Vogue Evolution: Creolo (B. Ames Mix)
I found this amasing video on YouTube of Vogue Evolution, a dance troupe that competed in Season 4 of the MTV reality series, "America's Best Dance Crew."
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Jolin Tsai - Voguing YouTube Copycats
The Honey Trap music video has inspired Jolin Tsai's fans to create their own vidéo clip versions on YouTube.
We all saw the YouTube phenomenon that happened when Beyoncé's fans made their own versions of Single Ladies, including this famous internet sensation and the one that went very, very wrong. Now, that same social media trend is happening with Jolin Tsai's new music video.
Jolin Tsai's new hit music video for Honey Trap is creating a world-wide community of fans, who have been moved to learn the voguing choreography used by Ms. Tsai's. Here are other fans, who have reinterpreted Honey Trap in the form of their own vidéo clips.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Jolin Tsai - Honey Trap
The music video "Honey Trap" by Taiwanese pop diva Jolin Tsai : ''Give me your satisfaction.''
Jolin Tsai, a pop singer from Taiwan, has released a new album called, Myself, and a sizzling music video for her equally hot song, ''Honey Trap.''
On MuuMuse, it was reported :
While the song is pure, pumping electronic goodness, the video makes the experience even better. Directed by Korean director Cha Eun Taek (which probably explains why this feels like a K-Pop music video), Tsai goes Vogue-meets-Star Trek on the set of Bad Romance in this very hip, very futuristic dance-infused visual treat. And that dance breakdown at the end? Girlllll.
''According to her Wiki page, Tsai even took lessons with 'vogue teacher' Benny Ninja of America’s Next Top Model to make sure she got those authentic hand moves down. Now that is some realness.''
The influences of the Ball community continue to reach all around the world : to Taiwan and back. It's now been over 20 years since Madonna released her music video for Vogue, and here comes an energetic Taiwanese singer, who is embracing voguing -- and making it fashionable all over again.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
It's a Flow Affair
Are you flowing ?
Flow Affair is an historic art film about the New York City flagging, fanning, and floguing dance communities. The documentary captures the passing down of a 30-year-old Greenwich Village disco dance tradition. Keep coming back for updates. Meanwhile, here is a sneak peek at the documentary :
Monday, May 18, 2009
The Heavens are joined by one more star: Octavia St. Laurent
Wonder Woman
Octavia St. Laurent Manolo Blahnik, who The New York Times called a "scintillating performer," died yesterday, May 17, 2009. Wolfgang Busch has reported that the cause of her death was cancer.
According to her Myspace page, Ms. St. Laurent was born and raised in Brooklyn. "My interests are theatrics, arts of all kinds," she wrote in her profile.
After achieving success in Harlem Ballroom competitions, Ms. St. Laurent found work signing and acting outside the Ballroom community. In the 1993 film, The Saint of Fort Washington, Ms. St. Laurent worked with Matt Dillon and Danny Glover. Much later, Ms. St. Laurent would be featured in the documentary, How Do I Look.
Ms. St. Laurent's Myspace page is dedicated to her work to increase respect for a person's sexual identity. The theme song to the television show, Wonder Woman, plays in a continuous loop, equal parts camp and seriousness: for, Ms. St. Laurent wrote in her profile, she was born a eunuch.
Earlier today, Kevin Omni released an announcement in which he wrote, in part :
I first laid eyes on Octavia as Octavia in 1982. She walked against the icons Margo Princess, Doray Princess, and she battled the likes of icon Tenneille Reid Dupree, Pamela Cartier, and others....
Octavia was a winner, she never gave up.... From 'Paris Is Burning' to The Maury Povich Show to How Do I Look, we will always treasure and remember the lifetime achiever/icon, Octavia.
A viewing has been scheduled for Tuesday, May 26, 2009, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the funeral home of R. Stutzman & Son, 224 - 39 Jamaica Ave Queens Village, NY 11428. Please call R. Stutzman & Son at (718) 465-3210 for more information.
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Sunday, December 14, 2008
Soundtrack and Score: Robert Urban
" Bring it to the runway -- now ! "
Robert Urban, a New York based musician and songwriter, who is also known for producing musical events and concerts, answered some of our questions about Ball culture, his contribution to the music in How Do I Look, and highlighting social issues in the arts.
Q. Thank you for agreeing to this interview. Have you been to any Balls?
A. I only learned of the How Do I Look film after Wolfgang’s documentary was already filmed (though not finished). I have not been to any Harlem balls, but I have attended several How Do I Look work-in-progress performance events that featured live performances by many of the film’s Harlem ball stars.
Q. What do you find inspiring about Ball culture?
A. First off, it’s genuinely entertaining – as all great art is. It is also a fabulous example of making a lot out of little – that is, ingenuity and inspiration. The sheer originality of the costumes, makeup, moves, attitude, etc. is staggering – especially when one considers the impoverished life circumstances that so many of the Ball culture stars come from.
Q. How does the music you write relate with the music that is played at Balls?
A. Generally speaking, it doesn’t. I compose all styles of music. My natural musical instincts are mostly rock and “classical” influenced. The music I contributed to How Do I Look is “film” music – used mainly as a background to scenes extracted out of the “live” ball runway sections of the film – scenes of people being interviewed and/or alone in daily life situations. Here and there I created or found grooves, loops that accompanied movement in the film – but much of the music that accompanied the documented live runway scenes was popular, canned “house” music from other, earlier sources.
Not all the music I provided for Wolfgang’s film was composed by myself. I hunted for and tapped, as “talent scout” to find music by other LGBT artists that I felt would fit the film.
Another aspect of my work on How Do I Look was to edit and arrange the soundtrack music. For example, the film’s theme song How Do I Look – with it’s hook line “Bring it to the runway -- now!” was composed and originally recorded elsewhere – but edited, altered and enhanced (one might say remixed) here at my URBAN PRODUCTIONS recording studio in NYC.
Q. As a producer of musical events, shows, and concerts, what do you think of the production values that go into the musical aspects of Balls? In other words, are you impressed by the work that goes into producing/staging Ball competitions? If so, what impresses you?
A. I know how much work goes into a large live-event production – especially when resources and finances are slim. There is so much cooperation between all concerned in Harlem Ball shows. Frankly, I don’t know how they do it! Even the audience seems to be in on it – Everyone pulls together to create a smash event – it reflects back on all concerned – producers – stars – audience. They all play off each other with great verve and joy.
Q. As you attended the work-in-progress screenings of How Do I Look, what were your thoughts about the evolution of Wolfgang's documentary?
A. Wolfgang really had sooooo much great footage to work with – in a way, all he had to do was to edit it cleverly… to put all the puzzle pieces together correctly. And that he did. I would see various stages of the film, and could see how he was switching scenes around, and tweeking little clips here and there.
The film really evolved when Wolfgang introduced the AIDS-education element into it – AIDS is an important social and health issue for us all – but is especially so within inner city groups, LGBT groups, African-American groups – all which include the Ball culture. The film gained a sense of gravitas. Before that is was more just artsy and fun.
Q. Could you see an "artistic progression" taking place within the artists in the film?
A. Well… how do I put it… the “stars” (or as Wolfgang lovingly refers to them as “the children”) of How Do I Look were true legends of a sort going into the film – and the same coming out. They are who they are. They didn’t so much “progress” or “evolve” as they really just deigned to allow us into their unique world. (there’s a finger snapping in the air right about here…)
In addition to his own 4 CDs (the album "godless" is available on Amazon.com), Robert Urban's work (especially as guitarist) can be heard on the recordings of many other musical artists. Mr. Urban is also an accompanist, session-musician, arranger/sound engineer and private music teacher. He supports the GLBT music community through producing/hosting Urban Productions BOLDLY Presents, the all-GLBT multi-artist live-in-concert music series (now in its 6th year). Mr. Urban is the author of a poetry collection Abominations and founder of Gay Guitarists Worldwide.
For more of our exclusive interview, please visit the Community Art Education blog.
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Saturday, October 11, 2008
Friday, October 3, 2008
Wig Out!
Vineyard Theatre presents WIG OUT!
Wig Out! -- the new play written by Tarell Alvin McCraney and directed by Tina Landau, which is now playing at the Vineyard Theatre -- hasn't just opened. But it has also made an entrance.
Ben Brantley, the theatre critic for The New York Times, wrote a wonderful review of Wig Out!
Ms. Landau "strikes an admirable balance between clarity and chaos, sincerity and spectacle," while her cast members "create distinctive portraits..." wrote Mr. Brantley.
According to the press information for Wig Out!, "This fierce and intoxicating story tells of competing houses of drag queens and the loves, loyalties and dreams within each that draw their members together and apart."
"I can’t think of another recent play that deals as explicitly and compellingly with how erotic permutations define identity, in ways that both limit and liberate," added Mr. Brantley.
Mr. Brantley noted that the cast includes Daniel T. Booth, who appeared on Project Runway.
The Harlem Ballroom community, the subject of Wig Out!, was also the subject of How Do I Look, the independent documentary directed by Wolfgang Busch.
It will be interesting to see for myself what a stage adaptation will offer, in terms of the visual and musical experience. I've already learned that the play will try to make the Ball experience as real as possible. In order to add a runway to the theatre's stage, expect some seating to have been reconfigured, a theatre review by the Associated Press reported.
The play is scheduled to run from September 10 through October 19. For tickets, please visit the online ticket office for Vineyard Theatre.
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Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Universal Hustle and Salsa Party
Celebrating a special 50th Birthday Bash for the ICON Kevin 'Ultra' Omni
For more information, call (212) 807-0802 and ask about the David Padilla Universal Hustle & Salsa Party.
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Saturday, September 6, 2008
House of Pleasure
Musical talents of Willi Ninja
Chop N'Chan presents: House of Pleasure, featuring Willi Ninja and Diana Garcia.
Aside from House of Pleasure, Willi Ninja had other connections to the recording industry. He appeared in several music videos for commercially successful pop artists, such as Queen Latifah and Malcolm McLaren.
Here is a pic from a special tribute video to Willi Ninja, which I have motified using Picasa.
House of Pleasure is the name of a dance track single released by Endorfun.
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Monday, August 11, 2008
Saturday, August 9, 2008
An unforgettable night in Ball History
The Greatest Ball on Earth
The Greatest Ball on Earth was held on Saturday, August 2, 2008 at the Frederick E. Samuel Center, 669 Lenox Avenue in New York City. The Greatest Ball on Earth was organized as a Grand Ball and Benefit.
A total of 40 categories were available for competition. Proceeds from the Ball benefitted the House of Manolo Blahnik Scholarship Fund, Harlem United, and the Greatest Ball on Earth Book Project.
Making their entrance at the Ball, Patricia Field and Andre J., among others.
Legendary Andre Mizrahi was among the Legends, Icons, and new-comers who turned out to compete and support the Greatest Ball on Earth, an event organized by Terence Legend International.
Fashion designer Richie Rich attended the Greatest Ball on Earth to show his support for the Ball community.
Andre J., one of New York's celebrated "it" people, showed up. Pictured below, Andre J. is with a friend. During the Ball, Andre J. sat at a prominent table headed by the designer, Patricia Field.
Lifetime achiever and Ballroom Hall of Famer Kevin Omni was on-hand, and he greeted fashion designer Patricia Field, the latter who is credited by Time magazine with helping to introduce the Ballroom scene into mainstream pop culture. Here, Mr. Omni and Ms. Field appear with filmmaker and community organizer Wolgang Busch.
Also at the Ball was the dancer Jose Xtravaganza, who was "Vogue" choreographer for Madonna. Mr. Xtravaganza was one of the principal dancers in Madonna's music video for "Vogue," and he was also featured in her successful documentary, Madonna - Truth or Dare. Patricia Field is a fashion designer, who recently was the distinguished costume designer for the hit series, Sex in the City.
After half of the categories had been judged, Terence Legend International presented awards to various individuals for their contribution to the Ball community. Here, Wolfgang Busch holds his award; standing next to him is Terence Legend International.
Former Mother of the House of Xtravaganza, Carmen Xtravaganza received a tremendous reception from the audience. Carmen Xtravaganza is a transgendered beauty and one of the most respected mothers of houses in the Ballroom community.
Fashion is important at Balls. Wearing a fishnet body suit and in pumps, Omar attracted a lot of attention, even when just making the rounds.
Later in the competition, Omar, who is a member of the House of Field, would go on to win in the category of BQ Runway up in Pumps.
Winner in the category of FQ Legendary Face with an Iconic Attitude was Carmen Xtravaganza.
To find out about other individuals, who are important in the Ball community, please visit the How Do I Look website.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Moving Fashion Forward: Exclusive Interview with YouTube user J'adore Haute Couture
'Fashion is art.'
There is a user on YouTube; his profile name is J'adore Haute Couture. His first name is Tomáš, and Tomáš is a student in Slovakia. Out of his passion for fashion, Tomáš has posted over 1,400 fashion videos on YouTube. I reached out to Tomáš by e-mail, and he agreed to give this blog an exclusive interview about his interest in fashion design.
LF: What inspires you about fashion and haute couture?
J'adore Haute Couture: Everything. Fashion is art. Haute Couture is even beyond art. Even the fact that Haute Couture clothes are made of superb materials, and they are products of the highest and the finest quality marked by the most excellent work in the world speaks for itself. Sewing machines are prohibited, so every lining is sewn by hand, every stitch is done by hand. And dresses take from 200 to 1000 hours of manual sewing. The price of a couture item ranges from $20,000 to $80,000 -- and is often more -- but it is very impolite to ask how much the item costs, because that shows that one can not afford it.
Chambre Syndicale makes very strict rules to classify Haute Couture houses. Couture houses must produce 50 new and original outfits of day and evening wear every season, they must make 2 collections every year. And they must employ at least twenty full-time workers in one atelier or workshop.
If one is interested in buying an Haute Couture dress, she has to make an appointment that is followed by about 3 fittings. Fittings are very elegant and exclusive affairs. For example at Valentino, expensive perfume is sprayed into the air a few minutes before the client arrives, so she does not have to breathe the same air as the masses. Only about 3000 women in the world can afford Haute Couture clothes, and less than 1,000 women buy them regularly. For example, Chanel sells around 150 outfits and Christian Dior sells about 20 bridal gowns a year. Haute Couture is a designer's dream: creativity is unfettered, unrestrained by any financial considerations. What a talent it is to be able to conceptualize, design, and produce any garment you can imagine.
Another advantage for designers is that Haute Couture is not influenced by trends at all. Haute Couture offers to busy and exhausted extravagantly wealthy women an escape from a gray reality to the world of dream and luxury. And they do not care about prices. Haute Couture represents perfection and beauty, and fashion without Haute Couture is unimaginable. In order to compensate, business savvy designers and fashion houses are selling perfumes and ready-to-wear clothes at mass market prices and netting a huge amount of money for Haute Couture. There is no reason why not to be impressed by Haute Couture.
LF: What is your background? Are you a designer? Do you buy haute couture for yourself?
J'adore Haute Couture: I have recently graduated from high school. Due to my desire of pursuing fashion design, I am planning to apply for University of Fashion Design next year. I have been interested in fashion for several years and it is still fascinating me. I am drawing and sketching a lot, so that one day my dream may come true. Because of the fact that there are not any menswear haute couture collections, I cannot buy Haute Couture for myself. In addition to that, I do not have enough money.
LF: You have over 1,400 videos on YouTube. About how much of them are dedicated to fashion?
J'adore Haute Couture: I believe that all of them are dedicated to fashion. I have a huge amount of fashion shows, and this is just a part of it. If I had had more time, I would have uploaded more shows. I'm not sure whether one day I will upload all of the videos. I want to keep some of them in my private collection. Only time will tell.
LF: After having seen so many fashion shows, do you have a favorite designer? Who do you think does the best job of designing haute couture? Can you give me an example from one of your videos?
J'adore Haute Couture: When I am watching fashion show, I'm looking for diversity and designer's ability to explore and expand his/her skills. The more creative, the better. There are many great fashion designers, but only few of them are moving fashion forward. For me, one of them would be Nicolas Ghesquiere for Balenciaga. If one wants to see some timeless clothes, Balenciaga may be the best choice. So it has. I also admire work of Alber Elbaz for Lanvin and Muccia Prada. It is astounding to see ability of top designers to interpret their view of the woman in various ways. Each season, they design something totally different and new, but one can always tell the outfits are for instance Balenciaga or Prada. Nowadays, there are only few couture designers, and I think all of them are masters of what they are doing. Couturier is the highest possible post in the fashion, and only the chosen by Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture are honored to design masterpieces. Everybody has different style, so preferences depend on customers' tastes. Personally I like Valentino, Chanel and Elie Saab. They are combining flawless constructions and spectacular details. Their clothes are also very wearable -- although this fact is not relevant in designing Haute Couture.
Elie Saab HC FW07 full show
Valentino HC FW06 full show
LF: Are you surprised that even though the videos are about models wearing designer clothes that many of comments that come from your audience are questions about the songs and music used in the fashion shows?
J'adore Haute Couture: A bit, but it is alright. I am also curious about the soundtracks, and viewers provide me with the track lists. It works well.
To watch the many high-quality fashion shows uploaded by Tomáš, please visit his user profile on YouTube at: J'adore Haute Couture. Read the next installment of this exclusive interview:
Part I, Part II
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Friday, June 13, 2008
J'adore Haute Couture: Fashion is Art Available for Anyone
'Haute Couture is even beyond art.'
Tomáš, who owns the very popular profile, J'adore Haute Couture, on YouTube, talks about the importance of music in fashion shows and about his favourite models.
LF: What do you think makes the best music for fashion shows? Can you give me an example from one of your videos?
J'adore Haute Couture: In my opinion, music must fit the theme of the collection. It had better be neither too fast nor too slow. It should be presented in a modern way even though the used songs may be older. Moreover, individual songs should not be tacky.
Gucci FW06 full show
Versace FW 2003
Lanvin FW08
LF: What is the feedback you get from your audience to your videos? What do you hope the viewers of your videos will get out of watching the fashion shows?
J'adore Haute Couture: It varies. Many people are grateful, which is very satisfying for me. I started posting videos because I felt so thankful to people who were uploading full shows on YouTube a year ago. So, I wanted to make my own contribution. I strive for bringing as good videos as possible. Many people are not considerate about art in today's society. For me, fashion is art available for anyone. Not everybody can visit famous museums with paintings of Renoir, Picasso, or Basquiat or attend operas, ballets or classical concerts. On the other hand, one can enter the world of art and dreaming while watching fashion shows. That is the reason why I upload all these files.
LF: Do you think that fashion design students can learn something from watching these videos?
J'adore Haute Couture: They may avoid being stuck in just one style. Designers are always making something new every season. They are very flexible and creative. These two things are crucial to make it into the industry. People are not interested in something they have already seen before. In fashion, there are no rules. Fashion design students, on the other hand, have to be careful not to start to copy designers' outfits or accessories from the videos. They have to find their own signature or they become pseudo-designers who don't know what to design next season.
LF: Do you think that new fashion models can learn to walk with poise and confidence from your videos?
J'adore Haute Couture: They might. Although walk is not one of the most important things in the fashion industry, it can be an advantage of a model.
LF: What have you learned from having watched so many fashion shows?
J'adore Haute Couture: Many things. I am not going to mention them all, just couple of them. I realised what fashion is all about. Art and customers. One has to learn the entity of art and to become creative but he/she also has to satisfy customers and find a good balance between these two opposite things.
LF: Do you have a favorite female model? Can you give me an example from one of your videos?
J'adore Haute Couture: Too many. To name a few: from the middle generation* of supermodels I like Daria Werbowy and Hana Soukupova. There are many fresh faces but I like Ali Michael and Heidi Mount. I like models with great personalities who are very down-to-earth.
Other models that I like:
* old generation: Amber Valletta, Caroline Murphy, Nadja Auermann, Stella Tennant, Linda Evangelista...
* middle generation: Gemma Ward, Gisele Bundchen, Karolina Kurkova, Liya Kebede, Karen Elson...
* new generation: Hilary Rhoda, Doutzen Kroes, Caroline Trentini, Catherine McNeil, Lara Stone...
First Face Talks FW07 – Daria Werbowy
Models Talk SS08 – Ali Michael
Models Talk SS08 – Heidi Mount
LF: Thank you, Tomáš, for taking the time to answer my questions. Good luck with your studies, and I wish you all the best in fashion design. We hope to see you present your own line of Haute Couture. With all of the inspiration that you have had (and offer to everyone) from your videos, we are sure it will be very soon.
To watch the many high-quality fashion shows uploaded by Tomáš, please visit his user profile on YouTube at: J'adore Haute Couture. Read the previous installment of this exclusive interview:
Part I, Part II
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Sunday, May 18, 2008
Haute Couture on YouTube
YouTube user builds impressive collection of Fashion Show videos
If you want to know what the world's fashion designers are up to, check out the videos being posted on YouTube by J'adore Haute Couture.
With over 1,100 videos uploaded onto his YouTube account, the YouTube account user, identified as Tomas, is presenting what could arguably be one of the most exhaustive collections of fashion show footage available over the Internet.
Here is a recent upload of Versace's Fall Winter collection as presented at Fashion Week in February 2008 in Milan.
Not only can you check out the fashions that designers are creating for their shows, but you can also listen to the songs and music they select for the runway.
UPDATE: Read our exclusive, two-part interview with the user who has posted over 1,100 videos on YouTube; his profile name is J'adore Haute Couture.
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Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Willi Ninja: YouTube Video Tribute
The Legacy Continues...
A video tribute to Willi Ninja, the extraordinarily talented dancer and trend-setter, was posted on YouTube last week. Produced in collaboration with the House of Ninja, the video features music by DJ Chip Chop and video by Wolfgang Busch and Eileen Ninja.
From what I've learned about Willi from people who knew and worked with him is that Willi was highly respected and admired for his talent. And as I keep adding on to this blog, I continue to see examples of his influences in dancing. I hope you enjoy this video tribute, because it pays hommage to a very gifted man.
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Sunday, March 30, 2008
Fashion and Innovative Dance: Runway for the Ballet
Dancing off the Runway
The law firm of Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft LLP sponsored the second annual Runway for the Ballet program, a fashion show benefitting the North Carolina Dance Theatre. An edited video presentation of the benefit was posted on YouTube.
During sections of the video, the "innovation part" of art direction, music editing, and choreography came together by exhibiting excerpts of the North Carolina Dance Theatre's popular works inbetween segments of the fashion show. This mix of great music carried over nicely from the fashion show portions to the ballet portions. I found this video of their March 2008 benefit extremely inspiring for its ingenuity.
According to Runway for the Ballet, the Spring 2008 fashion was provided by Neiman Marcus.
For awesome photographs of the March 2008 fundraiser, please visit Christopher Record Photography's blog.
In 2006, the first Runway for the Ballet program produced an inspirational video
In 2006, the North Carolina Dance Theatre launched Runway for the Ballet as a benefit program. Here is their first video presentation of that benefit program.
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Saturday, March 29, 2008
A Conversation with Harmonica Sunbeam, the Queen of Comedy: Part 1
Backstage at Escuelita night club with Harmonica Sunbeam
One Sunday evening earlier this month, before her popular show at New York City night club, Escuelita, the actress, singer, and female illusionist Harmonica Sunbeam sat down in the dressing room at Escuelita with the activist and director Wolfgang Busch and I for an interview about her beginnings, artistic development, and gratitude.
LF: Wolfgang has told me so much about you. I looked on your website, and I see that you have this history in show business. What was your start in show business?
Harmonica Sunbeam: I don't know the exact year, but, when I first came out, I got involved with the Ball scene. I walked a Ball at the Paris is Burning Ball at Trax, First Time Up In Drags. And that started my drag portion. I won, and then I would do it occasionally. Sometime after that, I went to a show, and I decided to give that a shot. And that worked out well, which usually does. Anytime you do anything for the first time, your friends are there for support, hopefully. So, I would do a show from time to time in addition to the balls, and then I started hosting the shows, and that's where it blossomed from there.
Wolfgang Busch: What year was that?
Harmonica Sunbeam: I'm going to say it was about 16 or 17 years ago.
Wolfgang Busch: So, 1990-ish?
Harmonica Sunbeam: Yeah.
LF: Where do you find inspiration for what you do? Like hosting, you saw somebody else do it, and you said, "I can do that as well?"
Harmonica Sunbeam: No, that's not how it happened at all. I saw the show, and I said, "I can do that." But as far as the hosting part, I was just always just a guest in the show at this small bar in Newark called First Choice. And one day, the hostess didn't show up. So, I was just kind of thrust into the position, because I was the only one that wasn't as shy to do it. But my inspiration, I enjoy comedy, I enjoy making people laugh, because I just feel that there's so much – even back then, we have so many burdens on our shoulders to bear on a daily basis that it would feel great to take some time away and forget our problems and just enjoy ourselves. So, I approach my performance from that part: making everyone feel welcome and in a festive mood.
LF: How did you come to be known as the Queen of Comedy?
Harmonica Sunbeam: Well, it's kind of self-proclaimed, because I used to call myself the Queen of the West Village, because I had a long-running show in the now-defunct Two Potato in the West Village. And I thought that it localized me, and it made me too location specific. So, I wanted to make it more general, where it wouldn't be so Point A to Point B.
LF: How did you get to know Wolfgang?
Harmonica Sunbeam: I guess from How Do I Look. I didn't meet you before How Do I Look?
Wolfgang Busch: It was for How Do I Look, but through whom and where and when, I have no clue.
Harmonica Sunbeam: Yeah, I'm sorry. At sex parties, O.K.?
LF: LOL! Do you remember how you were selected for How Do I Look? How did that happen that you got to be in the film?
Harmonica Sunbeam: I guess I'm going to assume that after Wolfgang talked to people, my name probably popped up a few times, he decided to seek me out from that point on. I would say that.
LF: Tell me about the filming.
Harmonica Sunbeam: Well, we shot – I think we shot here. I think we shot here, yeah we shot here. It was pretty short, and it didn't take a lot of time. Basically, it was me speaking from the heart and my thoughts on the Ballroom community and how it's progressed or what needs to be done to make it better.
LF: Was that your first experience in film?
Harmonica Sunbeam: No, I've done some film and TV work.
Wolfgang Busch: What was your film work before?
Harmonica Sunbeam: The first film I did was one called, Party Girl. It was an independent film with Parker Posey. And then I've done Honey, The World Trade Center, and --
LF: -- and you've been on TV, too?
Harmonica Sunbeam: -- there's a movie called, Uptown Girls, that I did, but got cut out of, with Brittany Murphy. So, I'm unionized and everything like that.
Wolfgang Busch: That's an accomplishment.
LF: You know, Wolfgang had a purpose for How Do I Look, which was to empower the Ball community and to give some respect and acknowledgment to them. How do you contrast that – that purpose – with the personality that people come to expect of you , which is to be quick-witted, sharp, have panache – like, it doesn't really meld?
Harmonica Sunbeam: Well, I think so, because the personality gathers their attention. And from that point, once you have an attentive audience, you can tell them anything. And if people respect you, they will listen. And the whole thing about educating people – like, when they have the Balls that are sponsored by these big AIDS organizations. It's like an entertainment situation, but they are also throwing in some educational value, as well. Putting out their message, that they want to get across, as well, in a subliminal way, so as not to turn people off or make people think twice like, "Oh, here it goes again."
Read the next installments of this exclusive interview:
Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, and Part VI
For another unique experience with Harmonica Sunbeam, please watch the independent documentary, How Do I Look, directed by Wolfgang Busch.
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