Kim Aviance

Last updated

Kim Aviance is a performance and visual drag artist, and nightclub hostess from the voguing and ballroom House of Aviance. [1] [2] [3] [4] She is a classically trained dancer and musician, and one of New York City's nightlife personalities. [5] She is deemed a "New York nightlife queen", and has won numerous awards in the ball culture world. [6] [7] Aviance is a gender-non-conforming, and trans appearing.

Researcher Madison Moore explains Aviance's specialty: “Voguing, a dance form often tied to marginalized brown communities, and the runway, which is of course tied to high end commercialism and the sale of expensive commodities, is a ripe theoretical intersection. On the one hand, the movement on a ballroom floor is creative and is a means to its own end. Reputations are at stake, and it is important to give a good performance on the ball floor. But because the ball world is its own queer subcultural universe, balls have a means to their own end.” [7]

In 2005 she was a featured dancer for Susanne Bartsh and Kenny Kenny's mega club in the Happy Valley venue. [1] In 2006 she was featured at Larry Tee and Josh Wood’s club Bank at the newly renovated venue Element. [2] One of her performances there was with performer Paul Alexander for his dance track “Walk for Me,” an “ode to the ballroom scene” where he sings “I want you to take to the catwalk, darling. You sure look gorgeous! Walk for body, walk for face. Walk it and snatch first place. Walk for me.” [6] Aviance, on a treadmill, proceeded to vamp and vouge all while working the exercise machine like a fashion catwalk as if in a ball contest. [6]

Kim performed at the Cock alongside Ari Gold during LGBTQ Pride week as a benefit for fellow House of Aviance member Kevin Aviance through the Anti-Violence Project; Kevin was assaulted in an anti-gay attack. [3] In 2012 she hosted a weekly event, The Underground Tea Dance Party by Twitch Productions. [8] In 2013 she was a host of Taylor Scott's The Underground Party at The Rosewood Club. [4] In 2014 she performed at Click Friday's at BPM. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Aviance</span> American fashion designer

Kevin Aviance is an American drag queen, club/dance musician, fashion designer and nightclub personality. He is a personality in New York City's gay scene and has performed throughout North America, Europe and Asia. He is a member of the House of Aviance, one of the vogue-ball houses in the U.S. He is known for his trademark phrase, "Work. Fierce. Over. Aviance!" He won the 1998 and 1999 Glammy Awards, the award for nightlife personalities in New York City. He has worked with several artists, including Janet Jackson and Whitney Houston. In December 2016, Billboard Magazine ranked him as the 93rd most successful dance artist of all-time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vogue (dance)</span> Style of modern house dance

Vogue, or voguing, is a highly stylized, modern house dance originating in the late 1980s that evolved out of the Harlem ballroom scene of the 1960s. It gained mainstream exposure when it was featured in Madonna's song and video "Vogue" (1990), and when showcased in the 1990 documentary Paris Is Burning. In its modern form, this dance has become a global phenomenon that continues to evolve both stylistically and demographically.

The Sound Factory was a nightclub first located 532 West 27th Street and then 618 West 46th Street in New York City's Manhattan. The Sound Factory was an integral venue during a peak period of house music in New York. Prominent DJs, artists, and parties appeared at the club. It was in operation from 1989 to 1995. There were other reincarnations of the club until 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Willi Ninja</span> American dancer and choreographer (1961–2006)

William Roscoe Leake, better known as Willi Ninja, was an American dancer and choreographer best known for his appearance in the documentary film Paris Is Burning.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ball culture</span> Black and Latino LGBT subculture in the United States

The Ballroom Scene is an African-American and Latino underground LGBTQ+ subculture that originated in New York City. Beginning in the late 20th century, Black and Latino drag queens began to organize their own pageants in opposition to racism experienced in established drag queen pageant circuits. Though racially integrated for the participants, the judges of these circuits were mostly white people. While the initial establishment of Ballroom mimicked these drag queen pageants, the inclusion of gay men and trans women would transform the Ballroom scene into what it is today: a multitude of categories that all LGBTQ+ people can participate in. Attendees "walk" these categories for trophies and cash prizes. Most participants in Ballroom belong to groups known as "houses," where chosen families of friends form relationships and communities separate from their families of origin, from which they may be estranged.

Founded in 1982, the House of Xtravaganza is one of the most publicly recognized “houses” to emerge from the New York City underground ballroom scene and among the longest continuously active. House of Xtravaganza members and the collective group is recognized for their cultural influence in the areas of dance, music, visual arts, nightlife, fashion, and community activism. House of Xtravaganza members continue to be featured in popular media and travel the world as ambassadors of voguing and the ballroom scene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnny Dynell</span> American record producer, DJ

Johnny Dynell is a New York City DJ, record producer, recording artist, remixer, nightclub promoter, and nightlife impresario.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Purple Crush</span>

Purple Crush is an American dance music act consisting of married couple Isla Cheadle and Jared Selter. They met at The California Institute of the Arts, where they studied dance and music respectively. Purple Crush was formed in Brooklyn, NY, where they also started their record label, Crushed Records. Purple Crush is known both for their choreographed live show as well as their pop songwriting and music production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jose Gutierez Xtravaganza</span> American dancer, choreographer and recording artist from the New York ballroom scene

Jose Gutierez Xtravaganza is a dancer, choreographer, recording artist, New York City nightlife personality and the current father of the House of Xtravaganza. He is one of the most widely recognized personalities to emerge from the NYC ballroom scene of the 1980s. He is best known for his work with Madonna.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paris Dupree</span> American drag performer (1950–2011)

Paris Dupree was an American drag performer and documentary participant featured in Jennie Livingston's 1990 documentary, Paris is Burning, which was named after Dupree's annual ball.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leiomy Maldonado</span> Puerto Rican dancer, instructor, model, activist, and ballroom legend

Leiomy Maldonado, known as the "Wonder Woman of Vogue", is a transgender Afro-Puerto Rican dancer, instructor, model, activist, and ballroom dancer. She is the founder of the House of Amazon and best known for her voguing. Maldonado introduced a new style of voguing which is more athletic and dramatic when she entered into the scene in early 2000s New York.

Erickatoure Aviance is an American nightlife personality, club host, clothing designer, fashionista, drag performer, recording artist, dancer, actor, singer and songwriter. She is a member of the House of Aviance, one of the vogue and ballroom houses in the U.S. founded in 1989 by Mother Juan Aviance. It is from this House that she takes her last name from as customary for all ballroom house members.

The House of Aviance is one of the "legendary" and major vogue-ball houses in the United States, with its base in New York City. It was founded in Washington, D.C., in 1989 by voguer/dancer, record label owner (CEO/A&R), nightclub host, music artist and secretary Mother Juan Aviance—one of the nightlife personalities of New York City. Since its founding, the House has played an integral part in U.S. and world ball culture, especially U.S. nightlife.

Mother Juan Aviance is an American secretary, voguer / dancer, music artist, nightclub host / promoter, record label owner, and CEO / A&R. He is the founder and "Mother" of the House of Aviance, one of the legendary houses that emerged from the U.S. ball culture in the 1980s, a House which is still active today and "currently reigns the club scene in New York City." He is also founder, CEO and A&R of Aviance Records, LLC, a multi-genre record label that promotes new and upcoming artists. He is regarded as a "legend / icon" within the ballroom scene and is "House Mother" to the nightlife personalities and recording artists Kevin Aviance, and Erickatoure Aviance.

Aviance Records is an independent record label company founded in March 2014 by New York City's nightlife personality and vogue dancer Mother Juan Aviance with business partner DJ/Producer David Ohana Aviance.

Jean-Philippe Aviance is a French American house and techno DJ and producer from Washington, D.C. His career took off in 1990 when he started DJing for Mother Juan Aviance's voguing house and weekly Kindergarten Parties at the Vault Nightclub in D.C. These weekly parties were frequented by U.S. nightlife personalities like Kevin Aviance, New York City's Club kids such as Amanda Lepore, James St. James and Kenny Kenny. Jean-Philippe was the House of Aviance's first ever DJ. The House of Aviance is one of the houses within the ball scene known for its vogueing, fashion, music and performances. Jean-Philippe is a member of that House, and it is from that House where he takes his last name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kareem Khubchandani</span> Researcher, performance artist, and organizer

Kareem Khubchandani is a researcher, performance artist, and organizer. Khubchandani’s research, teaching, and performance exists at the intersections between queer nightlife, global politics, ethnography, South Asian diaspora, and drag. Khubchandani performs in drag as LaWhore Vagistan who interweaves storytelling, standup comedy, body art, theater, and digital media.

Deconstructed club, also known as post-club or deconstructed music is an experimental style of electronic dance music characterized by a post-modernist approach and an abrasive or dystopian tone. It stands opposed to the tropes of mainstream club styles, often dispensing with four-on-the-floor beats and stable tempo while mixing eclectic or abrasive sources.

Nita Aviance is a dancer, percussionist, jazz singer, DJ, music producer, actor, and a member of The Carry Nation along with fellow DJ/producer Will Automagic. Nita is also half of two other production teams, BOOKWRMZ and Brooklyn Is Burning, as well as a member of the production team Pyramide.

Dashaun Wesley is an American dancer, actor, choreographer, and ballroom performer, MC, and commentator. He is known for hosting the voguing competition series Legendary and for his appearances on the television series America's Best Dance Crew and Pose. He is often called the "King of Vogue".

References

  1. 1 2 "Catching Up With Past Nightlife Awards Winners: Happy Valley". Paper. 2013-10-17. Archived from the original on 2020-11-08. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  2. 1 2 "Cashing In | The Village Voice". www.villagevoice.com. 21 February 2006. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  3. 1 2 "Shocking, But Not Surprising | The Village Voice". www.villagevoice.com. 13 June 2006. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  4. 1 2 "The Underground Party With Junior Vasquez @ The Rosewood Club :: January 27, 2013". EDGE Media Network. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  5. Yuzna, Jake, ed. (2013). The Fun: The Social Practice of Nightlife In NYC. Museum of Art and Design/Powerhouse.
  6. 1 2 3 Moore, Madison (2018-01-01). Fabulous: The Rise of the Beautiful Eccentric. Yale University Press. pp. 175–6. ISBN   978-0-300-20470-4.
  7. 1 2 Moore, M. (2017). “I’m that bitch”: on queerness and the catwalk. Safundi, 18(2), 147-155.
  8. "The Underground Tea Dance Party :: August 26, 2012". EDGE Media Network. Retrieved 2020-11-01.
  9. "House of Aviance". houseofaviance.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2020-11-01.

Further reading