A TEEN’S TAKE: Payton Johnson on dancing

“I started dancing when I was 2 because I wanted to be like my big sister, Caitlin. I’m only 13, and my love for dance has already given me so much. I’ve worked professionally dancing with The Radio City Christmas Spectacular and in the movie ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.’ As a national title winner for dance conventions JUMP, NUVO, New York City Dance Alliance, and West Coast Dance Explosion, I’ve had the opportunity to train with and dance alongside famous choreographers such as Travis Wall, Mia Michaels, Stacey Tookey, Joey Dowling and Benoit-Swan Pouffer. I can’t wait to see where dance takes me next!”

Age: 13

School: LSU Laboratory School, eighth grade

Parents: Lori and Mike Johnson

FAVORITES:

Book: “The Hunger Games”

TV show: “So You Think You Can Dance,” “Cupcake Wars”

Movie: “Another Cinderella Story”

Music: “Whatever I’ve stolen from my sister’s playlist!”

Hangout: the dance studio

Role models: “My sister and my mother.”

Extra: Johnson was recently named as one of the Top 15 Competition/Convention Dancers to Watch in the Country by Dance Spirit Magazine. “When I’m not in the studio or traveling with a dance convention, I try to spend as much time as possible with my friends from school, even if it’s just a couple of hours a month.”

William Taylor

Assistant People editor