Willi Ninja
American dancer and choreographer (1961–2006) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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William Roscoe Leake (April 12, 1961 – September 2, 2006), better known as Willi Ninja, was an American dancer and choreographer known for his appearance in the documentary film Paris Is Burning.[1]
Willi Ninja | |
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Born | William Roscoe Leake April 12, 1961 New Hyde Park, New York, U.S. |
Died | September 2, 2006 (2006-09-03) (aged 45) New York City, U.S. |
Occupations |
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Ninja specialized in voguing and was a fixture of ball culture at Harlem's drag balls who took inspiration from sources as far-flung as Fred Astaire and the world of haute couture to develop a style of dance and movement. He caught the attention of Paris Is Burning director Jennie Livingston. The film served as a springboard for Ninja. He parlayed his appearance into performances with a number of dance troupes and choreography gigs.[1][2]
In 1989, Ninja starred in the music video for Malcolm McLaren's song "Deep in Vogue", which sampled the then-unfinished movie.[1]
Ninja was a member of the LGBT community who died of AIDS complications in 2006.