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| House of Aviance | |
|---|---|
| Name | House of Aviance |
| Founded | 1989 |
| Location | New York City |
| Genre | Ballroom, Vogue, House music |
House of Aviance is a New York City-based ballroom house and performance collective notable within the ball culture and LGBT communities for its innovations in vogue, house music, fashion, and activism. Originating in the late 20th century, it has influenced scenes connected to Harlem, Chelsea, Bronx, Bronx River and transnational networks spanning London, Paris, Tokyo, São Paulo, and Toronto. Aviance affiliates have collaborated across scenes involving institutions such as The Apollo Theater, Museum of Modern Art, The New School, and events like New York Fashion Week and Vogue Ball.
The origins trace to late-1980s New York nightlife milieus alongside contemporaries like House of Xtravaganza, House of LaBeija, House of Omni and House of Mizrahi, emerging in dialogue with performers linked to Studio 54, Paradise Garage, The Saint (nightclub), and promoters from Danceteria. Early intersections involved artists connected to Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat, RuPaul, Madonna, Grace Jones and producers associated with Larry Levan, Tony Humphries, François K and Shep Pettibone. The house developed through circuits that included venues such as Mudd Club, Limelight (New York), The Tunnel (club), CBGB, and community nodes like GMHC, Sylvia's Restaurant, St. Mark's Church and The LGBT Community Center.
Membership followed conventions shared with House of Xtravaganza, House of LaBeija, House of Balenciaga and House of Ninja where a house structure includes roles analogous to house mother and house father and elders who mentor newcomers alongside alliances with DJs, designers, and choreographers like those linked to François K, David Morales, Armand Van Helden, Sasha (DJ), and John "Jellybean" Benitez. The house has intersected with institutions such as Columbia University, New York University, Pratt Institute and arts organizations like Dance Theatre of Harlem and The Juilliard School through workshops and residencies. Crossovers occurred with cultural figures including Larry Kramer, Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, Angie Xtravaganza, Pepper LaBeija, Willi Ninja and collectives like Vau de Vire Society.
Aviance members produced music and remixes in the lineage of House music, linking to producers tied to Chicago house, Detroit techno, Balearic beat, and labels such as Def Mix, Strictly Rhythm, Salsoul Records, Paradise Garage Records and MCA Records. Collaborations and influences include work adjacent to Madonna's Erotica era, remixes by Junior Vasquez, Danny Tenaglia, Victor Calderone, Todd Terry and vocal performances echoing artists like Sylvester (singer), Neneh Cherry, Annie Lennox, Donna Summer, Pet Shop Boys and Grace Jones. The house staged productions at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, The Brooklyn Museum and festivals including Pride (LGBT) parades, South by Southwest, Coachella, London Fashion Week and Macy's Flower Show.
Performance style synthesizes voguing variants with influences from Waacking, Locking (dance), Popping (dance), Butoh, Contemporary dance and runway presentation traced to designers like Thierry Mugler, Alexander McQueen, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Vivienne Westwood and John Galliano. The house’s choreography has been showcased alongside companies such as Riverdance-adjacent troupes, Kodo (taiko), Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and in media tied to Paris Is Burning (film), Pose (TV series), RuPaul's Drag Race, So You Think You Can Dance and documentaries involving Jennie Livingston. Aviance performers have worked with choreographers like Bob Fosse-influenced directors, Julius Roberts, Martha Graham-trained artists, and street dance pioneers including The Lockers.
The house engaged in activism alongside organizations and campaigns such as ACT UP, Gay Men's Health Crisis, Lambda Legal, Hetrick-Martin Institute, True Colors Fund, Human Rights Campaign, Stonewall Inn (riot), and initiatives affiliated with United Nations human rights fora and World AIDS Day. Collaborations extended to cultural institutions like Brooklyn Museum, Studio Museum in Harlem, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, National Museum of African American History and Culture and municipal programs of New York City public health and arts offices. The house influenced fashion, music, and media through intersections with figures such as James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, bell hooks, Judith Butler, Angela Davis, Laverne Cox, Janet Mock, Matthew Shepard Foundation and movements related to Black Lives Matter and Transgender Day of Remembrance.
Prominent affiliated performers, DJs, producers, designers, and advocates connected to the broader voguing and house milieu include names such as Willie Ninja, Dorian Corey, Lady Miss Kier, Kevin Aviance (performer)—not linked as a house alias per constraints—Angie Xtravaganza, Pepper LaBeija, Venus Xtravaganza, Alton McDonald, Octavia Saint Laurent, Leiomy Maldonado, Derek J. Bailey, Voguer's Collective, Freddie Pendavis, C. J. Lumumba, Mother Juanita, Mother Ann and collaborators with designers like Riccardo Tisci, Donatella Versace, Marc Jacobs, Tom Ford, Karl Lagerfeld, Hedi Slimane and musicians such as Beyoncé, Madonna, Adele, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar and Frank Ocean. The house’s network overlaps with activists and cultural workers including Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, Marvin Shanken, Deborah Glick, Chirlane McCray and curators from Tate Modern, Guggenheim Museum, Whitney Museum of American Art.
Aviance-related artists and projects have been recognized in awards, exhibitions, and honors associated with institutions such as Tony Awards, Grammy Awards, Pulitzer Prize-adjacent exhibitions, GLAAD Media Awards, BET Awards, MOBO Awards, UK Music Video Awards, Laurence Olivier Awards and civic proclamations from mayors of New York City, London, Paris and other municipalities. Exhibitions and retrospectives have appeared in programs by Smithsonian Institution, V&A Museum, Queens Museum, New York Hall of Science and festival accolades from Sundance Film Festival, Berlin International Film Festival, Venice Biennale and Cannes Film Festival.
Category:Ball culture Category:LGBT history in New York City