Madrid was born in Queens, New York City.[2] He attended "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]
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]
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 CenterinNew 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.
^ abLine-up of "Advance NYC Street Lab" teachers (2012, archive) in Street Dance Magazine (Javier Ninja included in line-up) [4]
^The New York Times : "Vying for Bragging Rights, Prancing Pros and Amateurs" (May 2, 2014) [5] - retrieved March 31, 2015
^ abJavier Ninja in "Cori Olinghouse of Ninja" in The Brooklyrail by Patricia Milder - March 4th, 2011 [6] - retrieved March 30, 2015
^ abiA Studios (London) publicity of Javier Ninja's workshop in "heyevent" : "Javier Ninja Vogue Workshop London!"[7] - retrieved March 31, 2015
^Ballet Tech, New York City Public School for Dance :"History" of the school [8] - retrieved March 31, 2015
^The Jambo Urban Festival : "Javier Ninja" [9] retrieved March 31, 2015
^The Huffington Post : "Street, Club And LGBTQ Pride Collide In Harlem Dance Night, 'Counterculture"' - (May 22, 2014) [10] - retrieved March 31, 2015
^Battle of Yestermorrow in "Repeat Performance: The Redoubtable RoseLee Goldberg’s Performa Festival is Back and Bigger Than Ever" by M.H. Miller of [11] in Observer - retrieved 30 March 2015
