TOURNAMENT OF ROSES PARADE PERFORMANCE

Before you start setting your New Year's Day college football bowl schedule, turn on your television for the start of the 118th Rose Bowl Tournament of Roses Parade at 10am central time. You will be proud to see Oklahoma City University's own American Spirit Dance Company performance officially open the parade.

How did the OCU dance company end up in Pasadena?

This wonderful opportunity began in September. Jo Rowan, Director of the American Spirit Dance Company headed a committee of faculty that teaches jazz and tap in the Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Arts Management to select 35 dancers (along with 4 managers) to take part in the opening ceremony in Pasadena.

Once the 35 were selected, the dancers performed the routine before the Oklahoma Centennial Board and Tournament of Roses Parade officials. After all parties gave their approval, the dancers have been working hard on the routine that will open the 118th Tournament of Roses Parade.

Rowan said this performance is a first for both OCU and the Tournament of Roses Parade. "They (the officials) have never asked a university dance company to open the parade. When they came and saw what we did, we blew them away."

The trip to Pasadena won't be one of pleasure for the OCU contingent. Rowan explained they leave on December 28th and return January 2nd. During the time they are in California, they will rehearse two different routines, one for the parade and the second for a special banquet hosted by Parade officials and the Oklahoma Centennial Commission.

"We're doing three numbers at the banquet, a men and women's jazz piece and a kick line piece in addition to the ten minute piece we are doing for the Tournament of Roses Parade opening," explained Rowan.

While many of us will ring in the New Year at midnight, Rowan says they will be asleep. That's because the dancers have a 1am wake up call New Year's Day. "We will do a camera rehearsal at 3am, break for breakfast at 6am and perform our routine at 8am pacific time," said Rowan.

At the parade the dancers will perform with the Oklahoma Centennial Band, who will appear as part of the Oklahoma contingent celebrating our state's centennial anniversary.

What's makes this event even better is that the Oklahoma Centennial Float will be the first float that millions of viewers will see when the parade begins. Viewers will see OCU alumnus Kristin Chenoweth on that float to officially mark the beginning of the Oklahoma Centennial celebration.

So as you prepare your New Year's Day breakfast, be sure to have your television on to watch or tape the Tournament of Roses Parade. This year's parade should give a sense of pride not just to Oklahoman's, but Oklahoma City University alumni everywhere.