San Leandro Troupe Will Dance For UC Bears

A group of San Leandro dancers in October.

Now the young women of B’Dazzled Dancers will cartwheel and spin during the Big Balloon Parade that begins at 10:00 am on Wednesday in San Diego (parade airs on the USA Network).

The girls will also perform during the half-time show at the Holiday Bowl that starts at 5:00 pm.

The bowl game pits the University of California Golden Bears against the University of Texas Longhorns.

B’Dazzled Dancers has been in San Leandro since 1986, offering Jazz, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Tap and Tumbling from beginner through competitive levels.

Company director Jaime Wray said the troupe has performed twice before at Disneyland and through that connection B’Dazzled was invited to San Diego.

The trip cost $900 for each of the 10 dancers taking part. Wray said the girls had the option to fundraise in a variety of ways to limit their out-of-pocket expenses.

“The choreography routine was mailed to us to teach to the girls and they have been working like crazy to master it before the big day,” she said.

The trip includes a training session with Emmy Award-winning choreographer Bonnie Story (noted for High School Musical) and a whirlwind of other activities.

"We got lucky to be able to participate and to see a local team," Wray said.

So root for the two home teams on Wednesday: the B’Dazzled Dancers and the Golden Bears.

(Follow us on Twitter @sanleandropatch or like us at Facebook.com/sanleandropatch)