Willi Ninja has gone home

Willi Ninja, the father of vogueing , has passed away. I was first introduced to Willi in Paris is Burning and have, over the years, introduced a number of students to Willi, gay balls/houses, and notions of sexuality that they had no idea ever existed.

Rest in Peace, Willi.

via keithboykin.com

Willi Ninja, a legendary figure in the ballroom community and a star of the groundbreaking 1990 film "Paris Is Burning," has passed away. He was 45 years old. "As a friend and someone who loved him very much for all he has given us, I am really sad to write that Willi passed away this morning," Emanuel Xavier wrote on his myspace blog today.

Thanks to Lauren for blogging about her experience with PiB in one of my classes. It truly does my heart good to know that something got through.