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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle

Voguing and the House Ballroom Scene of New York City 1989-92

Voguing gallery: Voguing - Willi Ninja posing
Willi Ninja in his studio, 1989. Willi, considered a pioneering godfather of voguing became one of the scene's biggest mainstream successes, featuring in Malcolm McLaren's vogue-inspired hit Deep in Vogue and going on to coach many supermodels in the art of runway walking. Without him it's unlikely Madonna would have touched upon Vogue in 1990. The House of Ninja was founded with the aim of mixing Asian influences with voguing. Willi died in 2006
Photograph: Chantal Regnault/Courtesy of Soul Jazz Books
Voguing gallery: Voguing - The House of Saint Laurent
Members of The House of Saint Laurent (clockwise): Temperance, Terence, Octavia and Robbie, Harlem 1989. Many houses took inspiration for their names from fashion labels
Photograph: Chantal Regnault/Courtesy of Soul Jazz Books
Voguing gallery: Voguing - judges all give a score of 10
Generous scoring by the judges at the Tanqueray Ball Aids Benefit, 1990. Those who walk the balls are judged on their outfits, poise, dances and attitude
Photograph: Chantal Regnault/Courtesy of Soul Jazz Books
Voguing gallery: Voguing ankh hair plait
A showstopping ankh hairstyle being modelled at an Aids benefit in 1990
Photograph: Chantal Regnault/Courtesy of Soul Jazz Books
Voguing gallery: Voguing battle in brightly coloured shirt
A voguing ball in action at the Xtravaganza War Ball, 1990. This particular move, the 'duck walk', is still alive and well in modern balls
Photograph: Chantal Regnault/Courtesy of Soul Jazz Books
Voguing gallery: Voguing boys strike a pose in New Jersey 1989
Young men striking a pose at a New Jersey ball in 1989
Photograph: Chantal Regnault/Courtesy of Soul Jazz Books
Voguing gallery: Voguing femme queen realness in fur hat
Judges score the 'femme queen realness' category. Participants walking this category are judged on how convincingly they blend in with females. Tina Montana shows the judges how it's done at the Avis Pendavis ball in 1990
Photograph: Chantal Regnault/Courtesy of Soul Jazz Books
Voguing gallery: Voguing man in fur coat
House of Dupree ball, 1989. Balls are divided into various categories and subcategories. Here a man in fur walks the 'Butch Queen realness' category, where participants are judged on how convincingly they assimilate with heterosexual men
Photograph: Chantal Regnault/Courtesy of Soul Jazz Books
Voguing gallery: Voguing metal spider web hat
A couture inspired headpiece at the Carmen Xtravangza Ball in 1990
Photograph: Chantal Regnault/Courtesy of Soul Jazz Books
Voguing gallery: Voguing participants in black and gold
Participants at The House of Milan Ball, NYC Community Center, 1990
Photograph: Chantal Regnault/Courtesy of Soul Jazz Books
PR: Voguing book front cover
Voguing: Voguing and the House Ballroom Scene of New York City 1989-92, is out now from Soul Jazz Records There will also be an accompanying CD out in January 2012
Photograph: Chantal Regnault/Courtesy of Soul Jazz Books
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