When most people are sitting at home Thanksgiving Day watching a parade on TV, Destini Thompson, 16, will be in the Philadelphia parade performing and dancing with the All American Dance team.
During dance camp over the summer with the Clarkston High School Pom Pon team, she first heard about trying out for the All American Dance Team.
‘At first I wasn’t going to do it,? Thompson said. ‘Probably a day and a half went by I thought ‘it sounds fun.??
In order to make the team, Thompson had to learn a dance taught by one of the coaches and later perform the dance in front all the teams as well as the judges.
‘They told you at the very end (if you won or not),? she said. ‘They went through and called your name, you stood up and they gave you a medal.?
Thompson said she received her uniform and poms a few weeks ago, along with a CD and instructional video of the dance she will be performing at the parade.
‘You have to teach yourself, learn it, drill it and then when we get there we learn another dance, which is the finale,? she said. ‘So we learn one on our own and one when we get there.?
The finale will be held in front of the ‘Rocky (Balboa) steps? in front of the art museum.
‘I think this is a great opportunity for her to have. There will be kids all over the country there coming together to do what they love and dance in this parade,? said Thompson’s mom, Amber. ‘Not every kid gets a chance to do that, I’m really excited for her. It will be fun for all of us.?
Thompson said she hated ballet and dance class when she was a little girl, so she decided to join the competitive cheerleading team at Stars and Stripes Gymnastics Academy. After two or three years she joined the SSGA gym in Davison.
‘It was a whole new experience, that gym is all based on competitive cheerleading,? Thompson said. ‘It was great, it was like a big family, and everyone loved each other.?
After five years of being on competitive cheer team, she decided to try dancing again. For two years she was on two competitive cheer teams and in five dance classes, which meant she was in Davison every night of the week.
‘After that season was over, which was last season I became obsessed with dancing,? Thompson said. ‘I really liked it, so I had to make a tough decision and quit competitive cheerleading and took dancing.?
However, instead of doing it in the studio like she had the past two years, Thompson decided to try out for the Pom Pon squad and made the Junior Varsity team this year. She said she always watched the Pom team and was always attracted to it. One of her other reasons for joining was because none her friends had seen what she could.
‘I was doing everything away from home. Some of my friends would come to my competitions, but it’s not like I’m out on the football field and I get dance and cheer for the football team,? she said. ‘When I get on varsity I can have a Varsity jacket and get my varsity letter.?
Thompson also played volleyball for four years on a traveling team and ran track last year. She was originally born in Pontiac, lived in Tennessee for awhile and has lived in Springfield Township since she was six. Though only a sophomore at Clarkston High, Thompson said she would like to go to either Michigan State University or Oakland University because both have good dance teams. She has a love for both writing and ‘doctor stuff,? which is why she either wants to be a journalist or a neurological surgeon.
‘I love writing stories, it helps you express yourself,? she said. ‘I also love neurological stuff, too.?
She also works in the autism program at the high school and really enjoys it.
She enjoys working with kids, but doesn’t want to be a teacher. She explained being a neurological surgeon would give her round about way to find therapies for autism.
As far as dancing in the Thanksgiving parade, Thompson said she is looking forward to it.
‘This is my first time ever going to a parade that had big floats, as well as being in one,? she said. ‘I’m really excited.?