Iowa teens taking part in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

CEDAR RAPIDS - Two dancers from Independence will take part in Thursday's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York.

In the spring, Jackie Heinz, a dance instructor and owner of Heinz Academy for the Performing Arts spoke with Madison Arend, 18, and Alyssa Jensen, 17 about the opportunity to take part in the Spirit of America Dance Stars production.

'I wanted to do it,” Arend said.

The two were accepted after submitting a short video of an April performance. They raised money for trip through a Mother's Day bake sale and lunch/snack sale at a June teacher's conference.

Heinz said the girls left Saturday for New York and were scheduled to visit the Today Show plaza Tuesday. They also planned to see the Broadway musical 'Hamilton,” and the Radio City Musical Hall Christmas Spectacular, and ice skate at Rockefeller Center.

Arend has been dancing for 11 years, the past six at Heinz Academy, and Heinz said she's been accepted at Marymount Manhattan College in New York City. The school is known for its programs in science, theater, dance and fashion.

Jensen spent 11 years as a gymnast and has been at Heinz Academy for the past year. She plans to attend the University of Iowa and study finance.

'Both girls said they were excited to go and meet new people,” Heinz said in an email.

Two musicians from Eastern Iowa also will be taking part in the parade. Aunna Marzen, a senior at Independence High School, is playing trumpet and Melanie Sullivan, a senior at Linn-Mar High School, is playing flute in The Great American Marching Band.

Students are selected for the band based on their musical ability and past achievements. The opportunity is open to students from more than 14,000 high schools across the United States.

The musicians are under the direction of Dr. Richard Good of Auburn University, assisted by Barry Houser of the University of Illinois. The students also will have the opportunity to attend a leadership/educational workshop in New York, according to a news release from Linn-Mar High School.

The Macy's Thanksgiving day parade is 2.5 miles long. In Eastern Iowa, it will be broadcast on KWWL from 9 a.m. to noon.