Not every dance student makes it on to the world’s most famous stage as a professional artist, but with So You Think You Can Dance, dance students and groups from around the world can shine in front of thousands of people at Disney, and even Performing on Broadway!
Debi Barr, creator of So You Think You Can Dance, is dedicated to making dance dreams come true through unique, magical performance opportunities. A busy studio owner herself, Barr is always looking for performance opportunities for her dance and baton-wielding students throughout Southern California. Her studio has performed at halftime shows for major sports teams such as the Lakers, Clippers, Rams and 49ers, and she herself has performed spins for the Los Angeles Rams.
“I know what it’s like to be on a football field, with a big crowd and feel the energy of the crowd. I love the feeling of performing and the passion,” she said. She wants her students to have a chance to feel that excitement, so she’s constantly looking for big performance opportunities for them. “We’ve done all kinds of shows, but we’ve never done a show at Disney,” she explained. “So, I thought, okay, let’s try Disney!”
With an idea and a bold inquiry, Barr contacted Disney to see if they would allow her students to dance in the parade leading up to the Disneyland California parade.
“They told me no! They said, ‘No, we don’t do that,'” she recalled. “I said, ‘I know, but people have been sitting on the side of the road for an hour waiting for your parade. Why don’t we entertain them? They had a marching band performance before the parade. ‘But they’re going to wear What? How will they learn this routine? “They didn’t think it would work. I’ve been teaching for many years and I said, ‘I promise my standards are as high as yours. We can do it!’
Through sheer perseverance, Disney finally agreed to a meeting, and what followed was a dream come true for Barr and thousands of dancers from around the world.
“We did the first event, and Disney was like, ‘This is great; this is great! The audience loved it. Do you want to do it again next year? From there, it just snowballed. Well, “Dance of Magic” was born!
Seeing the dancers shine, along with their proud parents and dance teachers, is inspiring to all. “It brings so much joy and fun,” Barr said. “Dancers and their parents will never forget this experience.”
Dancing Magic grew from a parade show in 2001 and now hosts multiple events at Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, Broadway Disney and the Nashville Grand Ole Opry! Each destination offers an immersive experience including parade or showcase performances, workshops/rehearsals, private parties and more. Studios sign up in advance and receive choreography for teaching and practice. They then shoot a video of themselves and send it in for positive and insightful professional feedback before arriving at the theme park or theater and handing over control to the Magic Dance choreographer for final rehearsals. They provide guidance on performance techniques and add extra spark and energy to the performance.
But convincing Disney to adopt the model initially took time — two years of conversations, reassurances and pushback. “Everyone said this would never happen,” Barr shared.
So what does she say to herself when her dreams seem impossible? “I would say, ‘Go for it,’ because that’s what it takes. They said no so many times, so I just give them more options from another angle. Believe in yourself, stand up for the truth, keep your standards high, because a lot People will cut corners and say, “Let’s do it quickly like this. “We’ve always done something right. Keep at it, believe in yourself, and good things will happen.
It’s a lesson for all of us – whether it’s a novel idea, a tricky combination, or we’re desperately trying to break through the crowd at an audition. Stay the course, persevere, don’t take shortcuts, and maintain high standards.
Barr and her So You Think You Can Dance team developed a rapport with Disney, and they were soon asked to bring the event to Disney on Broadway in New York, and then to Universal Studios in Orlando. In the early 2000s, Barr started pitching the same opportunity to local studios in Orange County, Los Angeles, but it soon grew to a global scale. Dancers from all over the world can now dance the magic.
“I bought a laminated map of the United States,” Barr recalled. “So, when people called, I would ask them where they were from, and I would put little sparkly star stickers on each location. And then, pretty soon, I had to turn the map over and there was the world on the back! Important It’s the little details – you bring a little sparkle into the lives of people who come from these places.
Dancers have taken their studios to Australia, Japan, Portugal, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, Mexico, Panama and Puerto Rico. It all started because of one woman’s dream to make all dancers feel special and share their talents to make others smile.
“We just love working with dancers from all over the world. It’s so rewarding and we’re doing something that we know will change their lives,” she shared.
Perhaps the secret to So You Think You Can Dance is that it truly embodies the spirit of Disney. The company’s commitment to friendliness and flexibility has endeared them to studio directors, dancers, and Disney partners. The end result is always a magical and memorable event for everyone. Studio owners can provide dancers with a stress-free, once-in-a-lifetime experience where they can sit back and enjoy the magic with their dancers. Parents feel proud when they see their children shining. The choreography of “Dancing Magic” requires dancers to be fully visible to the audience – to smile, make eye contact, connect and share the best day ever. They are encouraged to celebrate every magical moment. And they did! Make memories that will last a lifetime.
Stay tuned for part two of our conversation with Debi Barr and Dance the Magic, where we’ll dive into how it all works and what studio owners and dancers can take away from the experience. In the meantime, go to dancethemagic.com learn more.
