Expressions Dance & Movement Center from Santee, CA is headed back to New York to perform in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade - for the 4th Time! 
On November 23, 2024, Seventeen local teens will travel across the country to dance in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York. They will be accompanied by supporting parents and Expressions' Instructors on the trip of a lifetime.
Expressions Dance & Movement Center has been able to take 4 groups of dancers to the parade since the studio opened in 2011. Our local studio provides this experience by joining forces with Spirit of America Productions. Spirit of America gathers dancers who train at studios all over the United States and gives them the opportunity to dance in the iconic Macy's Parade, as part of their Spirit of America Dance Team. They also put together a cheer team that walks in the parade as well.
As part of the experience, dancers will learn a choreographed routine at the studio months before the parade happens. They will learn the choreography, learn to work together as a team, and perfect each move. Once they arrive in New York, the real work begins. Dancers have Morning & Afternoon practices with everyone all in one large hotel ballroom. They have tech rehearsals late at night with the parade's event production team.
In between all the practicing and rehearsing, they go on group excursions that are organized by Spirit of America, so all the performers get to travel around the city and see the sights together. They go to Broadway Shows, take the ferry to the Statue of Liberty, see The Rockettes Christmas Spectacular, and more! Expressions students even get to take a special private masterclass at the Broadway Dance Center- where they learn Broadway choreography taught by cast members, choreographers, and artistic directors of some of New York's most famous musicals!
The 17 students who will be perform in this year's parade include 8th through 12th graders from around East County San Diego, including Santee, El Cajon, San Carlos, Allied Gardens, Spring Valley, La Mesa, & San Diego. We are extremely proud of their hard work and dedication, and can't wait to see them perform on the streets of Manhattan!
