Big Arts Night Performers
Anisa Love AKA Corey Williams
Anisa Love AKA Corey Williams is a semi-retired professional singer, dancer and actor with Disney, Paramount and Royal Caribbean. He is also a recording artist. Williams has been performing as the Anisa Love character for 22 years. Love is a former Miss Gay Ohio USofA at Large among other titles, Stonewall Columbus’ 2021 Patron of Pride, Aids Walk Ohio honoree and she hosts various events at District West and across central Ohio. Williams plays the role of Hot Coco on season two of the series Treading Yesterday, which will be available to stream 2023 on Amazon Prime, Tubi and Dekko. Williams is married to his husband Brian and recently bought a home. Love hosts Drag Brunch at The Walrus, which is a monthly fundraiser for Kaleidoscope Youth Center.
BHB
BHB (Brothers Helpin’ Bruthas), is the name of an organization created by a man dedicated to using various artistic expressions, inspired by hip-hop culture, to deter youth and young adults from negative actions. For more than 25 years, BHB has used workshops, hip-hop dance lessons, DJ lessons and an annual hip-hop expo as just a few outlets for people to express themselves and to foster the talents of youth; although the name states Brothers Helpin’ Bruthas, the organization offers programs to both young men and women. BHB can attest to the positive changes made by the participants of its programs. Many students have turned their grades around, gained a new sense of esteem, built camaraderie with other Hip-Hop enthusiasts, developed a positive value system and have become more disciplined. Much of these changes can be attributed to the fact that to stay in the program, it is required that participants stay out of trouble at school and within the community. Also, many of the people who participated in the program as youths, return to teach, volunteer and offer guidance to the young men and women who are currently involved with the programs.
Boyoncé
Boyoncé is celebrating 10 years of drag. You can catch her on cast at District West and Hosting TNT every third Thursday.
Ms. Bianca Debonair
Ms. Bianca Debonair is a former Ms. District West and a local POC trans entertainer. Twenty-three years after her sensational drag debut, she is still living the dream of being a fabulous drag queen extraordinaire, nightlife socialite and just being one fierce diva werkin’ the drag community in Columbus and beyond.
Candice Flows aka Candice Igeleke
Candice Flows aka Candice Igeleke was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, with creative passions that intersect education, yoga, dance and various art mediums. She is the CEO of Candice Flows LLC, an innovative consulting and performance-based company that specializes in providing a platform to enhance the performance and skill training of movement-based artists. Candice’s movement repertoire includes the genres of traditional West African, hip-hop, contemporary modern, HBCU style dance, and African diaspora inspired movement, thus making her movements flow inside eclectic choreography that truly displays her love for a diverse array of dance. Igeleke currently teaches at the Flux and Flow Dance and Movement and can be sighted performing at events around the city.
Champagne T Bordeaux
Champagne T. Bordeaux began her early career with character illusions such as Grace Jones, winning a preliminary to Miss Gay Ohio America and then becoming first alternate at state that same year. She was cast at both Wallstreet in Columbus and Ceasars show bar in Toledo and went on to win Miss Toledo and the prestigious title of MGoA 1994. Bordeaux relocated to Florida in 1996 where she earned numerous titles, including Southern Tropics, Miss TRI County Nationals, Miss Noche Latina, Miss Florida, Miss Florida Continental, Miss Gay Black USofA, Miss Noche Latina Elite, MOB of Richmond VA, Miss 305 Continental Elite.
Felicia Dunson
Felicia Dunson is a native of Columbus, Ohio who is a brilliant artist on the rise. She also goes by the name FDZgraffiti. She is a member of Creative Women of Colo’ and has been working with the Greater Columbus Arts Council on current events and art exhibitions in the central Ohio area. She is an art instructor and loves sharing her gift with the community. Dunson is a formally trained fine artist with a passion for fashion and an urban arts background. She finds inspiration from music, pop culture and bold bright colors. Dunson wants to portray graffiti as a formal art style that can be appreciated as fine art. It is visual music with the same rhythms and vibrations as hip-hop. She calls it, ‘Post graffiti visual periodicity.” She paints the music that you can see.
Flavor’d Flow Studio
Flavor’d Flow Studio is owned by James Alexander AKA B-boy Osuga who has been dancing for almost 30 years and has been teaching since 2000. B-boy Osuga has taught all over Columbus, teaching at up to five studios at one time and he launched his own studio, Flavor’d Flow Studio, in 2016. He has competed locally, regionally, and nationwide. He now hosts his own events and judge’s competitions throughout the region. Alexander teaches master classes at studios and universities.
Flowhio
Flowhio, established in 2012, has been Ohio’s best breakin’ crew for the past decade plus. Having traveled all over the world for competitions, workshops and gigs, Flowhio is well known throughout the breakin’ community. In addition to their accolades for winning so many competitions, they are also the hosts for Smoked in Ohio, the largest breakdance competition in the Midwest. They continue to travel, compete and teach throughout the world.
J Rawls
J Rawls is known for his music production work with artists like Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Domo Genesis (Odd Future), Capital Steez (Pro Era), Beastie Boys, Del tha Funky Homosapien, Aloe Blacc and more, Jason Rawls holds a doctorate in education and has more than two decades of teaching experience. A leader of the #HipHopEd movement, Rawls is an assistant professor of hip-hop at The Ohio State University. He is leading the team that is creating the first hip-hop program in a school of music at an R1 university in the United States. Before this, at Ohio University, Rawls helped develop the first hip-hop based education program in a college of education. The program called H.O.P.E. is a series of four courses rooted in hip-hop based education using both culturally relevant and relational pedagogy and he was the coordinator of the Brothers R.I.S.E. program at Ohio University. Rawls co-author of a book entitled, Youth Culture Power: A #HipHopEd Guide to Building Teacher-Student Relationships and Increasing Student Engagement. Rawls is also featured in an exhibition on hip-hop at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.
Kiley Dash-West
Kiley Dash-West started doing drag 13 years ago and was adopted into the West family 12 years ago. Dash-West has competed in several drag pageants and has won four crowns and titles. Dash-West has performed all over the East Coast and all over the state of Ohio and soon will be adding a couple of new states to the roster. Fun fact: Kiley is an avid traveler, and has been to 49 of 50 states, but cannot wait to get to Alaska.
Krate Digga
Krate Digga has more than 25 years of experience as a professional DJ. Schooled in turntablism by DJ Sicari while an undergrad at Kentucky State University, Krate Digga went on to form the Mos Wanted Crew in 1997 with DJ Sicari. Flexing his trademark musicality, Krate Digga has shared stages with a multitude of artists including Eric Roberson, Brand Nubian, Tanya Morgan, Teedra Moses, The Foreign Exchange, Dwele and many more. Krate Digga’s resume of residencies include the renowned Columbus (OH) poetry club Snaps N’ Taps, The Red Zone, Cove Lounge, and Ivan Kane’s Forty Deuce. Krate Digga is also a newly selected Next Level USA Hip Hop Ambassador recently returning from an artist residency in Argentina. After decades in the game, Krate Digga has solidified his name as one of the Midwest’s most diverse Hip Hop and Soul DJ’s. As an instructor and mentor he has held posts at The Ohio State University, Denison University, The Lincoln Theatre and is a member of the Greater Columbus Arts Council’s inaugural Navigators team.
Lance Johnson
Lance Johnson is a visual artist who is inspired by words. Born and raised in New York City, Johnson is profoundly influenced by his native home. As an artist he is most passionate about the artmaking journey. He looks at a canvas like it’s a wall on the lower east side and creates layers of history much in the way old graffiti is covered with new. The foundation of each piece that Johnson creates is the layering of words, which are the soul of his work. He notes that words have power and that his goal as an artist is to create art that will resonate positively and evolve with each viewing. In addition, community is a key part of Johnson’s artistic practice and he believes wholeheartedly in the importance of collaboration between creatives. Johnson notes that art has the power to connect people from all walks of life. Across cultures, languages and religions
Mikayla Denise
Mikayla Denise is a local, national and international performing sensation and uses her platform to advocate for youth and young people who are LGBTQIA, mostly trying to bring awareness to TGNCNB youth and promote HIV care and Prep CARE. Denise has been in Poz magazine as a top 100 transgender/non-binary leaders in HIV advocacy, awarded Trailblazer Award at Transforming Care Conference 2020. She has a vision of opening their own transitional housing community center for TGNCNB community.
O SHarp
O Sharp is an authority in hip-hop culture both in practice and academically and an influential artist and entrepreneur in central Ohio. His career as a DJ began in 1986 and his journey evolved through graffiti, b-boying and MCing. His music industry experience includes companies such as Polar Records and the now defunct online radio station Pulse Radio. DJ O Sharp translated those music-industry skills into developing his own agencies: Fresh Elements, which supports educators and students and Freshest Events, an event production company. A performance mainstay in Ohio, DJ O Sharp has appeared in the annual Summer614 concert series, The ReDO All Vinyl Day Party and Bump the Floor. He worked with DJ Rawls on his final solo album, Legacy, and in 2020 he created a jazz/hip-hop group called Black Jelly Beanz, whose album The Return, included Columbus-based jazz great Eddie Bayard.
Sassybowflow
Sassybowflow is a classically trained violinist from Columbus. As one of the top high school instrumentalists in South Central Ohio, she received many solo superior ratings and represented Reynoldsburg City Schools in The Ohio Music Education Association South Central Region Orchestra. Continuing her education, she studied performing arts at Capital University. She was also the only string major to be accepted into the Capital University Conservatory of Music as a freshman. Sassybowflow did impromptu performances for both Kendrick Lamar and August Alsina, which lead to her opening for super producer Timbaland’s protégé Tink. She has shared the stage with Legendary MC Kurtis Blow, Joe Budden and R&B Singer Christopher Williams and was the featured artist for the 2015 BET Hip-Hop Awards Weekend/A3C After Party. Influenced by the beats of hip-hop, Latin, R&B, Afrobeats, dancehall, reggae, jazz, and the musical talent of Kenny G, Karen Briggs, Stevie Wonder, Prince, Michael Jackson and Miri Ben Ari. Sassybowflow hopes to add a flavor of her own to the industry. Find her single Bow Blazing on digital outlets.
Shawty West
Shawty West likes to consider himself The King of Columbus. He’s been in the drag community for nine years. He is a resident king, co-show director, and manager at District West. He has three rotating shows. Shawty’s Place, Thique and Reign, which celebrate drag kings. He loves to bring swag, smoothness and sex appeal to the stage. His goal is to uplift others and bring drag king visibility to the forefront of the drag scene.
VIrginia West
Virginia West marked her silver drag anniversary in 2023. Her iconic career started as a dare to do the Union Cafe Turnabout show (she swore she’d only do it once). 172 drag kids later and she’s still here. She was the show director at AXIS Nightclub for 20 years before opening her home bar, District West, in 2020. The daughter of Blossom and Maria Garrison, Virginia is known for her production shows and strange ability to down a Smirnoff Ice in five seconds… a talent that has caused her much fame and even more heartburn. She is a former Miss Gay Ohio America, Miss Gay Ohio USofA, and a top 12 finalist at the national Miss Gay USofA Pageant. She considers the stage her home, has a wonderful partner Kevin, four fabulous dachshunds, and loves her family, friends, and fans. She is Italian.