Accomplished Dancer-Turned-Actress Takes Center Stage
Tracey Tr’ Armstrong has been dancing as long as she can remember. During her
childhood in Toronto, she used to get up and groove to her mother's music and
eventually she started taking lessons at a place called the Dance Factory. She
later attended Erindale School of Dance and also trained with Luther Brown at Do
Dat Entertainment.
Lithe-limbed Tr’ landed her first big break when she was chosen from over a
thousand hopefuls to perform on the Missy Elliott concert tour. Then, she
subsequently appeared in music videos for Rihanna, Sean Paul, Robbie Williams,
Seal, Ashanti and Shawn Desman.
Meanwhile, she made her screen debut been in HONEY as one of the principal
dancers. She then again appeared as a dancer in CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE DRAMA
QUEEN, SHALL WE DANCE, BREAKIN’ IN: THE MAKING OF A HIP HOP DANCER, and STEPPIN’
UP: SAVE THE LAST DANCE II, where she enjoyed her first speaking part.
Now, the multi-talented cutie pie has parlayed her winning combination of acting
chops, charisma, charm and, of course, dancing ability, into a co-starring role
as the nemesis in HOW SHE MOVE. Here, Tr’ talks about all of the above and more.
Tr’ Armstrong:
The How She Move Interview
with Kam Williams
KW: How long have you been dancing?
TA: I started off dancing when I was five.
KW: Do you see your future with acting or with dancing or with both?
TA: With acting. I'm a little character. Anyone who knows me, knows I'm bouncing
off the walls all the time. I would love to play an action hero.
KW: You remind me of another dancer,
Columbus Short, who has that same boundless
energy. He made the jump over to acting successfully, and had a big hit starring
in Stomp the Yard.
TA: Yes! We actually appeared together in Save the Last Dance II. I love the
fact that he's made that move. He's a great role model for me, because that's
exactly where I want to go, except adding on choreography, too.
KW: Well, this is as good a time as any to ask the Columbus Short question. Are
you happy?
TA: Am I happy? I am ecstatic! People have been telling me that I don't look
happy because I have to control myself to contain myself. If I let myself go, my
erotic self will come out and I'll do something.
KW: Is there a question that nobody has asked you, that you wish somebody would?
TA: Yeah, will you ever quit dancing?
KW: Okay, will you ever quit dancing?
TA: Never. Dancing is part of my life.
KW: Are you at all like your character in How She Move?
TA: That character, Michelle, is inside me, my inner self. I contain her. But if
you tick me off, Michelle will come out more than you've ever seen her.
KW: Do you still live in Canada, or have you moved to Hollywood?
TA: I love Canada, But I'm making the move to L.A. in February.
KW: This is a good time for the Jimmy Bayan question. Where in L.A. will you
live?
TA: I'll probably stay in North Hollywood, though, to be honest, I'd rather stay
in West Hollywood.
KW: Do you have your next project lined up yet?
TA: Actually, no.
KW: Who would you like to act opposite?
TA: I'd like to make movies with some up and coming actors.
KW: Any advice for those who’d like to follow in your footsteps?
TA: You have to believe in yourself first for anyone else to believe in you. And
once you've done that, you have to follow your energy. Everybody has a
divine-inspired energy. Accept it, don't reflect it.
KW: Is there a way fans can get in touch with you?
TA: Yes they can visit my new website at
www.tre-lystikz.com.
KW: Thanks for the time, Tr’, and I hope when you break big, I'll able to get
another interview with you.
TA: You know what? I'll make sure that happens. Thanks you so much!
Related Links
The How She Move
- Film Review
http://reviews.aalbc.com/how_she_move.htm
Rutina Wesley: The How She Move Interview
http://reviews.aalbc.com/rutina_wesley.htm