Biography

Willi is a self-taught dancer and has been involved in the ball scene since the early 1980s. He is the founder of the Legendary House of Ninja and until his death was the "Mother" of the House. Willi has been instrumental in bringing vogue to the masses and was the inspiration of Madonna's 1990 "vogue" video. He has worked with Malcolm McLaren, Jean-Paul Gaultier and several prominent people in the music and fashion industry.

In 1990, Willi appeared on Jennie Livingston's Paris Is Burning (1990) documentary along with other prominent people involved in the ball culture. He also starred in Wolfgang Busch's documentary: How Do I Look (2006) featuring the late 'Pepper LaBeija (1948-2003)'.

Willi died on 2 September 2006 of AIDS related heart failure. He died in New York City, age 45. The Willi Ninja style of voguing is the most imitated vogue style by the younger generation of voguers throughout the world.
- IMDb mini biography by: Janette Williams

Considered the 'godfather' of the dance art form called "voguing".

Also was a choreographer who trained models how to walk on the catwalk and celebrities how to pose for the paparazzi.

Godfather of the dance art form, Voguing, and was the inspiration for Madonna's Vogue music video.

Featured in the documentary Paris Is Burning (1990) which chronicled the Harlem drag ball competitions.

A steady presence at gay Harlem ballrooms in New York from the 1980s.