Every year on Thanksgiving in New York City, the department store, Macy’s, has a parade celebrating the holiday season. Hundreds of people come out to watch the amazing show that is put on. Sophomore Braizly Bonilla was able to perform in the parade this year. She went with her dance studio, The Edge, and she and her teammates danced throughout the whole production and parade route.
“I loved being able to dance with a bunch of dancers hadn’t met before, it was so cool to watch everything go on as I was dancing. It was overall a really fun experience,” Bonilla said.
Bonilla has been dancing since she was 4 and wants to continue with it into the future.
“I would love to make a living out of dance,” Bonilla said. “It would be so cool to be a backup dancer in a big production, and then eventually become a studio owner and get to teach kids to love dance.”
The Edge holds a very special place in her heart since it is where she has been nurtured in dance and provided with big opportunities such as the parade.
“I love dancing with my studio because I have some very special bonds with the people there, and it gives me a space where I feel free to express myself through movement,” Bonilla said.
Bonilla has very long rehearsal hours and is at her studio multiple times throughout the week. To juggle the amount of time she spends on dance on top of going to school every day can become a struggle. She has to have not only drive within herself but also others that help to keep her motivated.
“Someone who motivates me is the owner and studio director, Stacy Hall,” Bonilla said. “She is a lovely woman and gives me so much drive and power to be the best dancer, and person I can be.”
