Six Lancaster County dancers braved cold temperatures and rain to dance at Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade alongside legendary Irish dance troupe Riverdance.
Dancers with the Doherty Petri School of Irish Dance, formerly known as the Paloma School of Irish Dance, submitted videos for a casting call for additional dancers that Riverdance put out.
Manheim Township High School student Ezekiel Pujol, 15, was one of the dancers at the parade.
"It was an eye-opening experience seeing how professional dancers prepare and participate in events like this," Ezekiel says, calling conditions slippery. "I slipped a couple of times and couldn't dance my best but I kept going and smiling."
Ezekiel's brother, 17-year-old Isaiah Pujol, also danced in the parade. The brothers are sons of the dance school's owner and instructor, Esther Pujol.
"(It was) a dream come true," Isaiah says. "I've loved Riverdance since I was a kid and the Macy's Day Parade is iconic, so to see those two things together and be able to be a part of them both was unbelievable."
READ: School of Irish Dance performers kick off St. Patrick's day weekend
Dancer Jase Lawrence, 11, broke his foot right before the parade, but decided to dance with Riverdance anyways.
"It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Jase says. "My foot hurt while I was dancing, but I pushed through it, and I'm so glad I did."
Jase, who currently attends the Montessori Academy of Lancaster, says that he wants to eventually become an Irish dance teacher and judge before formally being a part of Riverdance when he's old enough.
Baltimore, Maryland, resident Abigail Ernst, 14, has been Irish dancing since she was four years old. She says the opportunity to dance with Riverdance alongside her friends served as a bonding experience.
"We all had a blast together and I truly believe through this trip my friends and I got even closer," Abigail says.
She hopes to one day dance with Riverdance again, but for now, Ernst has her sights set on going to the World Irish Dance Championships.
Two other dancers with Doherty Petri, 14-year-old Sarah Smith and 16-year-old William Snodgress, performed at the parade, too.
Dancers will again have the opportunity to connect to Riverdance, as the Irish dance troupe will stop at the American Music Theatre for eight performances from Feb. 25 to March 2.
Doherty Petri dancers will dance in the lobby before the 7 p.m. March 1 performance. Tickets for Riverdance range from $49-$69, with a VIP package costing $175.
For more information about the Doherty Petri School of Irish Dance, visit petrischool.com.
![Supergroup featuring Aerosmith bassist to record music video at Rock Lititz; here's how to attend [update]](https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/lancasteronline.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/e/f4/ef457cb4-b0e3-11ef-ac53-37ff4e193e8d/674e0b232764a.image.png)
JENELLE JANCI | Staff Writer
