Local Dancers to Perform in Philly Thanksgiving Day Parade

While most of us will be getting ready to cook the turkey and prepare the fixings, a group of local dancers will be enjoying their moment in the spotlight this Thanksgiving.

Dance Theatre of Pennsylvania has been selected to perform an excerpt from their production of The Nutcracker during this year's Thanksgiving Day Parade in Philadelphia. 

The parade will be broadcasted live on Thanksgiving morning, Nov.28, beginning at 9 a.m. on WPVI Channel 6.

The Doylestown-based dance company is made up of 30 dancers ages 10 to adult.

Dance Theatre of Pennsylvania Board president Steve Abert said said the organization is “thrilled” to be a part of the event, the oldest Thanksgiving Day parade in the country.

Marilyn Budzynski, formerly with the Pennsylvania Ballet and the New York City Ballet Repertoire, is the Dance Theatre of Pennsylvania’s artistic director and choreographer.  

“We are excited to showcase Ms. Budzynski’s masterful choreography through our hardworking and dedicated dancers adorned in brilliantly designed costumes.  It will be a wonderful showcase of the amazing talent our entire organization possesses,” Abert said.

Can't make it into Philly on Thanksgiving? You'll have a chance to see the dancers perform The Nutcracker locally in December.

The performance features Jaime Lennon of Philadelphia’s Ballet X, James Ihde, current soloist with Pennsylvania Ballet and Yuliya Rakova of the Russian National Ballet Theatre. It will be performed Dec. 14 (11:00 am and 3:00 pm) and Dec. 15, (12:00 pm and 4:00 pm) at Central Bucks High School South in Warrington.

Visit www.dtopa.org or call 215-348-7175 to purchase tickets to The Nutcracker.