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The Bandera High School Star Steppers in front of Radio City Music Hall.
The Bandera High School Star Steppers on their way to see the Statue of Liberty.
Courtesy Photos
November 22, 2023
Bandera High School Star Steppers star in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
By Jessica Nohealapa’ahi
The Bandera Prophet
"This is like a dream come true.” ~ Bandera High School Star Stepper Captain Sarah Guajardo
In less than 12 hours, Guajardo, with her Star Stepper team, will begin to march down West 77th Street to Herald Square, where they will perform in the 97th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
The team arrived in New York City on Saturday, and have managed to squeeze in some sightseeing between multiple daily four-hour practices. Thus far, they have visited the Statue of Liberty, Broadway, Central Park, Radio City Music Hall, Chinatown, and of course, Macy’s.
“It was amazing,” Star Stepper Co-Captain Savannah Venegas said.
In order to qualify for the parade, the team had to earn a platinum rating at their competition last year, and “we had to do a lot of fundraising,” Venegas said.
In the morning, the girls will have a final run-through at 6 a.m. The parade will begin at 8:30 a.m., on NBC. Their performance will be in front of Macy’s at 9:55 a.m. Then, they will enjoy some downtime until their return to Bandera on Saturday.
Guajardo, who watched Wicked on Broadway, said she’s met students from all over the United States, including many from the Lone Star State. She has most loved Chinatown and Central Park.
“It’s amazing how quiet it is, and peaceful and so beautiful,” she said.
Venegas said she enjoyed watching the Rockettes.
“It was just so awesome how precise they were,” she said. “Seeing live performances in New York, which is the number one place in the world for performing arts, is seeing the best of the best in real life.”
The team arrived in New York City on Saturday, and have managed to squeeze in some sightseeing between multiple daily four-hour practices. Thus far, they have visited the Statue of Liberty, Broadway, Central Park, Radio City Music Hall, Chinatown, and of course, Macy’s.
“It was amazing,” Star Stepper Co-Captain Savannah Venegas said.
In order to qualify for the parade, the team had to earn a platinum rating at their competition last year, and “we had to do a lot of fundraising,” Venegas said.
In the morning, the girls will have a final run-through at 6 a.m. The parade will begin at 8:30 a.m., on NBC. Their performance will be in front of Macy’s at 9:55 a.m. Then, they will enjoy some downtime until their return to Bandera on Saturday.
Guajardo, who watched Wicked on Broadway, said she’s met students from all over the United States, including many from the Lone Star State. She has most loved Chinatown and Central Park.
“It’s amazing how quiet it is, and peaceful and so beautiful,” she said.
Venegas said she enjoyed watching the Rockettes.
“It was just so awesome how precise they were,” she said. “Seeing live performances in New York, which is the number one place in the world for performing arts, is seeing the best of the best in real life.”