Local cheerleaders, dancer to take part in Macy’s parade

Published 12:02 am Thursday, November 28, 2013

NEW YORK — Adams County Christian School cheer captain Lauren King is having a reunion of sorts with a couple of former Trinity Episcopal Day School classmates this week in New York City.

King, who went to school at Trinity until her junior year, will join Adalyn Body and Mallory Lancaster to cheer in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade today. The three will have the opportunity thanks to Spirit of America Productions, an organization that provides cheerleaders and dancers a chance to participate in the annual parade.

Centreville Academy senior dancer Sadye Whitaker will also participate in the parade.

Sadie Whitaker, from left, Mallory Lancaster, Adalyn Boyd and Lauren King were selected to participate in the 87th-annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. Whitaker is a Centreville student, King is an Adams County Christian School student and Lancaster and Boyd are Trinity Episcopal Day School students. (Brittney Lohmiller  The Natchez Democrat)

BRITTNEY LOHMILLER/THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT — Sadie Whitaker, from left, Mallory Lancaster, Adalyn Boyd and Lauren King were selected to participate in the 87th-annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. Whitaker is a Centreville student, King is an Adams County Christian School student and Lancaster and Boyd are Trinity Episcopal Day School students. 

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Cheerleaders and dancers earn this opportunity by participating in cheer and dance camps during the summer.

“I’ll be happy to see them,” King said. “We used to cheer together, and it’ll be good to have someone I know there also.”

Boyd and Lancaster also said they’re looking forward to joining King in the parade.

“It’s awesome,” Boyd said. “I love her. It’ll be like our ninth- and 10th-grade years, which were probably some of our best years (in high school).”

Lancaster said having King join her and Boyd would have a nostalgic feeling to it.

“It’s like a little girl class reunion,” Lancaster said. “She had been (at Trinity) her whole life.”

Unlike the other three, Whitaker made the parade as a dancer. Dancers and cheerleaders will both perform a dance in the parade, and Whitaker said she’s looking forward to seeing the sights of the city.

“I’m very excited,” Whitaker said. “I’ve never been to New York. I’m also a little nervous.”

For Boyd, the trip is a dream come true, since she is hoping to attend Laboratory Institute of Merchandising, a fashion business school, she said.

“I’m so excited — it’s a dream come true,” Boyd said.

Lancaster said last week it was finally hitting her she would be able to make the trip.

“It didn’t click that I was going a while back,” Lancaster said. “I’ve never been, so I’m expecting to get my eyes opened and my mind blown.”

King said she’s been to New York City before, but she’s looking forward to another trip offered to cheer captains — London, where she is traveling after Christmas. At first, London didn’t seem like a possibility.

“My grandparents surprised me with an early Christmas present by paying for the trip to London,” King said. “I was very excited and felt very fortunate for my parents and grandparents (for providing for me).”

King will be joined by classmate Brooke Allen in London.