Kevin Burrus

Kevin Omni Burrus (born October 8, 1958) was the assistant director for the documentary "How Do I Look NYC," produced by Wolfgang Busch.

Family

He is the fifth child of six children.

Promotions

Burrus has been involved in radio promotions for "'The Red-Alert Show" on 98.7 Kiss FM from 1991–1992, NY "s No. 1 Hip-Hop DJ. He was also involved as a dancer on "Jerry Bledsoe's Soul Alive TV show (WPIX channel 11). Burrus was also a guest on "Morning Radio's Star & Buc Wild Show" on 105.1 FM. He has traveled throughout the major U.S. cities promoting in clubs, balls and fundraisers.

Appearances

Burrus has appeared on "LOGO TV News" February 2006. He has appeared on MTV news in 1989. He has appeared on BBC TV of London hosting an affair at Club "Escuelita's" NYC while being filmed and interviewed via limo (April 2002), the NY Daily Newspaper: Faces and Places in 1990, the Village Voice in 1995, 1997 and January 18, 2000. The Fashion of the New York Times, August 1999 and June 2000, May 2005; Vrij Nederland (Amsterdam, Europe), 1991. New York Post, September 2001. Vibe Magazine 2000 and One World Magazine 2002 with Duane Pyous, Director of Photography. Burrus is also featured in a book titled: "Award Winning Men" by Ed Karvoski Jr., April 2002. As well he received acknowledgments in the credits from Holly Brubeck's book Girlfriends, 1998.

Organizations

Burrus is a member of the Harlem Arts Council, 2000. He served as a Black Pride NYC board member, 2001. He was also a member of the NAACP Jamaica, NY Branch 1993.

Personal information

Burrus (aka Kevin Omni), the Assistant Director/Producer of the documentary film "How Do I Look NYC," was born in 1958 in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, New York, the fifth of six children.

Education

Burrus is enrolled in Bloomfield College majoring in Clinical Laboratory Science/Forensics. While attending Clara Barton H.S. for Health Professions, he majored in medical lab technology and hospital office procedures. Burrus received numerous awards, including Speech and Theatrical Arts, Business Education Association, Kings County Hospital Volunteer Medal, Honors English and History, and the Jr. Sanitation certificate.

Burrus also attends and participates in panel discussions for Community Health Forums/projects and hosts national screenings and lectures for the National Black Pride celebrations, as well as community organizations and universities (Penn State, William Paterson College, etc.) He supplied and supported "Faces NY" (formerly Minority Task Force on AIDS) with pictures for the Ball Community Memorial on World AIDS Day 2007. He has become a motivational speaker for youth at risk, discussing homelessness, HIV/AIDS, drug education, prevention and awareness, and domestic violence. He was guest speaker for "Safe Space" graduation ceremony and GMHC workshop, and panelist for the HIV/AIDS Forum at Chashama in NYC. In 2010, he performed as an actor in the play "Newark is Burning" at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark.

Productions

Burrus has produced and hosted a wide array of shows, benefits and videos under the name of "Ultra-Omni Productions (aka) House of Omni," and has also produced many other events. He has supported, as well as had a cameo appearance in, the new documentary film "Flow Affair" (2010). He was involved with the fund raiser "The Love Ball" for the Design industry Foundation for AIDS (1989 to 1991). Some of his other national supporters include model/actress Beverly Johnson, designers Bob Mackie and Jean-Paul Gautier, the singers/actresses Madonna and Queen Latifah, and a host of many others. He was involved in and hosted the benefit for the Harlem Boys Choir at the Jacob Javits Center, for Kwanzaa 1996.

Career

Burrus worked for and with the Justice Project (1991) and Covenant House (1996), including a major show called "Style", which taught youth about living a longer existence. Other supporters include Maxine Lewis (Apollo Theater's Children's Amateur Night), and Dr. Ed Lover of radio's Hot 97 FM.

He is co-host of the internet blog talk radio show "The Red Carpet" since 2009. He was previously involved in radio promotions for The Red Alert Show on radio's 98.7 Kiss FM (1991–1992), New York's No. 1 Hip-Hop station. Back in the day, he was a dancer on Jerry Bledsoe's "Soul Alive" TV show, which was syndicated on WPIX channel 11, and was included on podcasts for "Pink Mafia Radio". Burrus was also a guest on "Morning Radio's Star & Buc Wild Show" (New York's 105.1 FM). He has traveled throughout major US cities performing in countless clubs, balls and fundraisers.

Awards

Burrus has appeared on LOGO TV News (2006), MTV News (1989), and BBC-TV of London. He has hosted affairs/filming at New York's Club Escuelita, interviews via limo (2002), the NY daily newspaper Faces and Places (1990). Burrus was interviewed in Clique Magazine (2007), The Village Voice (1995, 1997 and 2000), Fashions of the New York Times (1999, 2000 and 2005), Vrij Nederland in Amsterdam (1991). New York Post (2001), Vibe Magazine (2000) and One World Magazine (2002) with Duane Pyous, Director of Photography. Burrus is also featured in the book Award Winning Men by Ed Karvoski, Jr. (2002), and was acknowledged in the credits from Holly Brubeck's book Girlfriends (1998).

Burrus has produced and hosted fashion shows for over 25 years, Balls for over 30 years, and has earned well over 240 trophies and awards since his inception into the Ball community in 1980 – and in 2010, still winning trophies and setting examples "ICON FACE". In 2009, He received the "House of Latex Award for Excellence", the Hollywood Star Award from Joseph Ebony. He also won the 2007 Pioneer Icon Award.

In 2010 he received "The ClubHouse 3000" award. and 2006 Burrus received the "Lifetime Achievers/MINI Ball Award" (New York's Clubhouse Club). In 2005 he received the 25th OMNI Anniversary Award. In 2004, he received the "How Could We Ever Forget You Award" from the House of Ebony's 25th Anniversary, The West Coast Hall of Fame Award (2001), The Lifetime Achievers Award (2001), The Lifetime Friendship Award (2002), The G.M.A.D Award (2002), The House of OMNI, the Lifetime Achiever Mini-Balls Award (2004), The Realness Award from The Clubhouse, the Black Pride Promoting Partner Award (2004/2005) from Black Pride NYC, and the Jon Michael Harrington Humanitarian Award from the GMHC House of Latex (2004). His other awards Include The Hall of Fame (1984 and 1996), Legends Award (1993 and 1998), The Proclamation Award (House of Ebony 1997), Outstanding Ballroom Participation Award (House of Mugler 1995), and the Ballroom Appreciation Award (House of Princess 1995).

Involvements

Burrus has been involved with the ball culture scene since 1975. He gave the first Mini Ball in Brooklyn NYC (1982), which began the trend of Mini Balls, along with his friend, Makuta Versace Chanel. Burrus started the sequel "Legends, Statements & Stars Balls 1 Through 10" (1989–2000). He started the theme "Lifetime Achievers/Icons, Stars & Status Balls" (2003–2009). 2011 he became celebrity judge "Hustle Contest" along w/Ralph Mc Daniels producer of:"Video Music Box". He also appeared and danced :"Soul Alive & Dance Fever Dance Shows 70's. He is a talk show host for: "The Ian Show", an online Internet radio show. and has been a guest on Tom Bluementhal's Blog Talk Radio internet show. He has subsidiary members in other cities (Chicago, St. Louis, Milwaukee, Detroit, Los Angeles, Oakland, Raleigh and Durham, Virginia, Washington DC, NYC, and in New Jersey and South Carolina), as well as subsidiary members in Paris, France and London, England. He produced several roller-skating events at the Empire Roller Rink in Brooklyn, NY, some of which events were Gospel and included Godmother La Rose Omni and Reverend Hezekiah Walker.

Burrus is hosting events for performers, R & B singers and house music artists including Melba Moore, Melisa Morgan,Colonel Abrams, Tanya Gardner, Loleatta Holloway, Ultra Nate, Kenny Bobien, Rolon Clark, Toni Smith, Martha Wash, Barbara Tucker, Meli'sa Morgan, Jennifer Holiday, Inaye Daye, Allison Williams, Kevin Aviance, the late Phyllis Hyman, and Rochelle Flemming. He has worked with rap artists Lil' Kim, Trina, HoodSide, Chastity, and J. Ross Parelli. He works as promoter/host for many clubs, including Club Rebel, Club Playground, Tunnel, Studio 54, Twilo, Sound Factory Bar, Club Warehouse, Octagon, Shelter, Roxy's, Synagogue and Diva Lounge. Burrus has been an integral part of ALG Productions via YouTube, interviewing singer J. Ross Parelli and Miss Black New Jersey (2009) Beauty and Scholarship Pageant. He has also been a contributing writer for Clique Magazine, and has written independent stories about the Ball Culture, as well as columns about NYC nightlife. A contributing writer to "RockStar Ballroom Magazine" for its premier issue (Winter/Spring 2005), and "Cut Magazine" (Chicago, 1992), Burrus was interviewed in Clique magazine (2007), "In The Meantime" (Fall 2006), and Out in Jersey Magazine (Spring/Summer 2006).

Burrus is a member of the Harlem Arts Council (2000). He served as a Black Pride NYC board member (1998–2002), and was also a member of the NAACP Jamaica, NY Branch (1993). As a Peer Counselor for Harlem United Community AIDS Center, he was responsible for conducting outreach to various venues educating those at greatest risk, people living with and threatened by HIV and AIDS. Burrus has worked as a network and help desk operator, Jr. Data Communications technician for banks and brokerage securities firms from 1978–1993, and was employed for 15 years on Wall Street, NYC.

Outreach

As producer of the documentary film "How Do I Look", Burrus reaches out to many communities informing and educating them on Ball Culture. In 2010 he was a panelist for the Hudson Valley LGBT Conference in Kingston, NY. He lectures on sexuality, health-related issues, homelessness, drugs, mental illness, and domestic violence. Since 2006, Burrus has served as Public Relations/Media Contact for "Art From the Heart LLC", an artistic empowerment Program. Burrus is involved in doing lectures nationwide, helping to furthering HIV/AIDS education and awareness.

References

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