Dance group from Medina will perform at Disney

Provided photo – There are 23 dancers, ages 7 to 17, from the Dance Theater in medina that will perform at Disney in Florida. Some of the grup members include, front row, from left: Marli Thrash, Tessa Davis, Carly Voelker,Izabella Murphy and Justine Laverty. Middle row: Madeline Bilicki, Lexi Hare, Trevor Hare and Kylie Bielak. Back row: Olivia Eaton, Melanie Hibbard, Dominique Hughes,Cody Crane, Abby Jones, Danielle Metz and Paige Dix.

MEDINA – A group of dancers from Medina will spend a week at Disney in July, performing with Disney’s Performing Arts Program.

The group from the Dance Theater in Medina includes 23 dancers, ages 7 to 17. They are led by Dance Theater owner Brandon Johnson and his staff.

He sent an audition tape of the group to Disney. They were accepted and invited to perform on the Main Stage at Disney on July 3. They will be there for five days as part of Disney’s Performing Arts Program.

“It’s a really big honor,” said Johnson, who has owned the Dance Theater for 11 years. “It will be great exposure for them. They will be seen by thousands of people.”

Some of his dancers have competed at national events at Atlantic City; Hershey, Pa; and Wildwood, NJ. They have brought home national titles through StarQuest and DanceXplosion.

The Dance Theater group will perform in three age levels: minis are 7 to 9 years old, while juniors are 9 to 12, and seniors, 13 to 17.

Johnson said the dancers all bring dedication and a work ethic to the program. Many are also Honor Roll students who participate in sports, marching band, chorus and numerous other activities.

The group will be doing many fundraisers in the community to help pay for the trip to Disney. They have set up a page through the Go Fund Me site for people to give online.

“We’re all definitely looking forward to it,” Johnson said. “It’s going to a be a great opportunity for my dancers.”