Jenina Hernandez | 210SA Francisco L. Armstrong practices for ‘Off Center' with his partner Laura Richards.

For a painter, it's in the brush; for a singer, the voice. But for a dancer, art is in the motion, and Francisco L. Armstrong is always on the move.

Armstrong, 22, has traveled across the United States in pursuit of his passion for ballet and modern dance. Along the way, he's built up an extensive résumé that includes performing for major dance companies in Boston and Pennsylvania — all while earning a certification in aeronautics.

When Armstrong was 7, his family left Puerto Rico for Florida. He said he got involved in dance at age 9 after his mother, a flamenco dancer, enrolled him in ballet. When other boys, including his brother, were swinging baseball bats, Armstrong was doing cartwheels in “The Nutcracker.”
“When I was 11, 12 and 13, I did solos. ..... I started to realize that I was getting better, and that's when I really wanted to actively pursue dance,” Armstrong said.

When Armstrong moved to San Antonio at 17, he instantly made a connection with Ballet San Antonio.

“Dance as a career is 9 to 5, and that didn't give me a chance to go to school. Ballet San Antonio is different because it gives professional dancers a chance to work or go to school and the chance to choreograph and perform, too,” Armstrong said.

He received his business degree in professional aeronautics and works on planes and equipment during the day. When night falls, he heads over to Ballet San Antonio, where he's rehearsing for “Off Center,” a mix of contemporary ballet scheduled for March 7-8 at the McAllister Auditorium.
Ballet San Antonio also reaches out to the community through charitable works with hospitals and nursing homes.

“We maintain a social responsibility, and for an artist, this is a healthy environment that is good for the soul,” Armstrong said.

Jenina Hernandez | 210SA