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When something happens that you could have never imagined, planned for, or even dreamed of, you have to wonder if it was always meant to be. Some things are simply too unexpected to be coincidence. Too perfectly timed and too extraordinary to feel like anything but fate. Perhaps some things are really written in the stars.

Our second Friday Feature shines the spotlight on our oldest Adult 2 team member, Joyce Castillo ~ and trust us, you’re going to want to know her story. A full-time mama of three ranging in ages 9 to 34, homeschooler, part-time dance teacher, lifelong lover of dance, and proud grandmother (or ‘Mima’ as she prefers) to an adorable 6-year-old, 51-year old Joyce has spent much of her life pouring into the people she loves. But somewhere along the way, she found herself stepping into an unforeseen dream of her own. Her journey is unexpected, and a beautiful reminder that sometimes the dreams we never imagined for ourselves are the very ones waiting to be chased. Joyce’s story will surprise you, hopefully inspire you, and maybe even make you believe that the best chapters of our lives can come when we least expect them.

What does being a Team USA athlete in this chapter of your life mean to you, and what do you think your younger self would say if she could see you now?

It’s honestly still a little hard for me to wrap my head around how I got here. I started dancing ballet at 6 and spent the next 10 years training. At 17, I became a young mom, so dance naturally took a backseat while I went to college and figured out this whole life thing. I’d find little pockets of opportunity to perform here and there, but for the most part, dance was something I had to love from the sidelines. Eventually, as my oldest daughter Camille got older and didn’t need me 24/7, I found my way back to the studio. I started exploring other styles like jazz, contemporary, hip hop, and pole. In 2012, I got my teaching certification in pole dance and ballet barre, and spent a few years teaching at an adults-only studio. I still consistently took dance classes but there was one thing I never did: compete. Dance was something I did because every ounce of my being loved it. A
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