Bowling Green Holiday Parade- Saturday November 22, 2025
The Beat will serve as one of the premier sponsors of the Bowling Green Holiday Parade on Saturday, November 22, 2025. All current BDC dancers and gymnasts age 6 & up are invited to dance with us in the parade the morning of Saturday November 22. Focused 5-year-olds currently enrolled in a level I dance class with the attention span and stamina to last the full parade route are also welcome. In order to perform with us, you must do the following:
1. Officially register your dancer by submitting this form.
2. Pay for your parade participation and/or parade t-shirt. Please note there was a NEW BLUE PARADE SHIRT rolled out in 2024. If your dancer's blue parade t-shirt still fits they may wear it and you can just pay a $5 participation fee. The registration form has space to select the shirt size(s) if you would like to order any for you or your performer.
3. Have your child attend at least one choreography rehearsal to learn parade choreography. Options include: Sunday, October 19 1:30-2:30pm or Saturday, October 25 from 11:00am-12:00pm.
4. Attend a mandatory staging rehearsal at The Beat the week before the parade on Saturday, November 15th. We are tentatively planning on 11am-noon (possibly until 12:30) this day, but our schedule will be confirmed after we have an accurate head count. Please check back to our website for updates! Also note that if the weather permits we will be using The Beat parking lot to rehearse during our staging rehearsal, so children will need to be dropped off on time and parents cannot stay at the studio / in the lot.
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Practice at home: Practice videos of our parade choreography will be shared on our website so dancers can practice at home to be sure they're confident and ready for the big day. Competition Company dancers will be able to find additional videos for our "Four Corners" performance on the BAND app once it's been staged.
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What to wear on Parade day:
- Black bottoms (leggings, yoga pants, or sweats.. more than one pair of leggings will be helpful in the cold)
- NEW teal/blue parade t-shirt layered over WHITE long sleeves (turtleneck or regular white long sleeved shirt)
- Supportive tennis shoes & socks. No dance shoes, no boots, no crocs, etc.. Just a good, supportive shoe that dance well in the streets. Any color shoe is fine.
- Hair should be neat, either half-back or in a full ponytail
- Light makeup is fine for those who normally wear makeup. It's not required. Please do not send your child in stage face for the parade.
- Cold weather accessories (hat, earmuffs, gloves, etc.) should be securely attached and match our color palate in teals/blues, black and white, or in neutral tones like beige or gray.
We recommend lots of layers to stay warm! A first layer of leotard & tights will also help your child stay warm. Make sure all of your child's items are labeled because as the parade moves on (and the kids warm up) we often have items thrown into the truck.
Where to go/when to report on Parade day:
- The Beat placement in the parade will be announced once we receive it from the BG Chamber of Commerce
- Parents, you will drop your dancer off at our meeting point (location TBD) between 8:40 and 8:55am on parade day. Note that Main St. will be closed and you won't be able to drive on it. You must drop your dancer from Grove Street. Please do not be late! We have to officially "check in" at 9am and will use the full hour to rehearse and get ready to dance.
- We will most likely exit the parade on South Main Street at Dixie Ave. at the end of the parade. You will be there with us at the end! DO NOT PLAN TO DRIVE TO US (read on for more)
Parents who want to march with us- unless you are really trying to bank your steps for the day we recommend that you leave a car near the end of the parade route & get dropped off at our starting spot farther north (specific location TBD) so you do not need to walk all the way back… For parents observing the parade, please do the following: Drop your child near The Beat's meeting area DO NOT drive into the meeting area. We cannot stress the post-performance pickup procedure enough- Once the parade begins and The Beat dances past you, we ask that you join us on foot and follow us to the end of the parade to retrieve your child. Please be prompt to with parade pickup and DO NOT plan to drive to pick your dancer up. You will take your child with you once The Beat has finished in the parade... not when the whole parade is over. We have a long, cold morning participating in the parade, and we appreciate your promptness in picking up your child! We recommend that you set up to watch us near the four corners intersection at Main & Wooster St..
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Other Information:
Please make sure your child is prepared by getting a good night's sleep, eating breakfast beforehand, and using the restroom right before you head our way! Please also be sure they are confident in the choreography. (practice videos will be linked above).