Local 15 year old Kaitlyn Ward, who attends Williams High School, will be the only dancer from Plano to perform along with another 600 girls from who auditioned from all over the nation in this year's 90th Anniversary Macy's Thanksgiving Parade in New York City.
Kaitlyn started dancing at the young age of four. Moving here from El Paso in 2011, her first Plano school was Memorial Elementary School. She started dancing at (then) Morrow's School of Dance. She was awarded the Rotary Citizenship Award that year at Memorial and performed a Tap solo at the school's talent show. She also had a lead in Morrow's annual Nutcracker Christmas performance held at The Courtyard Theatre.
From there, Kaitlyn attended Bowman Middle School for grades 6-8 and danced for The Plano Dance Theatre. Kaitlyn also spent her summers away studying at Ballet Chicago, Joffrey and the Tulsa Ballet. Again, she performed at numerous city, cultural and Plano venues under PDT, including Theatre Britain, and Disney World in Florida. In addition, in 8th grade at Bowman's International Festival, Kaitlyn performed a Contemporary solo. She also won numerous awards, competing on PDT's Performance Ensemble.
As a Freshman in High School, Kaitlyn was also chosen to be a print model for the board game "SLAP" by Pressman/Goliath and performed a Pointe Solo for William's High School International Festival. At that time, she was also training under renowned Ballet Master Geralyn Garner of International Conservatory of Performing Arts and Chamberlain Ballet. Kaitlyn also competed in the Youth American Grand Prix Ballet.
Kaitlyn is currently an AP/Honors Sophomore at Williams High School and dances under the direction of Ms. Amber Houser of Amotion Dance Studio and a member of the Senior Company. Kaitlyn is also the First Lieutenant of the William's High School CheyAnnes Drill Team and takes additional dance classes at school, under Ms. Nicki Hieronymus.
Not only is her desire to make Plano proud as she represents her hometown city in this nationally televised parade, Kaitlyn also plans to one day dance professionally and be a Rockette at Radio City Music Hall.
Without each and every Plano Dance Teacher, every Plano ISD School Teacher and Community influence, this exciting New York experience would not be possible!
PLANO IS A GREAT HOMETOWN!
Ms. Amber Houser at Amotion Studios has been instrumental with Encore and Spirit of America Productions choreographing the parade routines and numerous other projects.
Also, Ms. Mackenzie Oden, Golden Girls Director and Dance Teacher at Plano East Senior High School, is also instrumental with Spirit of America and Encore.
Other states represented include: CA, AZ, NM, IA, KS, NY, LA, VA, DC, FL, IL, MO, AR, NV, CT, KY, OH, NE, OK, PA, WI, WV, MA, NC, UT, MS, TN, SC, & AL.