Senior Taylor Kent, co-captain of Varsity poms, got the opportunity of her dancing career when she was invited to perform in the 85 annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. In June she got a flyer inviting her to perform, and became one of two people from northern Illinois to go. Staff reporter Kayla Garcia spoke with Kent shortly after her dance number was broadcasted to some 50 million million viewers and onlookers.
Q: When was it?
“On Thanksgiving morning at 9 a.m.”
Q: Where was it?
“It was on multiple streets, mostly 34th Street by the Macy’s.”
Q: What did you do in the parade?
“I danced in it. It was with a group of 600 girls. There were people from like Washington, California, a lot from Texas, Florida, Kansas, southern Illinois. Me and my friend were really the only ones from the upper-half of Illinois. We only really performed in front of Macy’s, because that’s where the cameras were at.”
Q: How was your performance group run?
“When we first got there, we had a four hour rehearsal for the routine. When we got there [in New York], we had to learn the routine, and then the trip consisted of other activities other than dancing. I was there from Saturday to Friday. In the parade first we had to go back to where they set up all the big balloons, and they had us there for an hour before. And they had us just walk into the parade. There we over 70 columns of nine girls, I was the 64th column, and 6th girl back.”
Q: How was the experience?
“It was a two mile parade. I had to wear a green cheerleader’s uniform, a shell and skirt and tights. I was EXTREMELY cold. It was a three hour parade. After the parade we got to be checked out and got to go to a very nice restaurant for Thanksgiving. It was an experience that I loved. The routine was difficult too, because we were so close together, and one girl—my friend actually—got trampled!”
Q: What else did you do besides the parade?
“Oh gosh, so much. We went and saw the Sister Act on Broadway, we saw the New York City Rockettes (dancers, most famously known for their kick lines), we got to go to the top of the Empire State building. I got to shopping in three different places, like Times Square (souviener stores, Forever 21, and the biggest Macy’s store in the country). I got to shopping on 5th Avenue, which was so cool. It was definitely an experience that I did not want to miss out on.”
Q: Were you excited for it?
“I watch this parade every thanksgiving morning, it’s kind of a tradition, and it is just so cool now that I’m a senior to actually be in it. I was really shocked I got to go.”
Q: Did you enjoy Thanksgiving in New York?
Taylor: “After the parade we got to be checked out and got to go to a very nice restaurant for Thanksgiving. It was an experience that I loved. The food was great! I wouldn’t recommend buying anything in New York, I bought just a cheeseburger that was $17!”