Swansea dancers get ready for Macy's show

SOMERSET – A team of teens from a Swansea dance studio is putting aside the traditions of their family's Thanksgiving to play a role on the national stage.

Thirteen dancers from Loralee's Studio will make their debut at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, where they will dance at the "Winter Wonderland", alongside hundreds of other dancers from across the country.

The team left Saturday morning for an evening rehearsal in New York, said Loralee Levesque, dance teacher and studio owner, during a phone interview Friday. The dancers were eager to spend a very busy and exciting week of travel, rehearsals and sightseeing, she said.

The dancers said that they were ready for the experiment, but not without some butterflies.

"I'm really excited to be part of a unique opportunity in my life with my favorite people," said Allison Renaud, 15, of Somerset. "But I'm also scared that it's on TV and live. This little bazaar is scary to think.

In October, the organizers of the parade, Spirit of America, announced that they had succeeded. The teenagers spent 15 hours in the studio learning and perfecting the routine that the parade choreographers sent them. When they dance on Thursday, they will wear white suits decorated with white faux fur, designed and delivered by Spirit.

Désirée, Lévesque's daughter, aged 16, is one of the dancers. Desiree said she was "more excited than nervous," an assertion repeated by several other dancers.

She said that her mother had told the dancers that she had news and had them gathered in the studio. Desiree said she thought the announcement would be about an upcoming competition, but when her mother told teens that they would dance in the parade, she was ecstatic.

"We were so surprised," Desiree said.

Lévesque, who lives in Assonet, opened the Loralee dance studio more than 12 years ago and has been teaching dance for over 30 years. The studio team has 50 dancers, the youngest of whom is 7 years old. To comply with the parade rules, she hired dancers aged 14 and over: 12 girls and a boy. Many of them dance more than half of their lives.

"They are very humble and talented dancers," said Levesque.

The studio has won championships at national dance competitions over the last decade, she said.

In New York, the team will repeat at least four hours a day until Thursday. But the organizers of the parade also ensure that teenagers do not lack experience in the city.

Spirit invites them to visit the Statue of Liberty, the September 11 Memorial and the Today Show. In the spirit of dance, they will also attend live performances, including The Radio City Rockettes and the Broadway musical "Aladdin. & # 39; & # 39;

After the parade, the dancers will attend a special gala ball at the American Hall.

Bella Manchester, 14, of Somerset, said she was eager to see performances in New York between two rehearsals for theirs.

"Theater and dance are my life," she said.

Zachary Almeida, 16, of Somerset, said he was eager to meet dancers from across the country.

"I'm excited to participate in the show, be on TV and meet new people throughout the experience," he said.

Levesque said she hoped the weather would favor the dancers as they walked the parade route for more than 2.5 miles, their costumes being designed for the show and not for the heat.

"I will probably be very cold and very tired throughout the course, but I think the adrenaline will start and I can continue," said his daughter.

Allison Renaud, 15, of Somerset, said her parents would be among the crowd watching the parade and that it would be exciting, but they will also miss out on any family experience.

"We usually have Thanksgiving at home, so it's a shame that I can not spend it with my extended family," she said.

Levesque said the dancers were ready to take part in the celebration in New York.

"I think it will be a huge experience for everyone, something we will remember all our lives," Manchester said.

You can contact Morgan Hughes at the following address: [email protected].