'A huge opportunity': Jupiter High dance team to perform at Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Lianna Norman, Palm Beach Post
·2 min read
The Jupiter High School Dance Team after winning the national dance and cheer competition at UCF in Orlando, April 2022.
The Jupiter High School Dance Team after winning the national dance and cheer competition at UCF in Orlando, April 2022.

JUPITER — This November, the Jupiter High School Dance Team will be packing their bags and flying to New York City to perform in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The Warriors dance team qualified to perform in the Thanksgiving tradition in 2021, but delayed their participation due to COVID. With an extra year of practice under their belt, about 11 of the 35 girls from the team will be representing Jupiter in the nationally televised parade.

“This is a huge opportunity for the girls,” dance team coach Gina Manno said. “A lot of them have never been to New York. … I have girls that have never seen snow.”

Manno also danced for the team and was its captain during her senior year in 2018.

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“I actually attended the Macy’s Day Parade with the Jupiter High School Dance Team,” Manno said of her senior year . “You have to send a routine video and Macy’s has to accept you. They ended up accepting us last season, but because of COVID, New York was crazy.”

Jupiter High's Dance Team cheering on the Warriors Football Team at a home game.
Jupiter High's Dance Team cheering on the Warriors Football Team at a home game.

In addition to being invited to the parade, the Warriors dancers have performed at a Miami Heat game, won a national title and placed first overall at the South Florida Sizzler Cheer and Dance Competition — a win that paid half the cost to attend the Universal Dance Association's National Championships in Orlando.

Jupiter High's Dance Team performing during half time at The Miami Heat's opening night.
Jupiter High's Dance Team performing during half time at The Miami Heat's opening night.

“This is my third year coaching,” Manno said. “Nationals was at UCF in Orlando, and we just placed first in that — three years in the making — but we’ve placed in a lot of competitions recently."

Only a portion of the team can go to the parade because of the expense. It’s an optional activity for the girls that not everyone can afford, Manno said.

The Jupiter High School Dance Team after winning first place overall in the South Florida Sizzler, Feb. 2022.
The Jupiter High School Dance Team after winning first place overall in the South Florida Sizzler, Feb. 2022.

The team has been raising money to fund the trek up north since last year, and came only $300 short of its $17,500 goal.

You can support the Warriors Dance Team by watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on WPTV NewsChannel 5, starting at 9 a.m. Nov. 24.

Lianna Norman covers northern Palm Beach County for the Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at lnorman@pbpost.com. You can follow her reporting on social media @LiannaNorman on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade to feature Jupiter High School dance team