House of Ninja

**House of Ninja**, also known as **Iconic House of Ninja** or **International House of Ninja**, is a ballroom house created in 1982 by Willi Ninja, known as the "Godfather of Vogue", along with Sandy Apollonia Ninja. Ninja chose the surname "Ninja" because he had a passion for Asian and martial-arts culture. He allowed members of all races and sexualities to join the House of Ninja, which made it the most inclusive and multi-racial house in ballroom of its time.

Willi Ninja wanted ballroom culture to be known internationally, so he traveled around the world and created chapters of the House of Ninja in different countries. Currently, there are more than two hundred members of the House of Ninja internationally due to Willi Ninja's commitment to the goal of spreading ballroom culture. The overall father of the House of Ninja in 2020 is Miraj Ninja, with the grandfather being Archie Ninja.

The Iconic House of Ninja (California chapter) appears in the first season of the HBO Max original reality-competition series "Legendary". On *Legendary*, the members of the House of Ninja originate from different places of the world, and the California, USA chapter is the only chapter full of cis-gender women. They consider their House to be elegant, classy, and very precise with the movements. They also see themselves as femme-fatales; female assassins who are sensual, strong, and deadly silent.

## Members

The House of Ninja consists of:

* Mother Dolores Ninja
* Chise Ninja
* Jamie Ninja
* Sattva Ninja
* Sharron Ninja

## House Progress

**10s**: House of Ninja earned 10s or was not chopped from this category.
**✖**: House of Ninja was chopped from this category in the first round.
## Welcome to My House

In Welcome to My House, the House of Ninja must make their first statement to their judges, which is typically called "The Grand March" in the ballroom. Ninja must create and choreograph a performance that is true to their House.

In the performance, the House of Ninja members wear Asian-inspired hair and kimonos, which can be taken off to reveal black two-piece bikinis. Their performance is primarily vogue-oriented. The judges give glowing critiques for Ninja's fashion, hair, and makeup choices. They feel the performance was executed perfectly and praise Ninja for the Asian-themed concept.

## Once Upon a Time

In episode two Once Upon a Time, the House of Ninja participates in three runway categories of a fairy-tale themed ball.

* **First Category**: *Rapunzel Effect*
	+ One member from each house must serve a freestyle hair performance. First, they perform alone, and if they earn tens across the board they must battle against other House members to win the category.
* **Second Category**: *Mirror Mirror*
	+ One House member must walk the runway in this *face* category, serving smooth skin, white teeth, and cut bone structure.
* **Third Category**: *Three Fab Mice*
	+ Three members from each House, who have not walked in the previous categories, must choreograph a runway walk in which they are in perfect unison. They must also design matching outfits.

### Rapunzel Effect

Chise Ninja chooses to walk this category.

In the first round, Chise earns tens and is allowed to stand to the side. In the second round, Chise faces off against Champ St. Laurent, and the judges choose Chise to stay. In the third and final round, Chise faces off against Makayla Lanvin, and the judges choose Chise as the winner of this category.

### Mirror Mirror

Jamie Ninja chooses to walk this category, and wears a Wicked Witch of the West inspired outfit from the film *The Wizard of Oz*.

In the first round, Jamie is chopped and sent backstage. She can no longer participate in this category.

### Three Fab Mice

Dolores Ninja, Sattva Ninja, and Sharron Ninja choose to walk this category.

In the first round, the trio is chopped from the category and sent backstage. They can no longer participate in this category.

### Outcome

The House of Ninja is declared as safe and is allowed to stay in the competition.

## Circus Bezerkus

In episode three Circus Bezerkus, the House of Ninja participates in a "Circus Bezerkus" themed ball, where they are required to choreograph and perform a group production for the judges.

### Performance

House of Ninja's performance is a Cirque du Soleil inspired Asian-themed circus, where Mother Dolores's character is a freak and is jealous of the beauty of others, so she turns the other house members into freaks just like herself. The judges give Ninja negative critiques as they feel the performance did not showcase the circus theme well, the story was unclear, and the house members were out of sync. The judges give positive critiques for the fashion choices.

### Outcome

At the end of the ball, the judges place House of Ninja in the bottom two, along with the House of St. Laurent. Mother Dolores Ninja chooses Chise to participate in the redemption battle, and Mother Michell'e St. Laurent chooses Pretty St. Laurent . After the battle, the judges to save Chise and the House of Ninja from elimination. The House of St. Laurent is eliminated, and the House of Ninja is allowed to stay in the competition.

## Wild Wild West

In Wild Wild West, the House of Ninja must walk three categories in a "Wild Wild West" themed money ball.

* **First Category**: *Come Up and See Me*
	+ One member from each house must walk the runway in this *Best-Dressed* category showcasing their fiercest gown, but must also include a spinning element. First, they perform alone, and if they earn tens across the board they must battle against other House members to win the category. The winner of this category earns $5,000 for their entire House.
* **Second Category**: *Sheriff of Seduction*
	+ One House member must walk the runway in this *body* category, meaning each competitor must show self-confidence and self-love on the runway in order to "sell" their body to the judges. First, they perform alone, and if they earn tens across the board they must battle against other House members to win the category. The winner of this category earns $5,000 for their entire House.
* **Third Category**: *Mannequin Showcase*
	+ All five members from each House must create and choreograph a showcase primarily consisting of runway and vogue elements. Each House will be critiqued for their performance. The winner of this category earns $15,000 for their entire House.

### Come Up and See Me

Sattva Ninja chooses to walk this category, and chooses her spinning element to be two wooden wheels on the sides of her gown, and one wheel on top of her head.

In the first round, Sattva is chopped by Jameela who doesn't like the gown itself.

### Sheriff of Seduction

Dolores Ninja chooses to walk this category. Ten years ago, Dolores was in an emotionally abusive relationship, which took a toll on her self-confidence. She constantly looked toward her boyfriend for approval, but he never gave her any, which created a toxic environment for her.

In the first round, Dolores earns tens and is allowed to stand to the side. In the second round, Dolores faces off against Jarrell Gucci and Jamari Balmain, and Dolores and Jamari earn the same amount of votes while Jarrell is sent backstage. Dolores and Jamari face off once more, and the judges choose Dolores to stay. In the final round, Dolores faces off against Pack-Rat Lanvin, and the judges choose Pack-Rat as the winner of this category and she earns $5,000 for the House of Lanvin.

Even though she did not win, Dolores says she has gained more confidence as a result of making it far in the category.

### Mannequin Showcase

House of Ninja's performance consists of the members taking on the roles of sexy bandits. The judges give positive critiques for all aspects of the showcase, with Jameela exclaiming that the House of Ninja is the best performance of the night by far. Megan gives praise to Chise Ninja are giving amazing performances in the entire competition thus far.

The judges choose the **House of Ninja** as the winner of this category and they earn $15,000.

### Outcome

The House of Ninja is declared as safe and is allowed to stay in the competition.

## Remember the Times

In Remember the Times, the House of Ninja walks two categories in an ancient civilization-themed ball.

* **First Category**: *March of the Mummies*
	+ One House member must perform a freestyle Old-Way Vogue performance. First, they perform alone, and if they earn tens across the board they must battle against other House members to win the category.
* **Second Category**: *Warrior Guardians*
	+ All five House members must create and choreograph a performance showcasing the floor performance element of vogue. They will be critiqued on their performances.

### March of the Mummies

Sattva Ninja chooses to walk this category, but she has never walked Old-Way before in ballroom so this is her first time performing it.

In the first round, Sattva is chopped by Leiomy because Sattva showed too much stretch in her performance, which is not an element of old-way vogue.

### Warrior Guardians

House of Ninja's performance takes place in Rome, and the members are gladiators. Chise portrays a male emperor in control of the gladiators. The judges give positive critiques for all aspects of the performance including fashion and vogue performance.

### Outcome

The House of Ninja is declared safe and is allowed to stay in the competition.

## Intergalactic

In Intergalactic, the House of Ninja walks two categories in an out-of-this-world (space) themed ball.

* **First Category**: *Rise of the Fembots*
	+ One House member must perform a freestyle Vogue Femme performance. First, they perform alone, and if they earn tens across the board they must battle against other House members to win the category.
* **Second Category**: *Take Me to Your Leader*
	+ All five House members must create and choreograph a performance centering around one House member, while wearing bizarre-themed fashion.

### Rise of the Fembots

Chise Ninja chooses to walk this category, as she has much experience performing in vogue categories in ballroom.

In the first round, Chise earns tens and is allowed to stand to the side. In the second round, Chise faces off against Jamari Balmain from the House of Balmain, and the judges choose Jamari to stay. Chise is sent backstage and can not longer participate in the category.

### Take Me to Your Leader

The House of Ninja's performance is about a race of extraterrestrials that only respond through movements to music, and the performance is centered around Mother Dolores Ninja. The judges felt the performance was weak as there was a very slow build up, and it was overall anticlimactic.

### Outcome

The House of Ninja is in the bottom two along with the House of Escada. Father London Escada chooses Shyanne Escada to participate in the redemption battle, and Mother Dolores Ninja chooses Sharron Ninja.

After the battle, the judges choose Shyanne Escada and the House of Escada to stay in the competition. As a result, the House of Ninja is eliminated.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Meet the HBO Max 'Legendary' 8 Houses of Ballroom
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Episode One: Welcome to My House"