Dancing. 20-hour weeks. Disneyland. New York. Senior Antoinette Navarro balances dance, school and friends while traveling to her favorite places.

Navarro said she has been dancing since she was five years old and is currently dancing for her fourteenth year with a team from Dance/10 Performing Arts Center.

“Dance has impacted my life by allowing me to be myself and get to have so many opportunities in the dance world,” Navarro said.

Navarro said she has traveled to many places across the country for dance.

“The farthest I have traveled for dance is New York to perform in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade,” Navarro said.

Navarro’s dance friend, Saint Mary’s College High School senior, Sarah Smyth met Antoinette through dancing three years ago.

“Antoinette is an awesome person to be around and she always make me laugh,” Smyth said.

Navarro has known dance friend Samantha Witherspoon, a second year at Cal State Fullerton, for 12 years.

“My favorite thing about dancing with her is being able to just look at her and make her laugh on stage,” Witherspoon said.

Navarro said that out of all the places she has travelled to, her favorite place to dance is Disneyland, when she goes there for Nationals.

“I have gone to Disneyland for dance every summer for the national dance competition since I was eight years old,” Navarro said.

Navarro said that dancing in Disneyland is a lifetime experience that not every dancer gets to do. While in Disneyland she participates in the Show Stoppers Dance Competition and gets to perform in the Disneyland California Adventure for Magic Music Days.

“Trips have enhanced my dancing life by allowing me to have those opportunities in the dance work and get to meet new and other dancers with the same dream I have,” Navarro said.

Witherspoon said that like Navarro she too enjoys going to Disneyland for dance.

“I love our dance trips to Disneyland and I now work there in the Pixar Play Parade,” Witherspoon said.

Navarro said that she has gone to Disneyland many times besides going for dance. She goes for her birthday every year and in the summer just for fun.

“I have gone many times to Disneyland for fun,” Navarro said. “I usually go for my birthday every year and in summer for fun.”

Navarro said that she really enjoys the classic Disney characters.

“Mickey Mouse is my favorite character because it was Walt Disney’s original character,” Navarro said.

Navarro said that she cannot pick a top favorite moment when she is in Disneyland.

“My favorite dance moment is getting to perform on stage with my second family and making memories that will last a lifetime,” Navarro said. “I love all of Disneyland, especially going into the park at six am and staying until 12 am while having a blast with family and friends.”

Both Witherspoon and Smyth said that their favorite dance memory with Antoinette is going to New York and dancing down Broadway in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

“I loved exploring the city and it was crazy being in a parade that I have watched on TV for years,” Smyth said.

Although Smyth has not gone down to Disneyland with Navarro for dance she has gone to New York and Hollywood.

“The best part is seeing how excited other people because you’re there,” Smyth said.

Since she dances 20 hours a week Navarro said that sometimes it is hard to manage her time.

“I do all my homework before dance and I really don’t get to hang out with school friends cause I’m always at dance rehearsal or traveling for dance,” Navarro said.

Navarro said that even though this is her last year dancing in high school, she wants to keep dance in her life after she graduates, because dancing and performing is what she loves doing.

“I will keep dancing through my life and would like to keep teaching at the studio as I am doing currently,” Navarro said.