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Hortman performs in Thanksgiving Day Parade at Walt Disney World
Nov 8, 2004 8:00 AM
By Tannika King - Faculty
Freshman Elizabeth Hortman was among 500 elementary, junior high and high school cheerleaders and dancers from across the country who performed in the “UCA/UDA Thanksgiving Tour at the Walt Disney World Resort” in Orlando, Fla. She appeared in the pre-parade at the Magic Kingdom Park on Thanksgiving Day.
“The girls selected were sent a video two weeks before the parade, and we learned the dance from that,” said Hortman, a junior varsity cheerleader at Darlington. “We had a few practice sessions at Disney before the parade, where we were also issued a UCA All Star uniform.”
Cheerleading and dance All Stars selected from Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) and Universal Dance Association (UDA) summer camps around the country are invited to perform in the parade. Hortman auditioned during a UCA camp, held May 30 through June 3, in Panama City Beach, Fla.
“I auditioned for All Stars the next to last day of camp. For the audition, I had to do a toe touch, a cheer and a dance in front of all the squads that attended the camp,” said Hortman. “I knew that it was very hard to make it because of all the girls trying out, but I was just happy that I had the opportunity. I had nothing to lose.”
The last day of camp, representatives from UCA/UDA announced the names of the girls who had made All Stars, which is made up of the top 10 percent of the cheerleaders and dancers who attended the camp.
“Everybody had tried to prepare me for disappointment, telling me not to be upset if I didn’t make it because it was unusual for junior varsity cheerleaders to make the All Star Squad, so I wasn’t really listening to the names,” said Hortman. “When I heard my name, it took me a second to comprehend that it really was my name. I was so excited.”
In addition to cheerleading, Hortman also plays golf, enjoys water sports and is very involved in her church youth group. She takes tumbling classes twice a week at Hot Shots in Rome. Hortman is the daughter of David and Ann Hortman of Rome, Ga.
*Note: Darlington varsity cheerleaders Christie Doss, sophomore, and Kim King, senior, were selected to the Varsity All Star Squad, which will perform in England over Christmas break. However, the two have opted not to make this trip. King is the daughter of Bill and Lou King of Rome, Ga., and Doss is the daughter of Clay Doss of Kennesaw, Ga.
“The girls selected were sent a video two weeks before the parade, and we learned the dance from that,” said Hortman, a junior varsity cheerleader at Darlington. “We had a few practice sessions at Disney before the parade, where we were also issued a UCA All Star uniform.”
Cheerleading and dance All Stars selected from Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) and Universal Dance Association (UDA) summer camps around the country are invited to perform in the parade. Hortman auditioned during a UCA camp, held May 30 through June 3, in Panama City Beach, Fla.
“I auditioned for All Stars the next to last day of camp. For the audition, I had to do a toe touch, a cheer and a dance in front of all the squads that attended the camp,” said Hortman. “I knew that it was very hard to make it because of all the girls trying out, but I was just happy that I had the opportunity. I had nothing to lose.”
The last day of camp, representatives from UCA/UDA announced the names of the girls who had made All Stars, which is made up of the top 10 percent of the cheerleaders and dancers who attended the camp.
“Everybody had tried to prepare me for disappointment, telling me not to be upset if I didn’t make it because it was unusual for junior varsity cheerleaders to make the All Star Squad, so I wasn’t really listening to the names,” said Hortman. “When I heard my name, it took me a second to comprehend that it really was my name. I was so excited.”
In addition to cheerleading, Hortman also plays golf, enjoys water sports and is very involved in her church youth group. She takes tumbling classes twice a week at Hot Shots in Rome. Hortman is the daughter of David and Ann Hortman of Rome, Ga.
*Note: Darlington varsity cheerleaders Christie Doss, sophomore, and Kim King, senior, were selected to the Varsity All Star Squad, which will perform in England over Christmas break. However, the two have opted not to make this trip. King is the daughter of Bill and Lou King of Rome, Ga., and Doss is the daughter of Clay Doss of Kennesaw, Ga.
