world that lauds white male heteronormativity. His legacy continues as the House of Ninja members keep voguing alive and advocate on behalf of their mother to raise HIV/AIDS awareness.
Willi Ninja (1961-2006) Willi Ninja was a dancer, choreographer, and the “Grandfather of Vogue.” Willi was best known for his appearance in the documentary film Paris Is Burning. The award-winning 1990 documentary chronicled the Harlem Drag Ball culture which provided Black and Latino youth a space to express nonconforming gender presentations. Willi Ninja founded the House of Ninja in 1982, acting as a mother to a group of adopted gay and transgender youth in New York City. Willi helped create and shape the dance form of voguing that combined exaggerated model poses and intricate mime-like choreography. After appearing in the documentary Paris is Burning, Willi rose to fame as a choreographer, musician, runway model and modeling coach, as well as serving as a direct inspiration to various artists who immortalized the style in their music videos. Willi Ninja’s life illustrates what it means to be a Black gay male in a world that lauds white male heteronormativity. His legacy continues as the House of Ninja members keep voguing alive and advocate on behalf of their mother to raise HIV/AIDS awareness.
Happy Day 16 of Black History Month
#BlackHistoryMonth
#WilliNinja
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Willi Ninja-was an American dancer and choreographer known for his appearance in the documentary film Paris Is Burning.When I was a bouncer in several NYC gay clubs during the 1990s Willi would always show-up with his posse and I would always let them in for free.Miss You,Queen❤️
Title: SUPERHEROES-Willi Ninja-June 7, 2016
#verygoodfriend #dancer #WilliNinja #motherofthehouseofninja #legendary #sweetheart #verykind #icon #tracks #theballroomscene #parisisburning #graphiteonpaper #drawing #illustration #portrait #pencildrawing #originalconcept
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🔊 #NowPlaying on #BBC6Music's #SHERELLE
Willi Ninja:
🎵 Hot? Why? Because I'm Hot
#WilliNinja
▶️ 🪄 Automagic 🔊 show 📻 playlist on Spotify
▶️ Song on #Spotify:
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#wordoftheday mother of a house (n.) - the leader cf. children- a member e.g. #WilliNinja: a #legendary mother w/ plenty of children in NYC.
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