Local Tappers Take Part in Nationally Televised Thanksgiving Parade

Two local sisters will be celebrating Thanksgiving a little differently this year. Amber Graybeal, 12, and her sister Victoria, 9, will be packing up their tap shoes and performing in the 92nd annual Philadelphia ABC Dunkin’ Donuts Nationally Televised Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Amber, a seventh grader at and Victoria, a fourth grader at , both train at Savage Dance Company in Sykesville, Amber for eight years and Victoria for six years, and have participated in the studio’s performance team for the past two years.

The two girls applied and were accepted into the Thanksgiving dance performance sponsored by an organization called FanTAPulous, headed by Under the Sun Productions. The sisters were sent videos of choreography to learn and master before learning two additional dances in a series of rehearsals leading up to the big day.

The Graybeal girls will head to Philly this weekend where rehearsals will begin. Then will follow up with rehearsals on Wednesday and at 6 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning.

“Early, Yes! Cold, Yes! But, a unique opportunity,” said their mother Megan Graybeal. “Perhaps the beginning of many performances getting them closer to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, where they would really love to perform in the future.”

ABC Channel 2 will air their performance starting at 9 a.m. The girls will perform in three different numbers throughout the event along the parade route, ending in center stage in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

“We are really excited because every year our tradition is to sit down in our pj’s and watch the parade. This year is a totally different experience for us,” said Graybeal.

In addition to the unique opportunity, their experience, including the rehearsals and costumes are completely paid for by the production company. “The only thing we had to pay for was the souvenir sweatshirt,” said Graybeal.

The girls receive their costumes on Sunday and have already been placed in their positions alongside more than 100 tap dancers. In less than a week, they’ll be hitting the streets in their television debut.  

“The whole thing caused me to go out and get a DVR,” said Graybeal. “I’ll be backstage to support them and to keep them safe and it will be extremely exciting to see them do what they love and see them perform and smile for their audience. Not only will it be a great thanksgiving memory for them but hopefully for the other’s watching as well.”