The Silhouette Dance Productions headed to Disneyland in California to perform in the Dance the Magic parade.
Twenty-two dancers accompanied by their families and siblings headed to the Golden State to perform along Main Street with 604 other dancers from Australia, the U.S. and Canada on July 12.
After the parade, dancers and their families were given special time in the park during the Party in the Park experience, featuring free snacks, no wait times and character experiences.
The studio had participated back in 2017 and vowed to do it every five years or so. However, the pandemic caused complications in their plan, leading to them heading there nearly eight years later.
Leslie Critchley, the owner of Silhouette Dance Productions, loved the idea of being able to give the dancers and their families this experience.
“I feel like Disney is such a great family experience, so even siblings who weren’t old enough to participate could still join us. They got to have the full experience of Disneyland," Critchley said.
While the opportunity does not come around every day, Critchley said it was incredible to see the kids get to dance outside of their community, “Some of them have never been on a plane or in an airport. The travel was very exciting and eye-opening for them.”
Lizbeth Dul, one of the dancers, talked about how she felt like her point of view expanded by participating when she saw different groups add in their flair that varied from the uniform dance they were all given.
“I like seeing other people's different ways of thinking on how to do it. I like seeing how different it was and how we can both improve like that. To improve with everyone from around the world, [it] can unite and we can do something as great as that," Dul said.
Dul was labelled a conversationalist during the trip, not shying away from approaching other groups to initiate trade deals and sign books.
“When we got to Disney, there was a bracelet trade so kids from all over the country traded friendship bracelets and clips. The Hawaiians brought macadamia nut chocolate bars," Dul said.
If you attended the Pickardville Canada Day parade or the Clyde Solstice parade, you’ll have noticed the Silhouette Dance group performing their routine along the route. The troupe started rehearsals back in May, where they spent two days a week learning and practicing the choreography to perfection.
Lizbeth was accompanied by her sister Alana on Main Street, where they both put their hard work and dedication to the test.
“Wherever these kids were, they were dancing, like in stores, at home. They were doing their dance, and they were even on the trampoline [practicing]," Tanya Dul, their mother, said.
Dance is a huge part of these young girls' routines, even when Disney is not on the table. For them, it’s a form of art.
“It’s like painting a portrait but with movement and if you have the right song, then you can put your passion in it,” Lizbeth says.
