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20 BELOW: The Big Apple is the city of cities

Katelynn Bolster puts in a good word for the New York, NY.

If you’ve ever travelled, you know what it is like to experience new cultures and ways of life. Even if you go somewhere as similar in cultural values as New York City, you will undoubtedly have your eyes opened to new things.

Almost two years ago, the competitive team at Creative Roots and our parents took a one-week break from classes and flew to New York, NY. We spent five nights and six days in the city, which, let me just say, is not nearly enough time to see and do everything. The experience was unforgettable.

Of course we visited some of the popular tourist attractions, the Statue of Liberty, Rockefeller Centre, Radio City Music Hall, Central Park, “Ground Zero,” Times Square and the Theatre District.

We also had opportunities for shopping, such as at the world’s largest Macy’s and other flagship stores in Times Square.

We couldn’t forget the famous foods of NYC as well – pastrami sandwiches and authentic New York cheesecake at Carnegie Deli (also home of the world’s largest pickle!), delicate cupcakes at Magnolia Bakery, and of course a toasted bagel from a street-vendor. Just a word of advice regarding those bagels, though: they really are not as good as they make them out to be on TV. We also had some unique opportunities.

Included in our tour package was one class per dancer at each of two famous dance studios, Broadway Dance Centre, and Steps On Broadway. Choices were open to students as to which classes we attended and many of us made connections with native New York dancers who were in the classes as well. We also had a private group lesson with a Radio City Rockette, and went to the Broadway musical Wicked, prequel to The Wizard of Oz.

In addition, we participated in a group tour of the Juilliard School of the Arts, a world-renowned university at Lincoln Centre.

We were also offered two group performance opportunities: one outdoors at the Statue of Liberty, where we danced for the public next to the island’s fountain, and one indoors at the Centre for Cerebral Palsy where we danced for quite a different audience, who also appreciated our performance. Unfortunately we didn’t get the chance to dance on Broadway, but there’s always next time.

From the moment we started planning the trip, I fell in love with the city, and that love was only strengthened once we actually arrived.

I’d travelled to many other cities before, but New York City is truly the city of all cities.

All of the dancers, and our parents too, returned to Smithers completely exhausted but inspired.

To see one of the possible results of all of our years of sweat and pain as dancers was amazing to say the least.

Of course, not everyone wants to be a triple threat – that is, an actor, singer, and dancer – but the opportunities in New York extend so far beyond Broadway.