Two Yucca Valley High School seniors will be joining dancers from across the country to perform in a New Year’s Day parade in London, England. The girls were selected during a dance camp this summer, at which they had to learn various dance routines, as well as make up their own, and they were judged on their efforts by a team of judges. Managing editor Tami Roleff has more on the girls and their exciting trip…
Madison Benstead and Elise Kelley, both 17, were selected to join the All-American dance team—made up of hundreds of dancers—during a dance camp this summer. The girls will perform in a New Year’s Day parade in London, England. Madison didn’t think her parents would let her go. “It was so much money, and I was like, No way they’re going to let me go. And then her mom was like, ‘You guys both made it! You guys need to go!’ And she ended up calling my parents and talking them into it. ‘It’s going to be such a good experience for you.’” This is the second trip for Elise, who danced in the parade two years ago as a sophomore, and she didn’t think her parents would let her go, either. “Yeah, well, I was thinking I wasn’t going to be able to go. But when the found out Madison made it, too, they were like, ‘You guys have to go together.’” The girls will be in London December 26 through January 2, and they are excited to go sightseeing. Elise: “The whole trip is sightseeing, then practice and the parade on New Year’s Day. I want to see the London Eye since I didn’t see that last time.” Madison is excited to see it all. “I want to see everything, since it’s my first time.” Elise is very excited about their trip. “I’m really excited. It was a lot of fun to go my sophomore year, but it’s going to be a really different experience because now I have my best friend coming with me and I get to share it with her.” Madison says it hasn’t sunk in yet that she’s going to London. “For me, it still feels unreal, like I don’t feel like I’m going yet, even though it’s right around the corner. Because it’s just such a crazy opportunity, and I’m going to have a lot of fun. I’m sure the day before I’ll be going like, oh my God! ‘I’m going to London!’”
