28043427
The Dallas Cowboys will be playing on Thanksgiving, but no one sitting at a local television will be watching. Instead, eyes will be glued to 6ABC and its annual Thanksgiving Day Parade as eight of the area’s most talented young ladies will be tapping their feet among the ranks of the "Fantapulous" in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
"We got involved with the parade nine years ago," Donna Zin, Pennsport Dance Studio’s co-owner, said. "Info was sent to the studio and we checked it out and it’s pretty cool."
Almost a decade later, the school at 1632 S. Second St. is still selecting skilled young tappers to learn the pre-choreographed routine so they can grab a spot amongst the thousands of other dancers during the opening and closing number of the parade.
"This is my ninth year," Kristie Norkus, 19, said. "I like participating because it’s a good experience. We’re dancing with all different types of tap dancers from out of state.
"It’s really fun, you get to work with girls that you don’t know."
Norkus, of Sixth and Shunk streets, will be accompanied by Devon Dougherty, Front and Ritner streets; Allison and Lacey Power, Second and Jackson streets; Anna Betteridge, Front and McKean streets; Gina Simeone, Second and Oregon Avenue; and Cristina Hernandez, Moyamensing and Snyder avenues for the Ben Franklin Parkway parade, which has a new route this year.
Though some are vets with nine years under their belts, it’s the first go-round for a few. However, nerves don’t seem to be in the mix.
"I’m really excited for the new experience and to meet different people," Betteridge, 15, said. "[My goal] is actually to get on TV. I’m gonna cheese it up and hope."
Be it new hat or old tricks, the eight ladies will be up bright and early come Nov. 26 to get their moves in line at 5:30 a.m. — the meeting time for all "Fantapulous" performers.
Though the call-time may not be the worst of it.
"We’ve been out there in typhoon-like weather," Zin, 45, said of practice days of yore. "The New Year’s Parade, they now postpone that. But the Thanksgiving Day Parade, my kids have been out there in downpours where they were trying to tap dance and were breathing water up their noses at the same time."
Come hell or high water, one thing the wee morning hours or the risk of inclement weather cannot dampen is the girls’ spirit.
"It was fun because we got to go with everybody and see people from different dancing schools and see how different people dance," 14-year-old Lacey Power, in her second parade, said.
The three-song montage hits a high note with older sister Allison, 19, who said, "I’m just excited it’s ‘High School Musical,’ actually."
Despite apprehension by the youngest of the bunch, it’s obvious all will have each other’s back when the time comes.
"I’m nervous about being on TV because I don’t like a lot of people looking at me," Simeone, 11, said. "I’ve performed, but not in front of that big of a crowd."
Whether it’s breaking out of comfort zones or relishing the spotlight, the morning festivities are a great way for the school to give and get a little.
"It’s something for them to look forward to and we try and get them involved in a bunch of stuff outside the studio," Zin said.
Growing up at Seventh and Ritner streets, Zin was thrilled when the opportunity to take over her cousin’s studio arose a decade ago. Going into business with fellow dancer Dana Theil, the duo have helmed the movement center offering classes in everything from ballet and modern to hip-hop and Zumba.
"I started when I was 3," Zin said of dance. "Everything — tap, ballet, jazz — I studied in the local Pennsylvania Ballet for awhile and then Maywood Academy.
"I was always teaching. I remember filling in for my dance teachers when I was 16."
The passion Zin feels for her craft has noticeably seeped to her pupils, who hail from all parts of the city, with the majority coming from the local crop.
"I love [teaching]. I mean, what better thing to do than to work with children? They are so funny and full of life and energy and it’s great to see them actually learn something from September to June," Zin said.
When the package recruiting local talent for the parade arrived, Zin didn’t give it a second thought before signing up her prodigies. To participate, a DVD with the required dance steps is sent out roughly three weeks before the main event, but the short timeline was no challenge for the current class.
"It’s pretty easy," 12-year-old Hernandez said of this year’s footwork.
Putting in an hour a night two times a week, the eight worked on getting in synch while adding individual flair.
"I personally transpose it into my own dance moves ’cause there are counts and stuff involved," Zin said, "but if they want your arms swinging left to right, your arms will be swinging left to right."
With the routine down pat, the girls are gearing up for their favorite part of the affair, which includes bonding and a taste of the new.
"It was a really fun experience and you get to perform with other girls from other dancing studios and it’s on TV," Hernandez said of her debut last year.
Meeting up Thanksgiving Eve in front of the Art Museum to receive their uniforms, find their placements on the predetermined grid and work out any kinks, the girls also will spend time chatting and connecting with others who share their passion.
"It’s fun getting [new girls involved], trying to get them used to how everything works and getting them used to getting up at 5:30 a.m.," Dougherty, 19, who will notch her ninth performance in the Thanksgiving Day Parade this Thursday, said.
With the large number of participants, the variation adds depth and character to what people will see and Zin claims it usually goes off without a hitch.
"Some of the girls are, like, very Broadway-style, really cheesy and that’s what they like. There are other kids who are shy and just move their feet and they won’t do the whole facial thing," Zin said.
While comparisons can be made across clubs or even individuals, the main concern is getting out there, living it up and putting on a great show.
"The best part would have to be that you get to dance with other dance schools," Lacey said. "’Cause everybody just likes to dance — and you can tell."
