For most seventh graders, life is a balancing act of school, friendships, and extracurricular activities. For Joey Armstrong, that balance is even more literal. As a dedicated dancer, musician, and honor student, he spends his days moving between school, the stage, and the studio—sometimes in the same evening.

Joey has been dancing for seven years, training in hip hop, ballet, modern, contemporary, and jazz at Adagio School of Performing Arts in Ottawa. Dance isn’t just an after-school activity for him—it’s a part of who he is.

“I started when I was five,” he says. “At first, I just really liked hip hop, but when I was nine, I decided to try ballet, and from there, I kept adding more styles.”

Now, dance is his passion, and his ambitions stretch far beyond middle school.

“When I go to college, I want to be on a dance team, study performing arts, and eventually become a professional dancer,” he says. “And after that, I’d love to open my own dance studio someday.”

That’s a big dream, but Joey has already proven that he has the dedication to make it happen.

At just 12 years old, he commits 12 hours a week to dance rehearsals, in addition to his schoolwork and music studies. He’s also part of a competitive dance company, traveling for commercial dance competitions to places like Wisconsin and Michigan.

While many people think of dance as entertainment, Joey sees it as a way to tell a story without words.

“Dance has its own form of acting,” he says. “It’s a way to express something through movement rather than speech.”

That natural sense of expression extends beyond dance. Joey is also a musician, playing both the saxophone and piano. He started piano lessons when he was nine or ten and picked up the saxophone in fifth grade.

With dance rehearsals, band practice, and straight-A academics, it would be easy to assume Joey has no time for anything else. But he’s also part of the Shepherd Middle School Poms team, which allows him to bring his dance experience into a school setting.

“It can be a lot to juggle,” he admits. “But since my dance studio and Poms are connected, it helps—my coaches understand when I need to be in two places at once.”

Though his schedule is packed, he still makes time for his favorite school subject: social studies.

“I like learning about history,” he says. “There’s just something fun about understanding the past.”

His teacher, Mrs. Sterner, keeps the subject engaging, but Joey doesn’t play favorites when it comes to school staff. “I don’t think I have a favorite teacher,” he says. “I like them all equally.”

Joey’s dedication, creativity, and work ethic make him stand out—not just as a dancer but as a multi-talented student with a clear vision for his future.

He’s not worried about high school yet, but when that time comes, he’ll bring the same determination, passion, and love for the performing arts with him.

And if history proves anything, he’ll keep moving forward—one dance step at a time.