- April 25, 2024
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Ormond Beach dancers just returned from an an international arts festival in China, where they represented the United States.
BY EMILY BLACKWOOD | STAFF WRITER
The curtains have drawn, the leotards were put away and the dancers from the European School of Performing Arts are finally home.
Janet Peburn, mother of 13-year-old dancer Annalisa, said the group's trip to China to perform in the 15th-annual Shanghai International Arts Festival couldn't have gone any better. The group, which was invited to the festival by the Chinese government, performed nine times in eight days.
"The crowd fell in love with them," said Peburn. "They were rock stars."
The festival was televised and watched by 20 million people. Peburn said that the girls teamed up with a Russian group and that they were well received at the festival.
In order to make this trip possible, the dance school had to raise $40,000. Peburn said that, thanks to the efforts from the community, they were able to raise the money early, and then use the rest of the time beforehand to prepare for the trip.
"They represented the United States brilliantly," Peburn said.
