Shining Knights: DWSA senior Madison Govia traces her love of music to Caribbean roots

Long before Madison Govia ever stepped into a dance studio, rhythm shaped by the Caribbean sounds of Saint Kitts and Nevis filled her home.

A senior at the Denzel Washington School of the Arts, Madison traces her love of music and movement back to her earliest memories. Born in the Bronx and raised in Mount Vernon since age 3, she grew up just a 10-minute walk from the 2 train at 241st Street.

That geography shaped her worldview: Westchester County roots with one foot always in New York City.

“I liked having that in-between,” Madison said. “Being in Mount Vernon but also close enough to the Bronx to see family and understand there’s more to New York.”

The proud first-generation American’s parents immigrated from the Caribbean — her father from Saint Kitts and her mother from Nevis, sister islands that form the nation of Saint Kitts and Nevis.

“It makes me cherish my culture more,” Madison said. “It’s not one of the islands people always name first, like Jamaica or Trinidad. So I hold onto it.”

Music filled her household. Her father would sit with Madison and her four siblings and play songs for hours. What began as a childhood ritual became a lifelong bond.

“To this day, we still send each other song recommendations,” she said, chuckling.

Unlike many dancers who begin at age 2 or 3, Madison started at 8 and began training seriously around 9. But what she may have lacked in early years, she made up for in dedication.

Her first studio focused on competition dance, giving her rigorous technical training in ballet, tap, jazz and contemporary. That foundation prepared her to grow into a versatile and mature performer.

Today, she trains in hip-hop and commercial dance at Brickhouse NYC, commuting to the Times Square studio regularly.

“I’m grateful for all the technical training I had,” Madison said. “Without it, I wouldn’t be where I am now.”

She attended Grimes Elementary School from kindergarten through sixth grade before enrolling at DWSA in seventh. Her first year, however, coincided with COVID-19 — a transition to middle school that unfolded largely on Zoom.
 
“It was overwhelming,” she admitted. “New schedule, new teachers, online classes — and it was hard to make connections.”

When students returned in hybrid and then fully in person, things shifted. Dance class became a refuge. In eighth grade, she performed in “The Lion King Jr.,” an experience that changed her perspective.

She watched older students re-teach choreography, stepping into leadership roles. Seeing how dancers, singers, actors and tech crew worked together sparked something deeper.

“I remember thinking, ‘I want to be where they are one day,’” she said.

As a senior — and president of her class — Madison serves as a choreographer, mentoring younger performers and helping shape productions from behind the scenes. In 10th grade’s “Annie Jr.,” she stepped away from performing to choreograph, gaining new appreciation for the backstage teams that make shows possible.

“It made me realize how much happens offstage,” she said. “It’s just as important as what you see in the spotlight.”

On campus, Madison is known as focused and driven. As class president, she often operates in “serious mode,” determined to meet high expectations.

“I’m smart, I’m a leader, I’m hardworking,” she said. “But I’m also fun.”

People might see her discipline first. What they might not immediately notice is her warmth. “I’m here for a good conversation,” she said. “I love to listen.”

Madison is awaiting decisions from several colleges this spring, though she’s already been accepted to every school she has applied to so far. Some applications were for BFA dance or choreography programs; others reflect a parallel interest in education, inspired by her mother and grandmother, both teachers.

“A degree can open a lot of doors,” she said thoughtfully. “But I also know what I want to do.”

That certainty is striking. When Madison talks about her future, there is no “if,” only “when.”

“There’s always a little doubt — that’s normal,” she said. “But it’s never changed my mind.”