the young people's professor: shot in the dark: Awards Ball 2006

THE NEW YORK CITY AWARDS BALL
MAY 7, 2006
HARLEM, USA
NATIONAL BLACK THEATER

PHOTOS BY FRANK LEON ROBERTS
EXCLUSIVELY FOR FLAVALIFE MAGAZINE

The Gamma Phi Q Frat Boys:
Melvin, Frank, and Ruben

The ball marked the end of a good ballroom year for me. In terms of my New York "track record", I am the only "Executive Realness" in New York City besides Rucka Revlon that has walked every single major ball in New York for the past year, has never been chopped, and has always made it to the final battle for my category (Latex, Legends, Collections). So far, I've never been a "first round" process. Also, I won the Icon Ball back in January, which actually made me the only other person besides Rucka to have won the category this year at a major ball in New York.
*
I was nominated for "Best Achievement in Executive Realness" at the Ballroom Rockstar Crystal Award Ceremony on Saturday, as well for "Of The Year" in Executive Realness at the NYC Awards Ball. In 2006 im ready for bigger and better things. The House of Mizrahi continues to be a place for my growth and development; where I can manage my dual lives as both an academic-scholar "by-day" and a "ballroom kid" by-night. Its been fun.

Pony Manolo-Blahnik and Melvin Gamma Phi Q

The golden child of the night, Father Ruben Mizrahi, here with 2004's "Mother of the Year", the legendary Luna Khan. Luna was also nominated again this year for Mother of the Year as well as Butch Queen Face of the Year. This May marked Luna's 18th year in the ballroom scene. And this anniversary year he did pretty dam good:
Grand Prize, Balenciaga Ball (overall butch queen face)
Grand Prize, Nostalgia Ball (overall butch queen face)
Grand Prize, D.C. Capital Awards Ball (face over 30)
Still sitting, and still sending these young kids on their merry way!

Ruben Mizrahi
The 2006 Outstanding Overall Man (Butch Queen)
2006 Butch Queen Models Magazine Face
2006 Sexiest Man of the Year (Butch Queen)

KHAN--KHAN!

The personal highlight of my night was catching up with my long-lost little sister, Julie Khan. Baby girl is all grown up! Julie was 2004's Butch Queen Up in Drags Realness of the Year. " I remember the two of us planning the Khan Ball in 2004 at NYU...

She was sitting! Grown, sophisticated, relaxed and carefree! Looking like Tisha Campbell. Lol.
Look for great things from Julie in 2006

My brother Donald Miza from the ATL was in the house. He showed the schoolboys in New York how its really done: Mizrahi Grand Prize.

But dont sleep on my brother-in-law Nylen Prodigy. Little man won schoolboy realness at the Collections Ball and in 2006 I think he's going to be the next-big thing.

Dominque Mizrahi, the newest addition to the House of Mizrahi (formerly with the House of Prodigy) deserves a special shout-out for jumping right into the role of team leader.

Anyone who knows me knows that I love seeing other young men of color doing positive things with their minds and lives. So when Romeo Ebony (center) told me about this new group
B3 ("Billionaire Ballroom Boys"), I lived.

Dash Prodigy, Romeo Ebony, Symba Tsnumani and Josh Miyake Mugler are the groups' founding members. Look for big things from them in the new ballroom year!

There's no denying it now: Leyomi Mizrahi is the future (and present) of female figure performance. That night the crowd went up to hear that she was rewarded for a year of show-stopping, breathtaking performance with the title of "Drags Performance of the Year."

I was feeling Chipper Prodigy's smooth miami vice effect! Chipper is one of my favorite guys in the rocksocking House of Prodigy. Like most of them, he's friendly, sincere, and easy going.

The categories were just starting to get "heated"....

THE RETURN OF BUTCH QUEEN CLUB KID CARTA

"Carta", derived from the Spanish term "Cara" (beauty) is a word used to indicate the ultimate blend of handsome TEETH, SKIN, NOSE, STRUCTURE, and OVERALL appearance. The "Club Kid Carta" category was introduced by Mother Jack Mizrahi in the summer of 2004 as an experimental aesthetic to add new life to the category.
Whereas traditionally "face kids" were expected to display their faces either "unpainted" (no makeup) or "lightly dusted" (only minimal makeup), the "Club Kid" carta category emphasizes bold and boisterous colors and designs. Brothers are encouraged to be experiement with glam-rock aesthetic and mettalic, shimmery, makeup paints. But the category is STILL face; meaning you still gotta have all the structural elements! The wild designs are supposed to ADD TO natural good looks, not make up for them!

Randy and Mike Balenciaga (newly imported from the House of Aphrodite) have both been great innovaters in this category for the past year, and this night was no different. And they both had just one thing on their minds: WINNING GRAND PRIZE.

But they werent the only ones. The dark and lovely gem of the House of Lacroix, Glenn Lacroix was also poised at the back of the runway.

As was Hollywood Mizrahi of Los Angeles. Hollywood was back with a vengeance. She said it was shade at the Collections Ball so tonight she would have to make the girls know-it....

But Ryu Aphrodite said "no ma'am, im the Club Kid Carta Ruler"....

But Chris Mizrahi had plans otherwise. He hadnt been back to New York for a ball since he won the Latex Ball in August.

So he went all out with a bright "rockstar" glam-rock effect

But the Aphrodite children were not playing that night either, especially after they had just taken home the 2006 "Face as a House" of-the-year title

The soft-spoken Randy Balenciaga looked ahead, and stayed focused.
...

Are these brothas ready for Rolling Stone or what?

When all was said and done, the final battle came down to Zion Miyake Mugler of New York City

vs. the icy Lauren Tsnumani of New York

And on this night, it was Lauren's time to shine. This was his second big win in just four months time, after snatching Grand Prize in Chicago in February for the Midwest Awards Ball

After it was all over the boys were back to being their friendly, cheerful selves...

and they didnt hesitant to have the camera zoom-in, up close...

The Boys looked on, as the ladies got ready to battle it out...

Aneesa Blahnik (my favorite women's face diva) and Jasmine Manolo-Blahnik were beautiful as Bollywood Princesses

Aneesa has been the most consistent women's face contender since the Latex Ball 2005. Unlike the other kids, Aneesa walks state-to-state and region-to-region, always making us know it with her creative effects.

But everyone knows that when one of the Mizrahi ladies are in the house, we know who will be taking grand prize. California's Lady Mizrahi followed in the tradition of her sisters Tiffany, Poison, and Natalie by slaying the competition for women's face. Grand Prize: Mizrahi once again. Now it was time for the big girls....

The crowd gagged to see Paula Evisu's new look and new house: Mizrahi.

Aniyah Mizrahi of New York also did her thing like always, looking cute and sexy

Legendary Big Girl Jennifer Evisu also walked that night and made the kids know-it

Mother Aisha Latex, the ballroom's two-time "Woman of the Year" was not playing! Her Pam-Grier, Bad Biitch effect brought the house down....

THE CONTROVERSY FOR "BUTCH QUEEN RUNWAY...."

Mizrahi dominated Butch Queen Runway in 2005- 2006. "Mizrahi runway" has become known for guys with showstopping, cutting-edge effects and productions. From super "stars" like Caliente and Martez, heavy "statements" like Keith and Jermaine, and rocksocking icons like Ricky and Andre, few people can deny that the men of the House of Mizrahi rule the runway floor right now.
To to see Caliente, Martez, Jermaine, and Ricky on one floor at the same time was hot!

Atlanta's Martez first took New York City by storm back in January when he won the Icon Ball. Everyone loves his bold effects and creative walk. He's definitely brings it in the name of the legendary Father Andre Mizrahi.

He could have easily---and perhaps should have---won the category this night.

But its ok. Stasha and Tempress's ball in Atlanta is just five days away. He'll be back.

Little Caliente Mizrahi has been the talk of the town all year. On Sunday, not surprinsingly, he was named Runway of the Year.

I admire Caliente because no matter what anyone says, he puts 200% into his category each time.

He has come a long way in a short time, and his future in this category is as bright as gold.

There are really no words to describe just how effective Father Jermaine Mizrahi is in his category.
In spite of the controversy regarding one judge chopping him, I think everyone in the building agreed that this should have been Jermaine's night. No one can deny that this man is the DEFINITION of short-boys runway. He is absolutely unmatched among the butch queens for the consistent high quality of his effects, the creativity of his productions, and the precision of his walk. He also won the category at last years Awards Ball. The crowd went wild to see him as an African villagemen.

After the controversy over Jermaine not being allowed to walk...the other contenders took the floor....

Each person came representing a different country

Trevie Tsnumani also went for an Ghanan inspired effect

While the rocksocking Anthony Revlon brought us back to ancient Egypt. The battle between him and Caliente was a memorable one.

But tonight the judges were most impressed by some of the newer kids

Donovan Infiniti of the Midwest is another major national player for this category

In the end, the House of Chanel took grand prize with one of their younger members

And on the real: congratulations to him. He held his own against the "big boys".
Chanel definitely should be proud.

Jermaine Mizrahi, we'll see you in Atlanta.

The crowd clapped on, led here by Nicole Icon

Bruce Khan kept me laughing

And the "Icon" herself was in the building: Ashley Icon

Im lovin' the gold teeth! Keeping it gangsta like the Baltimore Revlon's always do!

Father Javon Khan deservingly took home Butch of the Year

And I stopped counting after JLYIN EVISU took home three awards....

Little Andre Balenciaga looking innocent in his Greek tunic

and Kenya Balenciaga looking bad with red get-up. Kenya did his thing that night for the "Foot & Eye Wear" category, as he always does.

Rucka Revlon deservingly took home "Of the Year" award in the Executive Realness category.
The other nominees for the night included myself, Harold Balenciaga, Clint Cavalli and Tom Mizrahi

My little gay son Anthony Prestige also did very well in the "Old Way" category. Dont you love when the 17 years old start walking the old-man categories!

Me and Yogi Ebony

Face Ebony walked Realness with a Twist, we all gagged!

The New York Miza Boys

"TEAM MIZA" ....

Martez & Frank Miza

Driving home at 8'clk in the morning, after being at the ball since 11pm the night before was a trip. And Ruben had three trophies to lug around.

NEXT STOP:
HOT-LANTA
STASHA & TEMPRESS MIYAKE MUGLER'S BALL
&
"NATIONAL MIZRAHI WEEKEND"

DOWNLOAD A FREE PDF VERSION OF THE LATEST ISSUE OF FLAVALIFE MAGAZINE HERE, FEATURING "THE TOP 10 SEXIEST BALLROOM MEN OF 2006" (INCLUDING A CLARIFICATION REGARDING WHITNEY M. & DASH P.)

Posted by the young people's professor on 5/09/2006 at 7:49:00 PM | Permalink

What a Party Leon! I`m Diego, from Uruguay, checking whta wouod happen if i clicked the "NExt Blog" link in my blog. It brought me here. Good pictures.

Posted by Patuche | 5/10/2006

i was waiting for you to post these pics!

Posted by Clay | 5/10/2006

Keep up the good work my friend. NYU is licky to have such a talent as yourself. Thank you for visiting Poetic Justice as well. Peace. (Love the face art!)

Posted by Mark Prime (tpm/Confession Zero) | 5/13/2006

Love the Ballroom pix and your commentary.

Posted by T. Zac. R. d V. | 5/14/2006

I lovin your blog for all new reasons now. I love the pix from the various balls.

It all just left me breathless...beautiful!

Posted by CeeCi | 5/14/2006

Frank, your pictures are so beautiful I see a coffee table book in your future!

Posted by Anonymous | 12/28/2006