Dashaun Wesley Explained
Dashaun Wesley is an American dancer,[1] [2] actor,[3] choreographer,[4] and ballroom performer,[5] [6] MC,[7] [8] and commentator.[9] [10] He is known for hosting the voguing competition series Legendary[11] and for his appearances on the television series America's Best Dance Crew[12] and Pose.[13] He is often called the "King of Vogue".[14]
Early life
Wesley was born in Brooklyn, New York[15] and grew up in its Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood.[16] He began dancing at age four.[17] Wesley first encountered voguing at 14[18] and became involved with the ballroom scene as a teenager.
Career
Wesley has worked as a dance[19] and vogue instructor.[20]
Ballroom
Wesley became involved in ballroom as a teenager in the late 1990s[21] and has competed in balls frequently since then, also hosting and commentating at balls.[22] He began emceeing balls in 2003, and first performed voguing "in front of a big crowd" in 2005 or 2006. Wesley has been a member of a number of houses, including the House of Latex (which he joined in 2000), the House of Evisu,[23] and the House of Lanvin,[24] in which he was a father.[25] He is the founder[26] and father[27] of the House of Basquiat, which debuted on the second season of Legendary in 2021.[28] Along with the House of Garçons, he was featured in the 2023 Capital Pride parade in Washington, D.C.[29] [30]
He is a ballroom legend[31] and received icon status in 2018.[32]
Film and television
In 2009, Wesley competed on the fourth season[33] of America's Best Dance Crew as a member of the group Vogue Evolution.[34] In 2013, he appeared as a dancer[35] on Hit the Floor.[36] In 2015, Wesley appeared in the film Magic Mike XXL,[37] for which he also instructed Channing Tatum in voguing.[38] Later that year he was an ensemble member in The Wiz Live![39] Wesley played Shadow Wintour (also known as Shadow Khan)[40] in seasons two[41] and three of Pose on FX. In 2020, he was announced as the host of the HBO Max ballroom competition series Legendary,[42] and served as host and MC[43] over the show’s three seasons.[44] In 2022, he was featured in Billy Porter's[45] performance at the BET Awards.[46]
Music
In 2013, Wesley was featured as a dancer in the music video for Fergie's song "A Little Party Never Killed Nobody (All We Got)".[47] In 2015, he performed as a vogue dancer[48] and commentator for FKA Twigs' show "Congregata".[49] Wesley was a dancer for Rihanna's 2016 Anti world tour[50] and featured in Teyana Taylor's 2018 K.T.S.E. tour.[51] He also appeared in the music video for Taylor's song "Work this Pussy".
Wesley is a member of MikeQ's label Qween Beat[52] and was featured on the track "Walk" on its 2016 collection Qweendom.[53] In 2023, he was featured on the song "Giant Bird in a Man Suit" on the cast recording of the off-Broadway musical Lewberger: The Wizard of Friendship.[54]
Personal life
Wesley is gay[55] [56] and lives in Los Angeles.[57]
References
- Web site: Hess . Liam . May 5, 2021 . Megan Thee Stallion, Law Roach, and Their Fellow Legendary Judges on the Ballroom Competition's Triumphant Return . July 4, 2022 . . en-US.
- Web site: Manzella . Sam . June 19, 2020 . Meet the Logo30: Dashaun Wesley . June 21, 2022 . LOGO News.
- News: Armus . Teo . February 6, 2020 . HBO Max was slammed for picking Jameela Jamil to host a show on an LGBTQ subculture. Then she came out as queer. . en-US . . July 4, 2022 . 0190-8286.
- Web site: Portwood . Jerry . May 19, 2015 . Dashaun Wesley: XXL Talent . July 4, 2022 . . en.
- Web site: Wilkinson . Isabel . Hou . Kathleen . February 8, 2014 . Meet the Voguers From the Hood by Air Show . July 4, 2022 . . en-us.
- Web site: Taylor . Andrew . January 16, 2015 . Voguing steps back into fashion . July 4, 2022 . Sydney Morning Herald.
- News: Bernstein . Jacob . July 25, 2012 . Paris Is Still Burning . en-US . . 2022-07-04 . 0362-4331.
- Web site: Trimboli . Isabella . February 25, 2019 . Sissy Ball: Sydney's queer community of colour celebrates in dizzying style . July 4, 2022 . . en.
- Web site: Ryan. Hugh. June 18, 2018. How Ball Culture Has Changed Since the Era of 'Pose'. June 21, 2022. them. en-US.
- Book: Moore, Madison . Fabulous: The Rise of the Beautiful Eccentric . . 2018 . 978-0-300-20470-4 . New Haven, CT . 197 . 1002676613.
- Web site: May 27, 2020. 'What's So Important About This Is Representation': Jameela Jamil & Dashaun Wesley On HBO Max's 'Legendary'. June 21, 2022. CBS Los Angeles. en-US.
- Web site: Shorey. Eric. July 9, 2015. Dashaun Wesley, The Voguer From "Magic Mike XXL", Is The Best. June 21, 2022. LOGO News.
- Web site: Wang . Lydia . May 27, 2020 . A Guide To The Iconic Judges of HBO Max's Legendary . June 21, 2022 . . en.
- Web site: Abbas . Sabrina . June 15, 2020 . Jameela Jamil and Dashaun Wesley Discuss Ballroom Culture, new HBO Max Show Legendary . July 6, 2022 . . en-US.
- Web site: Patterson. Denny. August 12, 2021. Dashaun Wesley: The King of Vogue on How to Be Legendary. June 21, 2022. OUT FRONT. en-US.
- Web site: Fraser. Kristopher. January 18, 2022. The Category is Dashaun Wesley. June 21, 2022. AS IF Magazine. en.
- Web site: Gilcrease . Grayson . June 10, 2021 . Legendary's Dashaun Wesley on Voguing and Why Sisqó "Will Forever Be" His Favorite Artist . July 4, 2022 . . en-US.
- Web site: Robledo. Jordan. May 28, 2021. Exclusive: Dashaun Wesley on his ballroom beginnings and the impact of HBO Max's Legendary. June 21, 2022. GAY TIMES. en-GB.
- Web site: Tracer . Daniel . January 8, 2016 . Young Russian Boy Slays Vogue-Off, Keeps Hope Alive . July 4, 2022 . Queerty.
- Web site: Tharrett . Matthew . January 11, 2016 . Young Russian Boy Challenges Classmate To Vogue Battle, Slays Ha . July 4, 2022 . LOGO News.
- Web site: Anderson. Tre'vell. May 22, 2020. King of Vogue Dashaun Wesley hosts 'Legendary'. June 21, 2022. Xtra Magazine.
- Web site: Alter. Rebecca. July 8, 2020. Category Is: Q&A With Legendary Ballroom MC Dashaun Wesley. June 21, 2022. Vulture. en-us.
- Web site: Escobedo Shepherd. Julianne. July 8, 2015. Magic Mike XXL Voguer Dashaun Wesley Talks Channing, FKA twigs & More. June 21, 2022. Jezebel. en-us.
- Web site: Street. Mikelle. June 11, 2020. Meet the HBO Max 'Legendary' 8 Houses of Ballroom. June 21, 2022. Out. en.
- Web site: Street . Mikelle . September 5, 2019 . Please Let Mj Rodriguez Vogue in 'Pose' Season 3 . July 8, 2022 . . en.
- Web site: Orellana Hernandez. Angie. June 11, 2021. Other shows may make a 'mockery' of vogue. 'Legendary' sought ballroom's blessing. June 21, 2022. Los Angeles Times. en-US.
- Web site: Reddish . David . June 10, 2021 . Dashaun Wesley spills on his 'Legendary' fashion and hosting skills . June 21, 2022 . Queerty.
- Web site: Street. Mikelle. September 18, 2021. Marc Jacobs Now Has a Ballroom House Named After Him in Historic First. June 21, 2022. Out. en.
- Web site: Hewitt . Denise Stephanie . 2023-06-12 . Dashaun Wesley and The House of Garçon Team Up to Celebrate Ballroom Legacy . 2024-02-16 . Hypebae.
- Web site: Reynolds . Jess . 21 Legendary Pics From 'The Ballroom Is Open' & Capital Pride 2023 . 2024-02-16 . . en.
- Web site: Street . Mikelle . May 5, 2018 . It Takes More Than A Good Read To Be a Ballroom Icon or Legend . July 8, 2022 . . en-US.
- Web site: Street . Mikelle . January 24, 2019 . 13 Ballroom Notables Teyana Taylor Cast For Her "WTP" Video . July 8, 2022 . . en.
- Web site: Scheetz. Cameron. June 9, 2021. How Legendary celebrates ballroom's longevity and looks to the future. June 21, 2022. The A.V. Club. en-us.
- Web site: Sullivan. Beth. June 5, 2020. It's No Drag: The Past, Present, and Possibilities of Ballroom at ATX Television. June 21, 2022. The Austin Chronicle. en-US.
- Web site: San Vicente. Romeo. March 4, 2020. Deep Inside Hollywood. June 21, 2022. PrideSource. en-US.
- Web site: November 19, 2020. See the Full 2020 Out100 List Here. June 21, 2022. Out. en.
- Web site: Boone . Keyaira . May 27, 2022 . Channing Tatum was inspired to learn how to vogue on the set of 'Magic Mike XXL,' 'Legendary' host says . June 21, 2022 . . en-US.
- News: Schaefer . Brian . July 23, 2015 . Vogueing Is Still Burning Up the Dance Floor in New York . en-US . . July 4, 2022 . 0362-4331.
- Web site: McPhee. Ryan. October 28, 2015. Capathia Jenkins, Marcus Paul James & More Broadway Alums Tapped for The Wiz Live!; Complete Cast Set. June 22, 2022. Broadway.com. en.
- Web site: Street . Mikelle . May 3, 2021 . These Are the True Stories Behind 'Pose's 'Unruly' House of Khan . July 8, 2022 . . en.
- Web site: Rodriguez. Joe. October 4, 2019. 20 Queer Q's with Dashaun Wesley. June 21, 2022. PRIDE. en.
- Web site: Petski. Denise. February 5, 2020. Jameela Jamil Replaced By Dashaun Wesley As Host Of Voguing Competition Series 'Legendary' – Update. June 21, 2022. Deadline. en-US.
- Romano. Nick. April 27, 2022. Watch 'Legendary' season 3 trailer with Keke Palmer taking over for Megan Thee Stallion. June 23, 2022. Entertainment Weekly. en.
- Web site: Zorrilla. Mónica Marie. June 17, 2021. 'Legendary' Renewed for Season 3 at HBO Max. June 21, 2022. Variety. en-US.
- Web site: Germain. Tabie. June 27, 2022. BET Awards 2022: Here are the Most Surprising and Can't Miss Moments of the Night. June 28, 2022. BET. en.
- Web site: McNab. Kaitlyn. June 27, 2022. BET Awards 2022: All the Best Moments & Surprises. June 28, 2022. Teen Vogue. en-US.
- Web site: Zephir. Shea. September 9, 2013. A Little VOGUE Never Killed Nobody. June 21, 2022. Get Out!. en-US.
- Web site: Silver . Jocelyn . October 16, 2015 . We Talked to FKA twigs' Voguing Collaborator Derek FKA Jamel Prodigy . July 4, 2022 . VICE.
- Web site: Escobedo Shepherd. Julianne. May 19, 2015. How FKA twigs' Wild 'Congregata' Subverts the Conventional Pop Concert. June 21, 2022. Jezebel. en-us.
- Web site: Borge. Jonathan. June 29, 2021. Legendary Host Dashaun Wesley Isn't Done Championing Ballroom Culture. June 21, 2022. Elite Daily. en.
- Escalera. Arkee. September 13, 2018. 8 Mainstream Musicians Who Showcased the Ballroom Scene in Their Work. June 23, 2022. Billboard. en-US.
- Web site: Villeneuve. Phil. October 21, 2016. Yohomo's Q&A with Ballroom Diva and DJ MikeQ. June 21, 2022. Yohomo. en-CA.
- Web site: Royce. Andrew. August 12, 2016. MikeQ's Qween Beat releases Qweendom compilation. June 23, 2022. RA.
- Web site: Hall . Margaret . 2023-06-22 . Hear a Track From Upcoming Lewberger Musical Cast Album The Wizard of Friendship . 2024-02-16 . Playbill.
- Gonzales. Erica. June 22, 2020. 'Legendary' Stars Talk Their Journeys in Ballroom Culture and What Makes a True Ally. June 23, 2022. Harper's Bazaar. en-US.
- Web site: Nunn . Jerry . June 24, 2020 . Dashaun Wesley spills the tea on HBO Max's 'Legendary' . July 17, 2022 . . en-us.
- Web site: Assuncao. Muri. June 1, 2020. Dashaun Wesley, the 'Legendary' MC of HBO Max's new voguing competition series, spills the tea on bringing underground queer ballroom culture into the mainstream. June 21, 2022. New York Daily News.