Ballroom History of TIM PRINCESS……..
I arrived on the gay-club scene in the fall of 1986 in NYC from Paterson, NJ at the impressionable age of 18 ending up in clubs like Better Days, Midtown43, The Garage, & Tracks. I can recall my very first night at a club like it was yesterday; “Better Days!!!!!” to be exact. My friend “Snoopy”, from the Bronx said to me, “I’m a take you to a club one day.” When that day came I gagged because, unbeknownst to me it was a GAY club! Once we arrived about three hours into the club it started getting extremely packed and the kids were feeling nice and right if you know what I mean. “Love Break” came on. While leaning against the wall I could see four young guys who appeared to be around my age or a little older gathered in a huge circle doing this dance style that looked similar to break dancing. I had no idea what they were doing, but I knew I enjoyed what I saw just stimulating! While forming a circle around the performers the crowd was shouting expressions like “Work!”, “Serve!”. Later I found out it was Ronald Lamay, Jerome Pendavis, & Jason Ovahness. They were dipping, spinning, popping, locking while incorporating hand formation with style & grace…..I was mesmerized! After that night I made friends, and made it a priority to be there every Wednesday & Friday, I believe. During this era, after the Clubs I can recall how the kidz would head uptown to the Legendary “Elks Lounge” for a Ball!!! Out of fear of the unknown, I would never go…
Then by 1987 I met Jarrett Princess via Rodney, his cousin(R.I.P). Once I met Jarrett he introduced me to other Roc-Socking performers like Ira Dupree, Hakeem Adonis, two Derrick Labiejas, & Lance Adonis. Then outside the club scene around that same time I recall having the privilege of watching Jamal Adonis Milan for the first time at a house party in East Orange, NJ battling Jarrett during a vogue contest where I was AMAZED at Jamal’s precision and uniqueness. At this point I fell completely in love with vogueing and began practicing. Then shortly after I can recall the style of vogueing changing, i.e. Jamal, Lamar & Andre M., those three brought a little more contemporary flavor and flare by way of precise moves, and acrobatic stunts to the style & grace that oldway already had, and I must admit JAMAL & JARRETT would always leave me in AWE!
By 1989 I walked my first Ball for performance as just “TIM” given by the House of “Adonis” @ Irvington Manar in Irvington, NJ which eventually became my first House via Jamal. After that first experience I soared, walking “Performance”(now known as Oldway) & “Face W/Performance”. Shortly after due to circumstances I was no longer TIM ADONIS. After leaving the house of ADONIS I moved to Phila ( where Jarrett and I would frequent often)for a bit where I was asked by Icon-Legend “Stewart Labieja-Ebony” to be a Labieja for Phila’s first Ball in “89”, I declined. During that year I can also remember Phila’s Roc-Socking performers such as: Gee-Gee Ebony, Michael Gaskins(Onyx) & Arron St. Claire; they were just nasty on the floor! Then a year later Legend Hakeem JOURDON (R.I.P) asked me to be in the house of Jourdon for one night where I won my first Grand-Prize trophy in Paterson, NJ 
winning over Icon Chris Labieja and others. A few months later, while voguing in a club in Manhattan called “The Red Zone”, I was approached by Icon-Legends “Dashon Christian & Joseph Princess” to joined the Legendary Face House of Christian, he said, and I quote, “ on the floor you reminded us of the one, the only ANDRE CHRISTIAN“(who I had heard about & saw perform, but never personally met). That made me feel appreciated. I gave it some thought then right before the JP Award’s Ball in Newark, NJ in 1990 I decided to give Dashon a call and was instantly put in the house. That night as TIM CHRISTIAN I walked “Performance” with Andre Labeija-Revlon-Mizrahi, Stiffy Extravaganza-Revlon, Lamar Elite-Ebony, and Chucky Chanel(R.I.P) and Grand Prize went to Lamar. Then in 1991 @ Mable Milan’s Ball I won Grand Prize never won before,but in NYC. Then that same night I won 1st place for Performance , while Lamar Elite-Ebony won Grand. Speaking of LAMAR EBONY; during “Tracks” days in the late “80′s”/early “90′s” he along with Shawn Omni- Elite was a force to be reckon with! They would leave you Speechless with their show stopping team performance….O and Jamal has joined them in a performance as well( can’t forget that)… Then, As I mentioned earlier, because the styles were changing, performance was divided into Oldway & New way.
Still in the early 90′s, the House of Christian & Princess joined and became PRINCESS. Here is where I suddendly became 
“TIM PRINCESS” known for my white gloves, shades and Ninja effect, and reminding EVERYONE of the Pioneer himself “ANDRE CHRISTIAN“(R.I.P.) Although I reminded many of Andre, I began developing my own style. Around 1992 with rivals like Lamar Ebony(R.I.P) , Terrell Ebony(R.I.P),and later Selvin Khan, and competitors such as Jamal Milan, Ira Aphrodite, Shawn Jourdon, Andre Mizrahi, Dawan Milan, Cabbage Ebony, Junior Chanel, Muhammad Omni I walked until I couldn’t walk no more. In Spite of the fact that performance was a very competitive category, voguing was in my blood by way of self expression! I would walk just because I enjoyed the craft, but not to win. I would also get life on the mic from Legends like Ira, Kenny Ebony(R.I.P), and Eric Christian-Bazzar(R.I.P).
In 1993 one of my biggest moments was winning team face W/Performance @ a Revlon Ball held at Lincoln Center. Jarrett Princess & I won GRAND over Ira & Dwayne Aphrodite. Then shortly after Jarrett left Princess and became an Aphrodite( note we are all family Christian , Princess, Aphrodite…same blood line). Also in 1993 along with Terrence Legend-International ex-Princess we gave our first Ball @ Lincoln Center were the Legends came out. In 1994 I won Grand Prize @ The house of Ebony’s Bounce Thru Ball. Also in 1994 @ Terrence Legend-International’s Ball I was given an award for outstanding dance/performance in a ballroom along with Ronald Lamay by Pioneer MARCEL CHRISTIAN(R.I.P). 1995 became a major year for me in my Ballroom Career. I won Grand Prize at the House of Leviticus’s Ball, Octavia’s Ball @ Sally’s, David Ultima’s Ball @ Sallys, RR Chanel’s Ball @ The Marc Ballroom, and William Dupree’s Ball in Phila along with a host of mini-balls. I was also impressed in 1995 when the ballroom scene took on a new approach by having free balls to promote HIV/AIDS awareness sponsored by such Organizations as GMHC & POCC.
Between 1996 and 1999 I left the scene, and took a small intermission. In 2000 along with my earned LEGENDARY status I won Grand Prize at the Karate Club a ball given by Icon Kevin Omni. In 2001 I won Grand Prize at Joseph Ebony’s Ball over Andre Mizrahi. And then shortly after the house of Princess was becoming less active in the scene. Most of the heavy hitting members went seperate ways; in fact I had a short stints as an EBONY&BALENCIAGA, but then realized my blood, sweat & tears remained with PRINCESS. So of course the House of Princess welcomed me backed. After returning back to house of Princess in 2004 there was small talk about bringing the house back out. Between 2004 and 2007 I would go to balls sporadically mainly to judge.
2007 became a pivotal year for the category “Oldway.” POCC gave their annual major Ball at Webster Hall. That night “Legendary Oldway” was something to remember. The competitors was restricted only to those who was listed on the flyer.The competition consisted of Me, Derrick”Cackerjack” Labieja, Ira Aphrodite, Damion Ebony, Derrick Icon, Cabbage Ebony, Tanoka Prodigy, Alvernian Prestige and others, while Jamal Milan was judging. This was such a historic moment. Then in 2008, the talk of bringing the house of Princess back out became a reality. I was given the well deserved tittle as House FATHER by original Icon Father Preston Princess & original member Pioneer Track Princess. Princess was back on the scene. Also in 2008 I decided to make a come back by starting off the year with a memorable moment with Jamal Milan, Selvin Khan, DaeBrian Aga and Derrick Icon @ Jack’s Rumble Ball where we were the main attraction with an electrifying and well organized Team Oldway performance; we won GRAND! You can also catch it on youtube. A few months later I won Grand Prize @ DC Awards Ball. In August of 2008 Along with the house of Princess we gave our come back Ball called “ The Making Legend II” . We were not fortunate to have a packed house, but we were Blessed to have ICONS there such as Erskine Christian, RR Chanel, Terry Chanel, Michael Dupree, Joseph Montana Prada, Tiny Labeija Bazzar and several others, another historic moment. To date in 2011 I’ve been told that
I STILL GOT IT!, but rather let the new generation take precedence. In my spare I enjoy spending time teaching the new generation the basics of Oldway, but I will say if need be I will hit the floor, considering throughout the years I’ve perfected my craft well enough to be able to compete with the new generation. In fact my dips & hand movements have always been known to be PRECISE, on BEAT and never COPIED, and my LOCKING technigue is very intimidating….. My performance was always spontanious. The music took me to places I needed to be on the floor.(Inspired by ICON Jamal Milan, Jarrett Princess, Lamar Ebony, & Ronald Lamay may you three R.I.P). To those I left out who made great contributions to “Oldway” performance I apologize.
Aside from it all I can truly say I’ve contributed a lot to the ballroom scene, gave great performances, learned a great deal, and enjoyed ever minute of it!…….Yet I don’t have an overflow of trophies, but the ones I do have I worked hard to obtain. I’m nationally known in the scen, well respected & featured in “How Do I Look.” You can also catch me on youtube Just type in “Tim Princess”. All the support throughout the years makes me feel honored!…Thank you to all those who have supported and cheered for me…….I’ll leave with a lil advice……”If you ever decide to walk a Ball, do it in confidence…..luv….and most importantly do it in FUN!”…….Legendary FATHER TIM PRINCESS.
THE CURRENT SCENE-“Oldway” has made a tremendous come back. Not to take away from any others, but my new ballroom favorites are Legends Dawan Milan & Derrick Icon…Star DaeBrian Balenciaga, ….New sensations Brian Aga, Derrick Princess, Nyno Garcon, Scooda Balenciaga & Droopy Milan….. Yall keep the Legacy going! It makes me feel Honored knowing that the new generation is inspired by The “Oldway”
I’d like to personally thank Dashon Christian, Marcel Christian, Michael Princess, Andre Christian,Jamal Milan, Jarrett Princess, Ronald lamay, Lamar Ebony,Hakeem Jourdon, Lance & Juan Adonis, Fuquan Essence, Jerome Pendavis, Jason Ovahness, Ira Aphrodite, Eric Christian-Bazzar,Shawn Omni Elite, Muhammad Omni, Mystery-Mysterious Dior, GeeGee Ebony,Chucky Chanel, Ralph Princess, and Joseph Princess ..You’ve all inspired my OLDWAY performance.
