Dancing to Disney

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The Dance Connection, located at 1232 Hartford Ave. in Johnston, is heading to Disney World this weekend to perform a routine that dancers have been practicing for almost a year.

Owner Valerie Mercurio told the Sun Rise that 15 dancers and their families are heading down to Florida. Director Michelle Cole choreographed their routine, which is called “Candyland,” in June 2018. Monday night was their last rehearsal before heading to Disney, and Mercurio said they were ready to go.

The group, which includes dancers between the ages of 7 and 15, flies down Saturday to meet with a Disney choreographer for a workshop. Mercurio said a surprise dancer – usually Goofy – will come by at the end. Their dance will take place Monday at Disney Springs on a stage by the water.

The performance is different from others, though, as there are no breaks for costume changes. The dance is nonstop from the opening to closing note. Mercurio said the routine is between 16 and 20 minutes.

“They learn their routines and the music never stops, there’s no curtain,” Mercurio said. “They’re used to having curtains, like at recitals they do their routine, go off the stage, change up. But this is continuous. So as one group is dancing, the others are waiting, then they go out and that group goes back and changes and they come right back out on stage.”

Dancers heading to Disney include Katlyn Allen, Marissa Cole, Kendra Enriquez, Jillian Gagnon, Celina Gorman, Angelina McKeon, Jazmin Monterroso, Leslie Monterroso, Julian Paroyian, Sophie Paroyian, Julia Parsons, Samantha Rivet, Ruby Safford, Ella Sampson and Jaelyn Vicario.

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