On Nov. 17, the senior drill team members will leave for New York City to join other dancers from all around the nation and prepare for the 2012 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
“The seniors from past years have told me that walking in the parade is the most fun,” drill team captain Abby Callison said. “It’s really cold but it’s exciting to see the parade.”
For most people, Thanksgiving planning does not begin until the week before, but for the Royales, preparations started in the summer. In July, representatives from Spirit of America Productions, a production company specialized in training dancers for parades around the world, visited the girls and taught them the choreography.
“Plano West is the test team for Macy’s,” drill team director Kari Watson said. “They come in to Plano West every year and test out the choreography and the costuming on the whole drill team to see what they like. We know the choreography before we even get to New York, and the other several hundred kids do not.”
Though not much has changed in the decade the Royales have performed in the parade, every year the style of the dance is a little different and 2012 is no exception.
“This year the costumes are in black and white and the song is completely instrumental,” drill team assistant director Leanne Mendez said. “The dance number this year is definitely more contemporary. This dance will be very interesting and different from the past few years.”
With over one thousand students performing in the parade, from drill teams to dance studios to cheerleaders, knowing the choreography beforehand gives the senior girls a leg up in regards to the dance formations.
“We see ourselves on TV every year,” Mendez said. “This year will be the twelfth year we’re performing in the parade, and it’s always exciting for us because the Royales are in the front and center, so we get shown on TV a lot.”
In the week they spend in the Big Apple, the drill team members will also be visiting the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Columbia University and Ground Zero. They will also get a chance to view Broadway’s Bring It On: The Musical, see the Manhattan skyline, go on a harbor tour and of course, go shopping.
“I’m really excited just to see all the different sights inNew Yorkand we’re all excited to shop,” Callison said.
The chance to take a trip to New York City and be broadcasted on TV every year is extremely unique. This yearly trip teaches the girls many life lessons, from performing and for a huge audience to everyday lessons, like being responsible and friendly.
“It’s a great opportunity for the girls to meet other kids from around the nation and to experience Thanksgiving inNew York City,” Watson said. “It’s like no other. It’s very neat. There’s almost a family feeling when we get up to New York.”
