There are no doubt lots of little dancers out there that dream of one day becoming a Disney dancer. Wether it be in a parade or show, if you are a dancer that grows up going to Disney you probably watch these dancers and dream of one day dancing on that stage or down Main Street USA! Today I am so excited to share one sweet dancers journey to making that dream come true and becoming a Disney dancer! Everything from where she started to how she got to where she is now dancing down Main Street.
Let’s Meet Whitley!
I have had the pleasure of knowing and watching Whitley grow up for a long time. Her and her sweet family have been such a blessing to me and my family over the years. She has always been a beautiful dancer and one of the most focused and hard working athletes I’ve seen. I met Whitley when my studio was competing with her mom’s studio where she danced. Our studios became great friends and I had the privilege of teaching Whitley a few times and even had her come and teach my students. She is equally as great a teacher and choreographer as she is a dancer herself. It has been a lot of fun watching her dreams come true and being a small part of her journey. Let’s dive in and ask Whitley some questions!
Whitley, how long have you been dancing?
I have been dancing since I was three years old. I am the youngest of three girls and I was dying to dance like my sisters.
Where all have you danced in that time?
I grew up dancing at Main Street Dance in North Carolina and that is where I fell in love with dance and really decided that I wanted to dance as a career. I then went on to attend Jacksonville University, where I graduated with a BFA in Dance Performance. I was also a member of the dance team at JU which gave me the opportunity to perform even more in college.
When did you decide you wanted to be a Disney dancer?
I can’t remember a time when it wasn’t my goal to dance at Disney. I grew up going to Walt Disney World almost every year with my family and the parades and shows were always my favorite. I think I was telling my parents I wanted to dance here from the first time we went when I was five!
Why did you want to become a Disney dancer?
I was my happiest self when I was watching parades and shows here at Disney World. I always felt that there was something so special about the entertainment at Disney and I wanted to create that same happiness.
How long did you audition before you were cast?
I started auditioning in college just to get experience and see what it was like. I always left the auditions so inspired and wanting it even more. I went to a lot of auditions for a lot of different things over the period of a few years, with a break in the middle during Coivd craziness.
What was the audition process like?
Most of the auditions I went to before Covid had hundreds of people and they made cuts throughout (the audition). In the past year or so they started to have the first round of auditions as a video submission with in-person call backs.
Was it hard to get a lot of no’s?
Of course it was always disappointing not to get the job, but it never caused me to question my goal. They always told us at the auditions to keep coming back and I did!
How did you find out you were cast as a dancer?
About a week after my callback audition I got an email to set up a phone interview. I was officially offered the job over the phone!
What were you cast in?
I was cast as a performer in Mickey’s Boo to You Parade!
What was it like moving here?
Moving here was a bit of a whirlwind. I moved down here from North Carolina about two weeks after I got the offer!
How has the rehearsal experience been?
Rehearsals were a lot of fun! Getting to learn choreography that you’ve watched so many times and dreamed of doing is such a cool feeling.
What is it like performing every week in Disney World? Is it everything you dreamed it would be?
Honestly, I was a bit nervous that I had hyped it up too much my whole life and maybe it wouldn’t be as cool as I thought. But that definitely is not the case! I am in complete awe every time I am on the parade route. I love every second of it and there is nothing like rounding the corner and dancing in front of the castle! I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it.
How long do you think you will want to stay dancing in Disney World?
There are definitely more roles that I would love to perform at Disney and I hope to stay for as long as I feel like this is where I’m supposed to be!
Are there dream roles you would like to get eventually?
Festival of the Lion King has always been my favorite show on property so I would definitely consider that my “dream role”.
What advice do you have for dancers who want to come and dance in Disney?
My advice for anyone auditioning is just to start as early as you can going to the auditions! Some people get an offer their first audition and for others it takes many auditions. They are always looking for different things and you never know when they’ll be looking for you!
Finally Whitley, what has been your favorite moment dancing in Disney so far?
My favorite moment so far was seeing my family on route during opening night of Boo to You. My family has supported and encouraged me for years and seeing them beaming was so special and rewarding!
Conclusion
Thank you so much to Whitley for sharing her story and experiences with us today! It’s incredible to see someone work hard and have their dreams come true. Especially a Disney dream! If you are a dancer out there who dreams of one day dancing in Disney, I hope Whitley’s story has inspired and encouraged you to keep working for your dream! You can get there with hard work and determination and maybe some faith, trust and pixie dust too. I’m so glad I got to see Whitley dancing down Main Street at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party this year, it was a very cool moment that I won’t forget.
As always, I thank you all for reading along and making my Thursdays the best days ever! I hope you enjoyed today’s post being a little different than normal. I always love when I can combine my two loves, dance and Disney! I hope you all have a magical day!!