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Perform at the Cherry Blossom Parade with AVA!
- AVA Dance Company
- 9h
- 3 min read
For the 3rd year in a row, AVA Dance Company has been invited to perform at the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade! 🌸💃✨
This event takes places in front of Washington DC's National Archives Building and is not only broadcasted live, but is also distributed to regional and national television stations throughout the Spring! We are honored to be returning to perform in this DC tradition!
We are looking for 25 dancers to join us for two performances in the parade on Saturday, April 11, 2026:
A featured performance alongside a recording artist (TBA!), choreographed by Melanie Jerome Sirbaugh
The featured finale performance—choreographed by our Founder/Director, Leah Mariner
What We’re Looking For:
Dancers with Intermediate/Advanced level of skills and choreography retention in the Street Jazz & Hip Hop styles
Experience performing for large crowds
Energy that can shine on a live regional and national broadcast!
Attendance during our 7 rehearsals
The Details:
Performance Date: Saturday, April 11 (Rain or shine!)
Location: National Archives Building, Washington DC
Call Time on parade day: approx. 6:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Rehearsals: Mar. 23, 26, 30 & Apr. 2, 7, 9, 2026 from 8:30P-9:30P at Gold's Gym
Dress rehearsal with remainder of the parade cast: April 10 in Washington DC (Time TBA)
Performance Fee: $250 (cost for costumes not included)
Dancers who would like to participate in this opportunity can submit samples of dance experience via our Interest Form, which will become available on February 23. The form will close on February 27 and dancers will be notified via email of whether they've been selected or waitlisted.
Unlike other performance opportunities we provide, registration for this event will not be granted on a first come, first served basis.
Meet The Choreographers, Leah & Melanie!
Leah has been dancing and sharing her passion for dance with others for over 30 years. Leah was born and raised in Long Island, NY where her dance career started. In college she led her college dance company and choreographed routines that won leading scores in competitions. After college, Leah danced professionally for the Washington Wizards for three seasons, serving as co-captain of the team during her third season. During her time dancing professionally for the NBA, she won Rookie of the Year, was chosen to represent her team in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil at the NBA 3x Events; Atlanta, Georgia for the annual All P-R-O Dance Convention; as well as New York City for the 2015 NBA All Star Events. Leah has always loved sharing her passion of dance with her community and is grateful to continue to provide so many dance opportunities to our dancers here in the DMV through AVA Dance Company.
Melanie was born and raised in Eldersburg, Maryland. She began dancing when she was three years old. Melanie attended Baltimore School for the Arts where she had intense ballet and modern training everyday. After graduating from BSA, she received a dance scholarship to George Mason University. There she earned her BFA in Dance, graduating with “Outstanding Achievement in the Major”. Melanie graduated in the “glorious” year of 2020 which she actually considers a blessing in disguise. She took the opportunity to spontaneously audition for the Tennessee Titans Cheerleading Team and was fortunate to join for the 2021-2022 season. Becoming an NFL Cheerleader has opened so many unexpected doors including choreographing for the DUKE Dancing Devils and is now the Assistant Coach for Mount St. Mary’s Dance Team. Melanie is so happy to be back in the DMV teaching, choreographing and of course smiling with so many dancers.
Check Out Our Previous Cherry Blossom Parade Performances
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