- Vogueing is a dance form that was started in Harlem in the 1960's. It began in social club houses frequented by gays and transvestites and began as a parody of Vogue magazine covers. The dancer would strike a pose and the various poses were made into a seamlessly flowing dance. Jody Watley was the first artist to feature vogue dancing in the music videos for "Still a Thrill" and "Friends". However, it was Madonna's song "Vogue", released on March 20, 1990, that made vogueing mainstream world wide. The song reached number one in over 30 countries worldwide. The world knew vogue dancing as "Strike a pose, there's nothing to it."
- Vogueing is classified into two styles. There is old way vogueing, which is most of the vogueing moves that were created in the 1960's through the 1980's and new way vogueing which is anything from the 1990's forward. Old way voguing has a style that is more focused on acrobatics and fluid movements. Old way vogueing has fluid body movement while dancing that tells a story, and the dancing movements lead to a freeze-frame pose. Old way vogueing is sometimes compared to fluid mime movements. New way vogueing focuses on physical flexibility and slight-of-hand illusions. New way vogueing is no longer focused on fluid movements, but rather incorporating surprise movements and effects with the beat and tone of the music. New way vogueing has grown to include martial arts, modern dance and gymnastics movements.
. - A vogue coach is a vogue dancer who teaches or choreographs vogueing or vogue dance routines. There is no formal training for a vogue coach. Many vogue coaches are the best of the best voguers and have won vogueing competitions, still primarily held in gay and transvestite bars and clubs. Many vogue coaches get their start helping teach and choreograph movements for gay and transvestite pageants. Vogue coaches can help individuals prepare for their vogue dance, or help a group or dance troop learn moves and choreograph a routine. Vogue coaches can advance their careers to training and choreographing vogue routines for Hollywood, such as music videos, television shows and movies.
- Willi Ninja was nicknamed as the Grandfather of Vogue. He was one of the first vogue coaches, and through his teaching, he helped moved vogueing from the club scene to the public stage. He became the most prominent figure associated with vogueing.
In the 1980's Willi Ninja opened a New York gay and transvestite club named, House of Ninja. House of Ninja featured vogueing competitions, and soon, Willi Ninja formed his own dance troupe with dancers frequently in his club. He taught these dancers new moves and choreographed routines. He then took the dance troupe to other clubs in the area and showed off their skills.
Willi Ninja starred in an award-winning documentary in 1990 titled "Paris is Burning." This was the first film or documentary that featured vogueing and the drag queen vogue scene. Also in the 1990's Willi Ninja taught vogueing in clubs throughout Europe and Japan. His big break came in the mid 1990's when he began modeling in runway shows. He worked with designers such as Jean Paul Gaultier and Thierry Mugler. He showcased his vogue poses and taught other runway models, such as Naomi Campbell walks and poses. He also worked with Paris Hilton, and taught her her signature red carpet sashay.
In the early 2000's he opened up Elements of Ninja, a modeling agency, but still made vogueing a top priority, dancing on "America's Next Top Model" and "Jimmy Kimmel Live."
Willi Ninja died in September of 2006 from AIDS complications at the age of 45. - Vogue dancing continues to have influences on television shows and music videos. In the summer of 2009, MTV's America's Best Dance Crew had a dance crew called the Vogue Evolution, which was the first openly gay and transgendered group to participate on the show. Their dance moves and style were taken from vogue dancing, and although they did not win, they introduced a new generation to vogue dancing.
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