McKechnie Does Disney: Young Falkirk dancers prepare to compete in the magic

Twenty young dancers are preparing to take 13 group routines from Falkirk to Paris as McKechnie School of Dance and Performing Arts gets ready for a magical international adventure.

The young performers, who are all aged between six and 16, are swapping Falkirk for Disneyland Paris this October as they prepare to represent their dance school and hometown at the International Festival of Dance and Performing Arts (IFDPA).

Twenty dancers from McKechnie School of Dance and Performing Arts are heading to Disneyland Paris to compete in an international competition. (Pic: Michael Gillen)

placeholder image — Twenty dancers from McKechnie School of Dance and Performing Arts are heading to Disneyland Paris to compete in an international competition. (Pic: Michael Gillen)

The dancers will perform an impressive 13 group routines between them, taking to the stage alongside other young performers from across the UK and further afield.

It is a fantastic opportunity for the McKechnie pupils to experience an international dance competition while doing what they love most – performing alongside their teammates and friends.

The dancers, who are all between the ages of six and 16, have been working hard in preparation for the competition at Disneyland Paris. (Pic: Michael Gillen)

The competition stage isn't the only magical experience awaiting the team.

Some of the dancers will also have the opportunity to take part in the Disney Performing Arts Pre-Parade, giving them the unforgettable experience of dancing along the famous parade route through Disneyland Park.

Behind the scenes an enormous amount of work is already going into preparing for the trip.

The dancers are busy rehearsing their competition routines, while the children and their mums have also been working together to fundraise towards the cost of the group costumes needed for the competition.

The fundraising has become a real team effort bringing dancers and families together as they work towards making the experience as special as possible for the youngsters.

For Nadine Judge, principal of McKechnie School of Dance and Performing Arts, the trip is about far more than what happens on the competition stage.

She said: “I am incredibly proud of every one of our kids. They work so hard, but for me, opportunities like this are about so much more than competitions and medals.

"It’s about giving them experiences and memories that they will carry with them long after they have left the dance floor.

“Seeing their smiling faces, watching them perform together and knowing they are having the most amazing time with their friends is what will make me happiest.

"They’ll get their moment to shine on stage, some will have the incredible opportunity to dance in the Disney Pre-Parade, and then they get to enjoy the parks together and just be kids.

“Of course, we’ll be going out there to do our very best and we would love to bring some medals home to Falkirk, but that isn’t what I’ll remember most.

"I’ll remember their faces, the excitement and watching them make those magical memories together.

“I love seeing our kids happy and doing what they love, and I genuinely can’t think of a more magical place for them to do it. I’m so proud that they’ll be representing McKechnie and Falkirk, and I just want every one of them to come home feeling like they’ve had the experience of a lifetime.”