Jazmine Gauger, daughter of Scott and Pam Gauger of Arena, and the great-granddaughter of DeEtte & James Thomas; and Lucille Burkhamer, all of Richland Center, performed with 22 other dancers of Elevation Dance Academy, at the 97th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.

Sarah Krueger of Elevation Dance Academy, located in Spring Green, accompanied the 23 dancers to New York City. In addition to Gauger, the other dancers include: Ella Myers, Brielle Grant, Kenley Straka, Kyllie Smith, Josie Mahoney, Izzy Roth, Bella Baenen, Mary Marck, Kylie Killoy, Ella Hillebrand, Lydia Johnson, Eva Iausly, Shelby West, Jessa Foster, Ryan Kane, Emma Anding, Nevaeh Parker, Haylee Fruit, Megan Kannenberg, Jordan Jensen, Olivia Campbell and Jade Troxel. The Elevation Dance Academy dancers were participating with Spirit of America Productions, with hundreds of other dancers from across the country.

Most of the dancer’s flew as a group to NYC on Saturday, Nov. 18. They had several long hours of rehearsal, including an NBC rehearsal, and a final dress rehearsal, with the entire group to perfect the routine. On the day of the parade, dancers had a final runthrough dress rehearsal, as well as a 6 a.m. costume check. The entire dance group followed Baby Yoda along the parade route.

Spectators were encouraged to find their place along the parade route between 5-5:30 a.m. or there wouldn’t be available places to watch the parade. “I’m glad we followed that advice,” Pam Gauger, Jazmine’s mom and chaperone of the New York trip said of the moment, “It truly was a once in a lifetime experience.” Later that evening, all of dancers and their families had Thanksgiving dinner together at Ellen’s Stardust Diner.

In addition to their performance, the dance group toured New York City. They watched “& Juliet” a newer musical on Broadway, and did a Statue of Liberty Harbor Cruise. They also visited the 9/11 Memorial, the Oculus, Macy’s store, Empire State Building, Times Square, Rockefeller Center, Bryant Park, and Central Park. The dancers were also able to add additional Broadway performances, such as “Six and Wicked”, which Gauger chose to see.

Pam Gauger explains how she helped Jazmine get even more involved in interests that intrigued her. “For her birthday we purchased tickets to see ‘Aladdin’ and ‘Chicago’. As a theater, dance, and music kid, she loved it all.”

The dancers were given subway passes, meal cards, and were supervised by chaperones as they learned to navigate ‘The Big Apple’. Parents who traveled to NYC could spend quality time with their dancer during down time, to explore, rest, or have dinner together. The experience was one to remember, for all 23 dancers of Elevation Dance Academy, Sarah Krueger, and the parents who were able to chaperone. As for spectators from the comfort of our living rooms, we applaud you. Jazmine Gauger