I didn't know Willi Ninja all that well but our paths crossed on numerous occasions and I had the opportunity to photograph him (the above photo was taken in June 2006 at the club Love just before he was hospitalized) frequently in his natural habitat -- the nightclubs of NYC. Sadly, he died a few days ago on September 2nd, and I wanted to pay tribute to one of the true legends of vogueing who I first saw on Malcolm McClaren's video "Deep in Vogue" a song that I loved dearly. I will miss the snap of Willi's fan and the fierceness of his presence.
Deep in Vogue
This has got to be a special tribute to the houses of New York
Le Beija, Extravaganza, Magnifique, St. Laurent, Omni, Ebony, Dupree.
In my black tights just throwing shade
Doing this dance that some queen made
I remember the first time I saw it,
Told my brother to put me up on it,
It wasn't easy no 1, 2, 3
It takes a long time to learn to be free
But here I am Vogueing pretty
In some club deep in this city
Deep in Vogue, Deep in Vogue
Imagine runway modeling, in freeze frame
At the ball that's what they call Vogueing
Vogueing is a challenge dance
Instead of fighting you take it out on the dance floor
10!, 10!, 10!, 10!, 10!, 10!, are there anymore!
Sometimes on a legendary night
Like the closing of the Garage
When the crowd is calling down the spirits
Listen, and you will hear all the houses that walked there before
Deep in Vogue, Deep in Vogue
The House of Extravaganza the House of Dupree
Who the hell are they?
They're nobody, except when they're in that little ballroom
Malcolm Mclaren - Deep in Vogue
featuring the legendary Willi Ninja
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