Wise & Young

Friday, June 29, 2007

Ballroom Interview: Winston Prodigy




The first time I saw Winston Prodigy, it was at a barbershop across the street from Howard University on Georgia Ave, the Saturday before the Evisu Ball. I was there getting ready to go to my first ball, and of course going to any gay event one must have the cleanest cut, and freshest line up. Winston didn’t really stand out to me, the only reason I remembered him was that he was in front of me for the barber I was waiting on. Then while standing in line to get into the Evisu Ball, as my female cousin Bookie, was over there trying to flirt with whom we would find out was Icon Dray Ebony, I saw the same guy from the barbershop. Thinking to myself what a coincidence, then after the ball was underway I remember his performance for the All-American Runway category, he possessed a poise and a stature that seemed oddly out of place for one who appeared so young.


To describe Winston Prodigy is to describe a generation of young African-American gay and bisexual men, he accepts his sexuality but his acceptance does not compromise his masculinity, not out of fear of appearing effeminate but so that he may accept all parts of who he is. One only needs to look at his choice of category. All-American Runway, is one of few performance categories in the ballroom scene that celebrates masculinity. Winston’s ballroom career started in 2004 after being introduced to the scene via a friend who would, watch DVD’s and attend balls. From there Winston became Winston Balenciaga, who was urged to walk Schoolboy Realness. “Being new you don’t know everything…Gray Aga, talked to me about the All American Runway category… Kai Aga, was the first person for him to see walk the category, from there I fell in love with the category, and everything else is history.” History is right, in his short tenure Winston has made a name for himself as becoming a formidable competitor for heavyweights in the category, like newly dubbed Legend Derrick Allure. When speaking about Derrick, Winston answers “honestly I look towards Derrick for inspiration, when thinking about an effect I think what would Derrick do to make it creative and stand out.” But at the same time Winston uses his own aesthetic when making an effect “how can I make this stand out, how can I make it be different, how can I make it be me, how can I make it be Winston.” Most notably would be Winston’s 2006 Latex Ball, “[for the] first time I put my own effect together without anyone's help. People were shocked, and proud of me…. that in turn made me proud of myself. I got a lot of attention.”




“All American Runway is three categories in one. Realness you have to masculine, two is Best Dressed. You have to best dressed be nice and clean cut, and last of course runway, which must be crisp have a masculine stride.”
After attending a few balls there was a noticeable trend that, when All-American Runway and European Runway battle for the grand prize, often times it seems that not only the judges but the crowd were far more interested in European Runway. A noticeable exception is when Derrick Allure battled for Grand Prize at the Inauguration Ball, but his win could also be attributed to the fact that in the final battle, he went from All-American to European back to All-American. I posed this question to Winston asking him does All-American Runway gets shaded, “I don't think it gets shaded, but more looked over, if its an American vs. a European, just pumping with a feminine walk, I think the judges forget what is American really is, the European runway is more exciting.” When asked what was the draw for him to do All-American Runway Winston responds with “I like the masculinity of the category, I enjoy watching European, and like the creativity of all American, I admire to keep some masculinity into the ballroom.” The ballroom scene is one of the few avenues that celebrate both the masculine and the feminine aesthetic inherent in every person. But one only needs to look at the ball’s category list, most categories have a feminine ethos. Part of this may be attributed to in the gay community, and the larger Western Culture’s pre-occupation with celebrating the masculine ideal, and the ballroom is reacting against that providing men with a “cunty” outlet to express and celebrate the inherent feminine nature that resides in everyone to varying degrees.

Going to balls, turning your category, and achieving goals outside of the ballroom seems that it would be a hard balancing act, one that many people would find themselves having to make pivotal decisions as to where to devote their attention to fully. Do they devote it to a scene or the real world, and which one in the end will have the greatest reward for the amount of effort put in. Winston admits that its very hard, at times and they at times conflict, "the best way is I try to create ballroom time, and real life time, real life come first always.” To further re-iterate this point, when asked what are his plans for himself in the next five years “Ballroom I want to be one top runners for American Runway, possibly a statement on the road to legendary status. [Having] acquired BS from College Park at least in my field, working in HR, being successful making my family proud.” When, not if, Winston achieves these goals not only will he be breaking various stereotypes of young African-American men, and those of ballroom participants, as well. Too often the stereotypes of both are the same, pre-occupation with consumer goods, too focused on short term gratification and not the long term. Turning it in the ballroom scene is one thing, but turning it in life is another matter entirely, and Winston is set to do both.



Word Association


Derrick Allure................My Hero for American Runway

Preparation...................Time consuming

Passion..........................Love

Excellence.....................Prodigy

True Icon.......................Eric Christian Bizarre

Knot...............................someone DESPERATELY Wanting to fit in

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Sunday, June 24, 2007

Is it Shade?

Is it shade:

Like I have stated earlier in postings DC is what I like to call, Dirty City. Not for the people being dirty, but their actions. For young gay black men the rate of HIV infection is greater in DC than it is in various parts of sub-Saharan Africa. But another way the Dirty City nickname applies is how the nation’s capital politics, instead of doing the bidding of the people. The DC government does the bidding of some of the newer residents in DC. DC for the past decade has been undergoing a gentrification renaissance of sorts, whereby more yuppies move into the district for its cosmopolitan feel, great public transportation, and for many the housing market is cheaper than in the DC metropolitan area. But yuppies seem to forget that they live in an urban city with many of the issues and amusements of an urban area. It’s ironic that many of the reasons that yuppies move to DC or any urban city are the very things that they try to get rid of once they become residents. Perfect example is DC’s lack of gay night life, in the past DC was known for its gay nightclubs, bars, and adult amusements. But when the yuppies started clamoring for a fucking baseball team, yes a damn baseball team, seemingly oblivious to the fact that DC a football, basketball, soccer, hockey, and women’s basketball league. In order to accommodate the yuppies, DC politicos basically bullied many of the gay venues, located in SW to make room for a baseball stadium, and a parking lot.




Recently one of the more infamous venues that was shut down to make way for the yuppie interest, the Glorious Health and Amusement Club (read adult bookstore), re-opened in May of 2007 in NE under the name 2120. But as of Tuesday the 28th of June, club 2120 is being shut down. Why, you guessed it yuppie interests. Well, at first that’s what I thought, but to be more specific its not just yuppies in general, most are too squeamish to really deal with gay sex and adult venues. It has more so to do with gay yuppies, the DuPont, Logan Circle type. Now you’re probably saying to yourself it would seem that gay yuppies would be for a gay adult themed anything. Well easy, see the Glorious Health Club, aka the follies, was predominately a spot where the black gays would go. Yes there would be a few non blacks in the crowd but it was pretty much unspoken that black gays and those who had a fetish for them would go to follies, while white gays and their admirers would go to Crew Club, and Men’s Parties. It would stand to reason that club 2120 would attract the same crowd. Now, some are probably thinking that I’m some gay black militant out to think that white gays in DC are hell bent on riding the city of black gays.


Think about this, DC is very much a southern city; many whites and black regardless of orientation do not intermix outside of work and work related activities. Also, I have frequented white gay clubs in various cities, and I have never gotten the distinct impression that I am out of place and my presence is not welcomed as when I have been to the white gay clubs in DC. My friends who have been to the Crew Club have even felt the twinge of racism there as well. Couple this with the fact that many of the arguments that are now being used to shut down club 2120, i.e. it possess a health risk, the owner misrepresented what type of establishment it is, and pretty much the good old “not in my backyard” arguments, are all arguments that would be even more applicable to the Crew Club and to Men’s Parties. While the Crew Club has a tasteful website, ads in the local gay newspapers, and bills itself as a gym, it is located within three blocks of the Whitman Walker Clinic and Headquarters, an organization helping those living with HIV/AIDS. It also is in the heart of one of the most sought after communities in DC, Logan Circle, a short walk to Downtown, and DuPont Circle as well.


Ironically Men’s Parties is located even closer to Whiteman Walker and it’s in the same highly prized neighborhood. So why are these places that peddle smut, and sex, not undergoing the same scrutiny or push to get them out of such neighborhoods, easy their clientele is white.


White gays are quickly becoming the new minorities in power in DC, many of the neighborhoods in DC such as U Street Cardoza, Capitol Hill, Deanwood, Trinidad, and of course DuPont have benefited from the white gay yuppie influx. Accordingly, DC responds and keeps venues that cater to them open regardless of the type of venue.


DC used to be called Chocolate City, and coincidentally also known as the Black Gay Mecca. Now things are changing, with the high tide of gentrification, its now threatening to push out gay blacks from the city and the region by its decrease in affordable housing opportunities, lack of recreational activities that cater to the Black gay culture, and the lack of inclusion into the larger gay dialogue as well. Hopefully I’m being overly dramatic and completely off the mark here, but the closing of club 2120 is merely a sign of the times, next thing you know they will be trying to close the Delta Elite as well.

Just my thoughts

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Friday, June 22, 2007

Ballroom Interview: Jacen Prodigy

Hated by many, Wanted by plenty, Despised by some, but Confronted by none.

Jacen Prodigy, few other names in the ballroom scene seem to cause such a furor after every win. There are those who argue that he lacks all of the elements of face. While some claim that he is just as if not more viable than any BQ walking face. One thing everyone agrees on, is that no one sells it like Jacen. Understanding that any and every word written about him would be highly scrutinized, it is with this knowledge that I meekly asked for an interview with Jacen. Fully expecting him to say no, but to my surprise that did not happen. A reply came back stating he was busy, but he wanted to do the interview, after he read previous articles that had been written. Fair enough, later on that week I got another reply stating that he would do the interview along with his contact information. Thinking to myself well now there is no turning back, from there I called Mr. Jacen Prodigy.

In the course of the conversation what I found out about him was something unexpected, a man who is incredibly passionate about the Ballroom scene, his category, and candidly honesty about himself. While walking through the Galleria mall in Philly in 1999, Jacen was approached by Alverian Prestige to start modeling for Prestige Entertainment. From there Jacen found himself walking the Grand March for the 1999 Prestige Ball, at the time walking for Pretty boy Realness. It was not until the Crystal Ball in 2000, that he walked Face, and from there started the makings of an unstoppable Face force.

“[I’m] always the center of controversy, at the beginning I didn’t get it, but now I do.” Being self aware and able to capitalize on controversy are traits that Jacen has mastered. Look at what he calls runway shade “there are times that I will read all the face kids… if I read I have to see you.” Which is true; if someone is not your equal or competition why waste the time and effort? In a way reading someone, gives them life for you care enough about them to mention their name. Runway shade has become part in parcel with the Jacen Prodigy product, his rationale is, “you have to entertain the judges, make them get into you.”


Entertaining the Judges and the creation of the Jacen Prodigy persona has fared him well, garnering Icon Ball (NYC) in 2007, Milan Ball (ATL) " Wipe Out" 2007, Grand Prize Team Face with Mother Stasha Mugler at the New York Awards Ball 2007, Dorian Corey Awards Ball 2006 BQ Face of the Year, Dorian Corey Awards Ball 2006 Philadelphia's Finest, Midwest Awards Ball Statement of the Year 2006, Dorian Corey Statement of the Year 2006, Statement Award Of The Year New York City Awards Ball 2007, and Philadelphia's Finest Of the Year 2007, along with a host of accolades, and grand prizes from 2005-1999. Delving a little deeper into the face category I wanted to get into who are is his current favorite, thoughts on paint, hormones, how he prepares, and the color complex as it related to his category. When asked who his favorite face kid of the moment, Jacen pointedly says “Josh Milan...because to me, he has so much energy, his attitude, and his presence. When Josh walks he causes pandemonium.”

One of the constant criticisms of not only Jacen but of all the BQ’s that compete for face is that they are so heavily made up that they diminish the integrity of the category by wearing making or paint as its called. Critics point out that painting gives those users an unfair advantage over those who are “natural” beauties". “You can’t paint a beast into something lovely, paint only enhances what you have," according to Jacen but he does add that “some need to lay low on the bronzer.” One can understand the desire to use paint it provides a certain security that; if your skin is not at its best that day does that mean your face is deniable due to one day? This led to the next question what you do to prepare for the face category. Unlike Voguing, Runway, or Performance categories, face with the exception of face performance is not something you can learn to do. You either have it or you don’t.

“Maintaining yourself, the proper diet, proper water, its more involved [than] just a mask. It's more than the right skin products, you have to know what works for you” was Jacen’s response, but when looking at the face kids, there seems to be something more than just taking care of yourself and preserving your sexy, as Diddy would say. So I pressed further asking for what does Jacen do specifically, he says “I don’t really have regiment, when it comes to preparation microdermabrasion, a lot of relaxation.” This seems plausible because stress is a known reason for people to break out, but does maintaining ones face mean that you cannot go out, drink, or indulge in life’s excess to that end Jacen said “at the end of the day, its not many face legends, a lot of people don’t maintain their look.”

Another criticism of Face category is that it reinforces the stereotypes of Anglo-Saxon beauty, whereby those who have Anglo-Saxon features such as, light skin, lighter eye color, and smaller features are praised. I posed this question to Jacen, because Jacen is one of the few non light skin face kids currently who consistently win, so it would be interesting to hear what he would have to say. According to Jacen, its hard for anyone regardless of complexion to get life in the ballroom scene for face, he pointed out Gisele Xtraganza and Paris Miyake-Mugler, both of which he thinks are beautiful, but do not get their proper accolades within the scene.

With so many Butch Queens vying for face, and most possessing the elements, of structure, nose, teeth, and skin, what sets Jacen apart, how does he keep winning? Yes he sells his face, but there are so many people who sell as well. Jacen says that he has “a universal face, I am blessed that I can pretty much do anything and it looks right,” meaning he can have finger waves, twists, or steel blue contact lenses, and anything else he wants. None of that can take away from his face, but it adds another dimension to it as well displaying his versatility. What keeps Jacen coming involved in the ballroom scene by his own admission is “the competitive drive…don’t realize how many people you touch, you never know who is watching”. Even though Jacen has won countless grand prizes, he is under the impression that he is “not a common favorite when it comes to BQ face”. But he understands that “a panel of people can tell me how attractive I am.” Truth, and all of its variations can never be denied, it can be talked about, minimized, and subjected to obstacles, but in the end truth and what is true will prevail. In this instance true face prevails, to his detractors, research golden ratio of beauty, and apply that to Jacen Prodigy. Jacen takes it all in stride knowing that, “they are going to talk about you regardless of what you do, good bad or indifferent.”

Word Association

Epitome of Face

Erksine Christian, Whitney Mugler, Ira Aphrodite


Dark & Lovely

Frank Excellence, Shancie Ebony, Temptress Chanel, Cheyenne Allure Dave Mugler


Shade

RR Chanel, Cabbage Ebony, Tony Milan


Favorite Category

Fem Queen Face, Fem Queen Performance, Performance Period


Passion

Fashion


Chameleon

Me

Clips of Jacen Prodigy in action


*Note

Constructive Criticism is appreciated, but negativity will not. Please do not post negative, hurtful, or mean spirited items in the comment section.


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Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Ballroom Interview: Dre Aga

Columbus Day, the Evisu ball, I went with my best friend, we were there soaking up all that we could. Balls, being such a new and different world. But after the first three hours the novelty wore off, and the fact that neither one of us really took a decent nap set in. Then I remembered this category called “Realness with Twist”, on the flyer it had part one and part two. When the first part came about all I could see where a gaggle of short boys running up in line, I thought it was schoolboy realness redux. But part two I saw all these boys dressed up in pink, baby blue, yellow, and red. The most effeminate outfits from Forever 21, BeBe, and any other slutty girl store. So while I’m taking this all in, trying to fight the onslaught of fatigue, I see this guy who at first was wearing blue and then I see him again in a pink tutu. Then I see both images together and think to myself, “Shit, I’m seeing double, but why are they in two different outfits?”. Sad to say it wasn’t until the next day that I realized that they were twins. I recently got the opportunity to talk to one of the twins Dre Aga.

Below is the conversation that ensued.

When did you first become aware of the ballroom scene?

Dre: I first became aware of the ballroom scene through my gay father. He took me to my first ball in Philly back in 2003.

How did you get a gay father?

Dre: He actually asked me to be his gay son. He was a close

Why realness with a twist?

Dre: LOL...... actually it grew on me..... I use 2 hate watching vogue fem or realness with a twist.... and after hanging with people who vogued all the time, I started 2 become interested. So I use to play around with it and started to get better and better at it.

Okay what did you hate to watch it at first?

Dre: Because it seemed like everybody was just slamming their backs on the floor, and I didn't understand what they were doing.....

Cool, why realness with a twist as opposed to Vogue Fem?

Dre: I was already walking a realness category and I was doing it just for fun...... Vogue fem is a lot more experienced and precise and I felt like I wasn't that good, for vf [vogue femme].

Do you see yourself transitioning into vf anytime soon?

Dre: No...... I feel like I have a long way to go, I'm still learning new and different things.

What’s your ballroom high? What was your ballroom low?

Dre: Winning otys [Of the Year] every year since I began walking in the ballroom scene is my ballroom high.

What are the otys that you've won?

Dre: The otys I won...... schoolboy oty in Philly and New York and Virginia in 2004; Schoolboy oty in va and twist oty in va for 2005; Schoolboy oty in VA and Baltimore in 2006

My ballroom low...... hmmmmmmm..... the 2 times I was chopped when I began twist[ing]

Did you get chopped for the realness part or the twist part?

Dre: I got chopped for the twist part

Why the House of Balenciaga?

Dre: I chose Aga because I was attracted to how much of a family they was, before I was even part of the ballroom scene, they always treated me like I was part of the family. They made me feel welcomed even tho I wasn't a part of them.

Do you feel that, it still holds true?

Yes I think it stills hold true to this day.... we are all pretty close and have our ups and down like a real family.

Do you ever get frustrated when being referred to as the “twisting twin” or one of the two Aga twins?

Dre: LOL..... no, I'm use to it by now, I had to deal with being called twins for my whole life. Yeah.... it did use to bother me a lot..... because we did use to be compared all the time.... and that can b frustrating...... But now, a lot of people do know us apart from each other...... and its not as bad as it use to be......

For those outside of the scene how would you describe the scene?

Dre: I would say its our way to come together and enjoy ourselves in a recreational way. Its a way to express our own individuality and to show a creative side that we may or may not can show in real life....

Speaking of real life, outside of the ballroom scene, what are you trying to do?

Dre: I'm trying 2 be a successful person in life. To buy a home within a couple of years and 2 live comfortably..... Trying to travel to different places outside of the US, and to just enjoy life to the fullest.

Word Association Game

Ricky Allure

One of my favorite vogue fems, a great character to be around...

Balenciaga

My family.......

Passion

Is something you have to have to continue through out this scene for many years

Ambition

To always try 2 best that I can no matter what.....In whateva I do

Shade

When a person win over someone unwillingly or an attitude a person give, a "can't take" type of an attitude.....

DC scene

A developing scene with a lot of talent..... that is growing more and more..... may be the one of the next hottest areas for a ball......

Dre Aga in Action




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Monday, June 18, 2007

Happy Father's Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!





Okay so I'm lonely, so I decided I wanted a dog. Then the real world set in, I do not have the time to devote to having a dog right now. So I decided on a kitten. Below is my kitten, from the animal shelter I picked up. I don't have a name for him yet, any suggestions?

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Too tired to comment on the POCC Ball here are photos


Notice the daylight....

Colorful Boots

The kids outside waiting around 1 pm to get into the ball

I was trying to take a photo of the street, and this guy, who I later found out was Sammy Ebony looked dead into the camera. LOL


Don't know her name but she was cute






Mother Luna Khan




Caliente Mizrahi was in the building

Selvin Mizrahi came out, notice the ripped jeans

Selvin showing off the back of the ripped jeans, question I saw alot of 80's stuff in NY, is that coming back?

An unclear photo of Jacques Mizrahi

The start of a curiously short Stars, Statement, and Legends


I have no idea what's going on here...

Falling into a dip

Deshaun Evisu on the mike, again 80's fashion

DaShaun chanting....

Mother Giselle Xtrava ascending the walkway

Mother Giselle, giving the crowd what they want

Father Javier Xtrava showing how one earns status

Jlin Evisu, being called out

Showing off the bag and the baubbles

Tygur Khan flexing for crowd

Can't remember his name, he's a Ninja who was on ANTM from LA

Danielle Ninja on the stage

Danielle falling into a soft dip


Danielle looking like she's in a trance

I forgot his first name, someone please help me, he's a prodigy

Realness with a Twist Prodigy


Kim Whitfield duckwalking I tried to get a photo of her when she dipped, on beat

Another Realness with a Twist production


Another realness with a Twist Production

Sorry after that, I had to go back home to Bmore, a brother does have to work

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Thursday, June 14, 2007

Garden




STEP ONE:
When I first bought my house, I was excited because for the first time in pretty much 4 or more years, I would be able to garden, which is one my hobbies. I knew the backyard had never, ever been really taken care of, so I put down plastic sheets to help kill the weeds. I hadn't planned on encountering these BeBe Kid weeds, that didn't die but multiplied. As you can them poking out of the plastic.

STEP TWO:
I then cleared all the weeds, leveled the ground, bought bags of top soil, soil conditioner, ground fertilizer, and mulch. After infusing all these products I had finally a nice start. You can still see some weeds, grass and etc there.

STEP THREE:
That same night, you can tell by the darkness, with the help of two neighborhood kids who wanted to help, I planted 4 different types of tomatoes, two strawberry plants, and on the other side thyme, basil, rosemary and mint.
STEP FOUR:
After watering, getting the plants Miracle Grow you can see the sage, thyme, rosemary, cilantro, and other plants growing.
STEP FOUR CONTINUED:
On the other side of the walkway, you see cayenne plants, trini pepper plants, bell pepper plants, tomatoes, strawberries.
STEP FIVE:
My first harvest three ripe strawberries I grew.

As my garden grows except to see more photos....

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