Andre Mizrahi | |
|---|---|
| Born | Andre Clark October 29, 1968 |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation(s) | Ballroom dancer, Voguer, Choreographer |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Known for | Founder and overall father of the House of Mizrahi |
Andre Mizrahi (born Andre Clark; October 29, 1968) is an American ballroom dancer and cultural figure, best known as the founder and overall father of the House of Mizrahi. Established in 1992, the house has become a major competitor in the international voguing and ballroom scene. [1]
Mizrahi was born in Brooklyn, New York. He began his career in ballroom as a member of the House of LaBeija, where Pepper LaBeija served as his first ballroom mother. [2] He later joined the House of Revlon and, by his own account, won roughly 75 trophies in competition. [2] In 1992 he founded the House of Mizrahi, named in homage to fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi. [1] In its early years he recruited and mentored new talent, including future ballroom leader Jack Mizrahi (who later took the name Jack Gucci). Jack has recalled meeting Andre at a New York City club in early 1992 and being invited to the Legends Ball at Tracks, where Mizrahi debuted his new house; the two soon collaborated on the New York Awards Ball and ballroom's Hall of Fame. [3] [4]
He has been active in ballroom since the 1980s, competing across multiple categories as an “all-around Butch Queen” and later mentoring and supporting LGBTQ youth. [5] In 2012, he was formally honored by Georgia State Representative Keisha Waites for his community service. [1]
A choreographer as well as a performer, Mizrahi gained wider public attention in 1999 when he won the Apollo Theater's Amateur Night with a voguing routine, a rare instance of ballroom culture on a mainstream stage at the time. [6]
In 2006, he appeared in the documentary How Do I Look , which follows the post- Paris Is Burning generation of ballroom figures. Program notes from the Maysles Documentary Center list him among the film's “historic figures” and highlight an on-screen New Way vogue battle with José Xtravaganza. [7]
Under Mizrahi's leadership, the house expanded internationally; in 2015, Vice covered an ancient Greek–themed House of Mizrahi ball in Paris, describing the house as “Iconic” and nearly two decades old. [8]
Mizrahi has been referred to as “the king of ballroom culture,” citing his impact over more than two decades. [9] A community-curated Google Arts & Culture timeline credits him with founding a house that “has birthed hundreds of legends and dozens of ICONS,” adding that “Ballroom will always be synonymous with Andre.” [5]
In addition to his legislative recognition in Georgia, the House of Mizrahi's influence has extended into television: alumni and leaders have appeared on HBO's Legendary (including judge Leiomy Maldonado, a former member of the house, and commentator/co-executive producer Jack Mizrahi), and the house continues to compete internationally. [10] [4] [8]