NEW YORK — The opportunity of a lifetime, 19 Mainers made their way to New York City this Thursday to dance in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Dancers of the Drouin Dance Center in Westbrook got an invitation to be a part of the parade earlier this year.
"I'm so excited...I'm just so excited! Cause I've been waiting for so long," dancer Elspeth Migliore said, who has been dancing with the company for 14 years.
After receiving a choreography assignment a few weeks before the big day, dancers have been practicing meticulously.
"It's very jazzy. It's very upbeat jazzy so it's like... the stamina has got us going!" dancer Jillian Petruccelli said.
With more than 700 expected to dance alongside them, dance director and owner Danielle Drouin says oftentimes during big performances changes may have to be made on the spot to make the choreography look seamless down New York City streets.
"Especially when they change formations and get to see all the dancers together, there's always adjustments and they have to learn to pivot really quickly," Drouin said.
Although it looks simple, each dancer has to fine-tune where their hands, legs, torso, and feet are placed for each beat in order to look like they're dancing as one.
"We spend a lot of time training like when you have to be doing what position and what part of your body you're isolating and moving because it's very specific," Migliore said.
Drouin says watching the girls grow into their own over the past couple of days has been a proud moment for her.
"It's been cool to see them get to know each other a little better in this rehearsal process and they'll be there to support each other all week when we're in New York City," Drouin added.