Javier Ninja

Javier Ninja
Born Javier Madrid
10 March 1984
Queens (New York City), United States
Nationality American
Ethnicity Latino American
Occupation Vogue dancer and teacher
Known for Voguing

Javier Ninja (birth name Javier Madrid,[1] born 10 March 1984 in Queens[2] (New York City)) is an American vogue dancer[1][3] and teacher.[2][4][5] Madrid is a member of the Legendary House of Ninja founded by the late Willi Ninja[1] and has worn the House Dance International vogue "Champion of the year" for three consecutive years.[6] He is well known within the vogue dance world and has performed and taught in several countries including the U.S.[2][3][7]

Early life and education

Madrid was born in Queens, New York City.[2] He attended the "The New Ballet School" (a "tuition free" ballet school for children from low income families, now called :Ballet Tech founded by Eliot Feld[8]) when he was nine years old[2] and studied contemporary, modern and ballet, and discovered vogue when he was fifteen years old (in a nightclub).[1] Like many underground voguers of his generation and the generation before him, he started going to nightclubs whilst he was underage.[1] He met the great Willi Ninja in 2002 who went on to become his mentor. Willi coached and guided him for five years until he was ready to "walk" a ball.[1][9]

Career

Madrid won the House Dance International's vogue "Champion of the year" three years in a row[6] (2007, 2008 and 2009[2]) and has become a permanent fixture of the ball scene since 2007 — entering many competition and judging.[2] He is a member of the Legendary House of Ninja,[10] a vogue house founded by the late Willi Ninja] — his mentor, and the person who brought him to the House.[1] Madrid has performed solo pieces as well as group pieces with other members of the House in various countries as well as in the U.S.[3] He performed in "Battle of Yestermorrow" by Iona Rozeal Brown (2011),[11][12] "Scott, Queen of Marys" - previously performed by his late mentor the great Willi Ninja ("the godfather of voguing"[13]) in 1994,[14] "Off Broadway" House of Ninja Production and "East is Red".[3] Television appearance include America's Next Top Model[3] presented by Tyra Banks and his "House father" Benny Ninja.[2] In 2010, Madrid performed in the World competition "Juste DeBout" in Paris.[1] He has performed with Madonna in the 2012 Super Bowl,[1] appeared in Icona Pop's music video "All Night" (2013)[3] and in FKA twigs music video "Glass & Patron" (2015) starring alongside Benjamin Milan, Tamsier Joof and David Magnifique — the three voguers from London (England).[15] Madrid also appeared in the flagging documentary "Flow Affair" directed by Wolfgang Busch.[16] As well as being a dancer, Madrid is also a vogue dance teacher and has taught in the US[4] and various other countries especially in Europe and the Far East.[2][7] He is a guest teacher at the Broadway Dance Center in New York City[3] and as of 2013, is the current "father" of the Legendary House of Ninja following Benny's involvement in the December 1, 2013 Metro-North train derailment.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Dance Magazine - interview of "Javier Ninja" by Margaret Fuhrer - retrieved 30 March 2015
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Javier Ninja's workshop and bio in Arkstar (December 3, 2010) retrieved March 31, 2015
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Bio of Javier Madrid in Broadway Dance Center (New York City) retrieved March 31, 2015
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Line-up of "Advance NYC Street Lab" teachers (2012, archive) in Street Dance Magazine (Javier Ninja included in line-up)
  5. ↑ The New York Times : "Vying for Bragging Rights, Prancing Pros and Amateurs" (May 2, 2014) - retrieved March 31, 2015
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Javier Ninja in "Cori Olinghouse of Ninja" in The Brooklyrail by Patricia Milder - March 4th, 2011 - retrieved March 30, 2015
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 iA Studios (London) publicity of Javier Ninja's workshop in "heyevent" : "Javier Ninja Vogue Workshop London!" - retrieved March 31, 2015
  8. ↑ Ballet Tech, New york City Public School for Dance :"History" of the school - retrieved March 31, 2015
  9. ↑ The Jambo Urban Festival : "Javier Ninja" retrieved March 31, 2015
  10. ↑ The Huffington Post : "Street, Club And LGBTQ Pride Collide In Harlem Dance Night, 'Counterculture"' - (May 22, 2014) - retrieved March 31, 2015
  11. ↑ Battle of Yestermorrow in "Repeat Performance: The Redoubtable RoseLee Goldberg’s Performa Festival is Back and Bigger Than Ever" by M.H. Miller of in Observer - retrieved 30 March 2015
  12. ↑ T: The New York Times Style Magazine : "RoseLee Goldberg Shares Her Favorite Moments From Performa" - June 14, 2011 - retrieved March 31, 2015
  13. ↑ Today : "Willi Ninja, godfather of ‘voguing,’ dies at 45" ( September 7, 2006) retrieved March 31, 2015
  14. ↑ The New Yorker : "Hello Again" (December 7, 2012) retrieved March 31, 2015
  15. ↑ "FKA twigs - Glass & Patron (Official Music Video YTMAs)". Javier Ninja credited as a dancer
  16. ↑ Review of "Flow Affiar" in Edge Media Network : "New Film Documents History & Artistry of Flagging" - retrieved 30 March 2015