Plainfield East High School sophomore Amanda Burke, a member of the Romeoville Razzlers, will be giving up Thanksgiving at home for the limelight as a performer in the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade.
The 15-year-old won a spot on the All-American Dance Team at the National Dance Alliance summer camp last June at Valparaiso University.
Amanda was at the camp with her dance team, the Romeoville Razzlers, when she got the chance to audition for the All-American Dancer designation.
She admitted auditioning was a bit of a nerve-wracking experience.
“You only have two days to learn the routine, and then you perform it the last day of camp,” Amanda said. “I was so nervous I almost didn’t want to try out.”
But the teen overcame her jitters and won a spot on the All-American Dance Team.
On Monday, she and her family were flying to Philadelphia to prepare her for her Thanksgiving Day debut.
“I’m both excited and nervous because it’s live,” Amanda said.
You don’t have to be in Philadelphia to watch the All-American Dancers perform. The parade — officially known as the Dunkin’ Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade — is available live streaming on the ABC Philadelphia website starting at 7:30 a.m. Central time on Thanksgiving. You can watch it by clicking here.