Kelly Zapien, a junior from Orestimba High School was one of more than 800 junior high and high school cheerleaders and dancers from across the country that represented Varsity Spirit in the 2025 Thanksgiving Tour at the Walt Disney World® Resort in Orlando, Florida.
The individuals invited to perform are part of a select group of cheerleaders and dancers chosen as All-Americans during Varsity Spirit summer camps across the country. All-Americans are selected via tryout based on either superior cheerleading or dance skills at camps operated by Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA), Universal Dance Association (UDA), National Cheerleaders Association (NCA), National Dance Alliance (NDA), or Urban Cheerleading Experience (UCE). Only the top 15% of the cheerleaders and dancers from Varsity Spirit camps earn the chance to march in a holiday parade of this caliber.
Zapien performed with the Varsity Spirit All-Americans in a one-of-a-kind performance through Disney’s Magic Kingdom® Park during Thanksgiving week. Besides enjoying an exciting trip to Orlando, All-Americans had the opportunity to meet cheerleaders and dancers from across the nation, took part in an exclusive performance, and enjoyed a magical holiday season at Walt Disney World® Resort parks.
“Having the opportunity to be a captain this year and to participate in the Varsity Spirit Spectacular at Walt Disney World in Orlando was truly beyond words. I have been a cheerleader for 13 years, and hearing my name announced as one of the cheerleaders selected is something I will forever be grateful for. I feel incredibly blessed that my family was able to join me and support me by traveling with me to Orlando so I could perform in the parade,” Zapien stated.
Performers receive a video with the routine to memorize before joining all together for the parade performance. “Once I received the routine, I practiced every day to ensure I knew it perfectly by parade day. When we arrived in Orlando for practice, the experience was amazing! I had the chance to meet cheerleaders from many different states. On parade day, you could feel the energy in the air. Even though we had just met, we truly felt like one big team, all sharing the same passion for cheer. It isn’t just a sport; it’s a way we cheerleaders empower one another and recognize how important it is to lift each other up. That, in itself, is the gift we offer to the world,” Zapien reflected.
Zapien is no stranger to this parade experience. “Even though this was my second time parading at Disney World, the feeling never fades. It is always astonishing, and the amount of love and excitement you feel while performing is unforgettable. I will forever be grateful for this opportunity.” This performance wasn’t the only one that Zapien qualified for. “I can’t wait for the All-American event I qualified for during the summer at UCA Camp. It will be taking place this December in Rome, Italy and I will perform on January 1, 2026. It will be such an honor representing Orestimba High School Cheer,” Zapien noted.
For more information about the Varsity Spirit All-American Program, visit www.varsity.com.
