Google Doodle celebrates Willi Ninja, dancer and 'godfather of voguing'
Google is celebrating the iconic American dancer Willi Ninja with a special doodle video today. The video features performers and current members of The Iconic House of Ninja (a community he created) celebrating Ninja through dance. An acclaimed performer and the "godfather of voguing," Ninja is also popular for paving a path for the Black LGBTQ+ representation in the 1980s and 1990s.
Google doodle comes at a significant time
Since June is Pride Month, a time to honor and promote the LGBTQ+ community, the Google Doodle on Ninja is particularly noteworthy. The doodle commemorates the documentary Paris is Burning, which featured Ninja and The Iconic House of Ninja. The documentary was released in the US on this day 33 years ago at the NewFest New York LGBT Film Festival.
Becoming the 'godfather of voguing'
Ninja, who was born on April 12, 1961, and grew up in Flushing, Queens, developed his voguing technique in his twenties after learning to dance on his own. His interest in dance was also supported by his mother who took him to ballet performances. His "voguing," a dance form that combines stylish poses with complicated, mime-like, and martial arts-inspired moves, made him famous.
Attaining stardom
Ninja introduced new dancing methods that redefined voguing norms - drawing inspiration from martial arts and Egyptian hieroglyphs. After being propelled to fame in the 1990s, he went on to appear in movies, music videos, and high-end runway events all around the world. His moves served as an inspiration for stars like Madonna and Jean-Paul Gaultier.
Helped eradicate the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS
In 1982 Ninja co-founded the House of Ninja to support those who faced rejection from their biological families. He was a strong voice for his community when he wasn't dancing. Ninja played a key role in eradicating the stigma associated with the illness and was one of the first to promote HIV/AIDS prevention during drag balls.
