Artist of the Week | Army a triple threat: dance, drama, drag

When asked "what do you want to be when you grow up?" most preschoolers are proud to say a princess, an astronaut, a fairy or even a millionaire. For young Joey Army '10, the answer was always "an actor!"

"When I was four and my brother was seven, he decided he wanted to do theater," explained Army. "And because I admired my older brother, I, of course, wanted to do theater as well—that's where it all started."

Army has come a long way since preschool, but his devotion to the performing arts has remained the same. When Army came to Vassar, he had plans of focusing on theater, but quickly became involved with the Department of Dance when he literally slipped into a bit of luck.

"During Serenading my freshman year, Ballantine Field was muddy, slippery and wet. I slipped into this really great split, and a senior asked me to audition for FlyPeople. That's where my dance career started—at Serenading, completely covered in chocolate sauce and whipped cream," he said.

After joining FlyPeople, Army was hooked: "I took as many dance classes as I could, auditioned for VRDT [Vassar Repertory Dance Theatre] the next year and haven't really looked back since," he said. Today, Army not only dances in VRDT performances but has also choreographed pieces himself. For this year's 28th annual VRDT performance at the Bardavon Opera House, Army and Caitlyn Lamdin '11 choreographed a piece entitled "Social Darwinism." Army also choreographed a dance to "Be Italian," from the 2009 musical Nine. The piece will be in FlyPeople's year-end performance on April 23 and 24.
Faculty dance instructors and student dancers at Vassar are no doubt talented, but Army thinks the most appealing aspect of Vassar's dance scene is the positive attitude behind the moves. "Vassar dance, specifically VRDT, and…FlyPeople as well, is all about learning, growing and producing good, quality dance, but it's not about competing. It's about friendship and community," he said.

Army added: "At Vassar, there's so much opportunity to do different kinds of dance. You're not restricted to anything; you can take whatever class you want. As I've grown as a dancer, it hasn't been in just one field. I've been able to branch out into jazz, modern and ballet all at once."

In addition to his dancing, Army has also continued pursuing his childhood acting aspiration through participation in Drama Department productions. The drama major was the only freshman in the 2007 Department production of "Quills"; He went on to act in other Department shows, including the 2008 productions of "Merrily We Roll Along" and "The Skriker." He also played Angel in Vassar's production of "RENT" last semester.
"It's been a struggle, a great and very worthwhile struggle, to budget my time between VRDT and the Drama Department," said Army.

For the past three years, Army's arts endeavors have extended to a more obscure type of performing arts at Vassar—the annual drag show. He won the competition his sophomore year after creating the memorable persona of Katerina Dasbigboobovitch, a fierce Russian ballerina now forced to perform freelance. Army's talent was point, a skill that surprised and thrilled audience members. It's rare for men to attempt point, let alone execute a flawless dying-swan number on stage. Army now takes the advanced point class at Vassar.
Despite the time constraints of a very busy senior year, Army plans on breaking out Ms. Dasbigboobovitch for one last round in the spotlight. "I've done it for three years, and this year is my last year. I figure, if I'm going to do it, I'm going to do it right," he said.

Army's career as a Vassar College drag queen may be coming to a close, but he has high hopes to pursue a performing arts career after graduation. "I've already been doing auditions. I just went to Boston to do an audition for Disney World. I have a minor obsession with Disney, and by minor, I don't really mean minor," he said.

"My intention is to get as much experience auditioning while I'm still in school because we're so close to New York [City]. I plan on moving there when I graduate," he said. "If that doesn't work out, I'll pursue another outlet through law school or teaching—my other major is political science, since the performing arts path is not the best to follow for occupations."
Army knows the dance and theater biz is a discouragingly competitive industry, but with such experience and commitment, he has the confidence to give it all he's got. "I've been pursuing performing in some variety since I was very young, and I know if I don't give it my best shot, I'll regret it somewhere down the road," he said. "I never want to look back and say that I didn't try."