Local dance students will be travelling to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida next week to take part in Disney’s Dance the Magic Spring Spectacular at Magic Kingdom.

The 13 DanceSations students will also be performing in the Spring Spectacular Dance Showcase at Hollywood Studios.

“This is a huge opportunity for us and our dancers,” director Holly Pacheco told The Royal Gazette.

“We are the first dance school from Bermuda to be a part of Disney’s Dance the Magic Spring Spectacular parade and showcase.

“We were so excited when we got the news they had been accepted.

“The dancers have worked very hard to earn their place in the parade and showcase, and we are so happy to see them grow every day.”

The students will take part in the Dance the Magic Spring Spectacular at Magic Kingdom on April 16 and 17, and the Spring Spectacular Dance Showcase on April 16.

“We are also going to have some fun at the theme parks and take dance classes at Spotlight Dance Centre,” Ms Pacheco added. “It will be a very productive, busy weekend.”

The dancers, aged between nine and 17, will depart Bermuda on April 14, accompanied by Ms Pacheco, instructor Sierra-Renae Robinson and family members.

And in preparation for the trip, they have been rehearsing weekly for the past two months.

Ms Pacheco said: “The kids are over the moon. They are happy to be part of a unique experience as well as getting to have some fun while we are out there.”

She added: “Not only will they be performing in front of thousands of people but its special that their parents and family can be a part of the magic.”

The students travelling include LaKeirah Cunningham, Haley Davis, Zoe DeSilva, Elon Francis, Shania Furbert, Skye Minors, Ava Moreno, Za’Kayza Parsons, X’achela Robinson, Sarah Skinner, Kristiana Smith, Yve Smith, and Jessie Thomas.

“We are sad that we will be missing one of our company dancers Jaida Steede for a school exam but she will be with us in spirit,” Ms Pacheco said.

The dancers had to audition for the parade and the dance showcase and worked for two months to get the parade choreography and showmanship down to what Disney was looking for.

“Tons of dance schools from around the world audition and go to Disney to take part in the Dance the Magic Parade each year,” Ms Pacheco said. “We are ecstatic that our kids worked so hard to be a part of this and passed their audition to perform at the showcase as well.”

She added that they take their company dancers overseas once a year and are always looking for new, fun and professional adventures.