LUGOFF, S.C. — A local dance company is getting to show the Big Apple and the nation their dance skills on national tv this Thanksgiving.
It's been a business trip, mixed in with some fun and tourist activities for the Palmetto Dance Center.
The team touched down in New York on Saturday and according to dancer Kaleigh Robinson have been in and out of practices for their performance at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
She says, "We got here Saturday, that was our first practice where we found out our spots. Then Sunday was an all-day practice from 7 am to 4 pm. That was our learn the dance, make sure it's clean day. We had practiced yesterday on the star. Today we don't have practice at all, tomorrow we have a dress rehearsal, and then Thursday the big day."
She tells us between the practices they've been able to see the city too.
"We went to a Broadway show, we went to the Empire State Building, we're heading there in a few minutes. We saw the Rockettes and went to the Today Show." Robinson adds, "Yesterday we got the chance to dance on the star for the NBC camera angles, so that was super fun. It was kind of a surreal experience to stand out there for the first time."
Director Britton Elliott says it's a great opportunity to put her dancers on a national stage, "It's been about a two-year process between auditions, fundraising, and all that good stuff. It's been neat to see the community involvement and the community rallying behind the girls. I told them they don't only represent the studio, but like you said, our community, our state."
Through it, she tells us the support is felt hundreds of miles away here in Lugoff.
She says, "Our dance family has been checking in with the girls and commenting on Facebook and waiting on daily pictures."
You can get more updates on the dance company's Facebook page.