Willi Ninja strikes a pose

 500 Weeks #35

Willi Ninja in Toronto, 1991

Willi Ninja was a dancer, choreographer, the mother of the House of Ninja and the godfather of the form of dancing known as voguing.

 

He became widely known with his appearance in “Paris Is Burning” a documentary film that chronicles the ball culture of New York City in the late 1980s, and features the stories of many of the African-American, Latino, gay and transgender community members involved in it.

 

It is a fantastic film, eye opening, funny and tragic. It takes the viewer to a world they would most likely never be a part of, and let’s the participants have their say. It does not have an all-knowing voice-over telling the viewers what to think. Viewers can watch and listen and draw their own conclusions. 

 

Willi Ninja and Bentley Ball stoke a pose.

I saw the film at the Toronto International Film Festival with media credentials from Share, a newspaper for the Black and Caribbean community. I am a member of neither group, but I did work at the newspaper. I was also the only film fan in the building and would take a week of vacation to attend TIFF. The editor decided, if I was going to be attending anyways, then I might as well be their representative at the Festival. My assignment was to seek out films that might interest their community, watch them, interview the filmmakers, and report on them.

 

Mr. Ninja was in attendance at the screening, which is where I first photographed him.  I was also sent to catch up with him a party being thrown AYA Men, where he was to be the guest of honour. I asked Courtnay McFarlane – who was involved with the party – for the backstory on how the party came about:

 

“Willi was here for the TIFF premier of “Paris is Burning” at the Bloor Cinema. AYA might have been a community sponsor.

Douglas Stewart who was a member of AYA was contacted by the TIFF publicist to connect with Willi as he didn't know anyone in town and was here for a couple of days. Douglas wasn't available so he asked me. I said yes, and spent much of the day hanging out with Willi as he prepared for the premier.

Doug Stewart, who hosted the party, Willi Ninja, the guest of honour, and Glace Lawrence, filmmaker.

AYA had often organized meet and greets for Black Queer performers or filmmakers attending the festival to connect them to the local Black queer community. I think this was one such occasion.

 

Willi was glamorous and fabulous as one can see in his pics, but he was also very down to earth and friendly.

 

He enjoyed his time in Toronto and appreciated the getting some local flavour.”

 

I guess I was there for the same reason: To get some local flavour, on film.

Jane Gilbert - as played by playwright / actor / drag performer Sky Gilbert - enjoys a moment with Willi Ninja.

Mr. Ninja passed away of AIDS-related heart failure on September 2, 2006 at the age of 45 .

 

R.I.P. Mr. Ninja

 

Read more on Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willi_Ninja

 

Technical stuff: Nikon FE camera with a Nikon Series E 28mm f/2.8 lens and a Vivitar 285HV flash. Shot on Kodak T-MAX 400 B&W negative film processed in T-MAX developer.