Aubrey Self and Ella Rose Carter — both members of the Owensboro High School Dance team — have been selected to perform in the annual Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade, the oldest Thanksgiving Day parade in the nation. Self and Carter will join more than 500 junior high and high school cheerleaders and dancers from across the U.S.
Self is a senior at Owensboro High School, while Carter is an 8th grader at Owensboro Middle School. Both have also danced at Johnson’s Dance Studio locally for a number of years.
The individuals invited to perform in the parade are cheerleading and dance All-Americans selected from Varsity Spirit camps around the country. Only the top 10% of the cheerleaders and dancers who attended the summer camps received the honor and the chance to march in the prestigious parade.
“It means a lot to earn this opportunity, especially because I’m a senior and it’s my last year on the dance team,” Self said. “It’s also going to be a great experience because there will be people from all over the country coming and dancing together. I think it’ll really hit us whenever we actually get there with everyone.”
The duo said they tried out because they thought it would be a good way to expand their dance life, and they wanted to try something new.
“It really just sounded fun,” Carter said. “Plus it’s a good way to put yourself out there in the dance community.”
The All-Americans will perform alongside the floats and balloons as the 2021 Dunkin’ Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade makes its way through the heart of historic Philadelphia. The event is televised in the Philadelphia area and syndicated throughout the United States.
The group will be in Philadelphia from Nov. 23-26 practicing their routine and visiting Philadelphia landmarks.
