A group of a dozen teenage dancers from Turlock’s Deborah Morgan Dance Studio participated in the Spirit of America performance during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade yesterday morning in New York City.
“It is a very exciting and great experience for the girls. Some have never even been on a airplane, let alone New York,” said Deborah Morgan, owner of the dance studio.
This is the fourth consecutive year Deborah Morgan dancers have participated in the Macy’s parade and most of the dancers are students at Pitman High School, Turlock High School, Turlock Christian High School and Oakdale High School.
This year’s Deborah Morgan Dance Studio participants include: Savannah Ledford, Taylor Jordao, Cortney Hondeville, Jenna Grigsby, Maura Tobin, Madelyn Valenzuela, Hope Kindred, Claire Fountain, Hailey Kellstrom, Alina Swart, Felicia Filippini, Hannah Tinley.
While in New York the girls took part in auditions all week, but also took in the sights and sounds of the Big Apple, including the Statue of Liberty, numerous Broadway shows, The Rockettes at Radio CIty Music Hall and of course, exhaustive shopping in the fashion mecca.
Deborah Margan Dance Studio is one of only six dance studios from across the United States invited each year to participate in the Spirit of America performance, which consist of thousands of teens from high school dance teams and marching bands.
Chaperone Jennifer Carter and her daughter Taylor, who participated in the Macy’s Parade for several years before leaving for college in 2012, also attended the trip to New York. Taylor taught many of the girls who danced this year and for the mother and daughter it was a trip they simply couldn’t refuse- especially the shopping of course.
“It’s a great bonding experience and an amazing trip,” said Jennifer.
The trip to New York is a lot of hard work for the girls. Aside from learning their routines, which will be seen by millions of people, many of the girls had to raise either all of the money or a portion of the $3,000 price tag. In total the dancers raised about $15,000.
To cap off the trip the girls had Thanksgiving dinner at the world famous Sardi’s Restaurant in New York.
Courtesy of Deborah Morgan Dance Studio
Why do people only comment on the negative articles? This is awesome, girls! It takes very hard work to be able to achieve something like this! Keep up the good work ladies!
Because its a lot more fun to comment on the negative articles. Try picking out a negative article and make some random funny shit up about the person or the act. It really helps when you are having a bad day and need a good laugh. If you can’t pick out a person, just pick on JP….he’s the community jester and punching bag.