Omari Wiles & Les Ballet Afrik blend West African and Afrobeat styles in "New York is Burning"

In homage to the 30th anniversary of Paris Is Burning, the documentary about voguing and drag balls, and the powerful expression of personal pride they represent in the face of racism, homophobia, and stigma of the AIDS crisis, Works & Process commissioned Omari Wiles, founding father of the House of Oricci and a legend within the ballroom community, to produce New York Is Burning. With the premiere at the Guggenheim postponed by the pandemic, in this past summer’s Works & Process bubble residency, Wiles continued to develop the commission for his company Les Ballet Afrik, with an eye to bringing the ballroom to the Guggenheim and Lincoln Center in a work featuring Wiles’s AfrikFusion, a style that combines traditional African dances and Afrobeat styles with house dance and vogue.
In uncanny resemblance to the 1980’s captured in Paris Is Burning, Wiles’ New York Is Burning reflects the aspirations, desires and yearnings of a diverse group of dancers for which the dance company serves as a surrogate family during yet another period where health, race, and financial crises continue to brew.
Works & Process at the Guggenheim and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts present four newly-commissioned video performances created during Works & Process bubble residencies at Kaatsbaan Cultural Park in rural Hudson Valley and filmed on the Lincoln Center campus. The works are co-produced by Works and Process at the Guggenheim and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, and filmed by Nic Petry at Dancing Camera. When it is safe for artists and audiences to gather, these works will premiere in full form at Works & Process at the Guggenheim.
Cinematography and Editing by Dancing Camera
Major support provided by First Republic Bank

[@avivabumgardner6107]

I love all the bodies represented here in movement

[@pethronianoel]

Luv the representation of the differrnt bodies. Beautiful:)❤❤❤

[@mezmarionybarra]

Beautiful Humans , Wonderful Creative Happy Movements ❣

[@mommakim6486]

Love, love, love!! Thank you for this!

[@chloeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee]

this is so beautiful and wonderful and moving!! i love it

[@TB-vn3cz]

Diiiiiggg! Bravo!

[@HonusProductions]

So good!!!

[@Victoria-fs9nh]

👏👏👏👏thank you!!!!

[@avivabumgardner6107]

COME THROUGH!!!!!!!!

[@Vetiver386]

Ballet Afrik. Question: do any of these women identify as African? I guess I just don't understand the obsession with light skin among Africans. I know it's cuz colonization but DAMN!