Key West’s Conchettes Head for Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade for Third Year

BY TERRY SCHMIDA

When the Key West High School Conchettes dance group began 60 years ago, there were 50 plus members in the sisterhood, but that number had dropped to 5 members by 2012 when the current director, Jamie Guzman took it over. Today, the dancers are back up to high numbers. Sixteen of this dedicated corps of athletic girls, ages 14 – 17, will be heading for the Big Apple this November. It is the Conchettes third performance at Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

For these hard-working young women, the prelude to representing Key West High School in New York begins with a training camp at University of Florida in the summer. Going through routines of kick line, hip hop, and jazz moves, those performers judged the best are rewarded by a white ribbon. The coveted ribbon indicates they’re ready to take their place on the nation’s front stage in New York City during the busy kick-off of the holiday season.

It’s not a free ride. They’re going to need a daunting $45,000 to finance this honor, but passion and dedication are great motivators. Apart from school, homework, daily practice after school, and often, weekend jobs, these talented young students have been committed to raising the money with tag days, a fudge sale, car washes, and soliciting donations. Groups like the alumni, the 551 Club, the concession for the baseball tournament, and others, have been generous. Community contributions have been particularly helpful. For instance, Mangia Mangia restaurant is offering 25 per cent of its total sales on September 12 from 5:30 till 8:30 p.m.

The amount required for each girl is about $3,500.

According to Guzman, the dancers are going there to work, and their time in New York is filled with practices. Even after checking into a hotel on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, they will go through their routines from 7:00 – 11:00 p.m, possibly till midnight, after traveling all day.

Describing the grueling routine they go through, Becky Cobo, mother of co-captain Daniela Pena, said that on Sunday in the ballroom, and every day afterwards, they practice together, eventually joining up with the other invited groups. There can be 600 girls from all over the country working out together. There’s the exhausting parade on Thursday, and most fly home the next day. “Some parents fly up to watch, staying at different hotels a few days for a family vacation,” said Cobo, who plans to go up to New York this year.

For daughter Daniela, 17, a senior who was part of the group that danced in New York the first year, it is still exciting. “This will be my last year,” she said, “so it will be a special time.” She’ll heads off to college next year, hopefully to study pediatric occupational therapy

It’s estimated that 3.5 million New Yorkers line the streets to watch the parade each year, while about 50 million people watch it from home. Not bad exposure. And an appropriate marching, dancing ad for Keys tourism.

Donations to help the students be part of the parade should have Conchettes Macy’s indicated with payment. Send them to Key West High School, 2100 Flagler Ave., Key West, FL 33040.

[livemarket market_name="KONK Life LiveMarket" limit=3 category=“” show_signup=0 show_more=0]