For some, the ability to dance on a world stage is a lifelong journey. For three Comox Valley dancers, they were able to attain their “dream wish” earlier this month.
After spending months practicing and getting ready, the three from Sitka Stage and Screen travelled to California with students from Tulloch Academy along with others from Langford and other parts of the country.
The reason? To participate in the Dance the Magic Disneyland Parade, get the feeling of “being on fire” and have the chance of a lifetime, according to Tulloch Academy managing artistic director Mandy Tulloch.
“It was an opportunity to give an experience to our youth that is the Disney experience, they are so wonderful with their performances,” said Tulloch.
The dance itself features around 800 dancers from all over the world each year and around 300 dancers came from Australia, others from Mexico and all over the U.S. this year.
Preparation starts in the fall, with Disney sending the costumes and choreography to each group to practice for the big event. When the dancers get there, they go through a lot of rehearsal and preparations before being put together for the final performance.
Tulloch says watching the performance brought forward a lot of emotions, watching the dancers gain a huge experience they will not forget.
“I literally stood there and teared up because you realize there are these 800 beings from all different places, from all over the world that have met and said ‘hi’, doing the same choreography together and coming down as a group,” said Tulloch.
“For me, it’s all bout looking at our youth and seeing self-esteem rise, seeing self-confidence rise. I had one young man tell me if he could dance in the Disney parade, he could do anything.”
Tulloch adds the dancers were “floating” and high fiving and each other and congratulating all their new friends after the parade.
Following the experience, Tulloch says they have plans to return for the event next year and a few others, not just for kids.
