Fannin County High School (FCHS) senior cheerleader Makya Watson has been selected to dance with Spirit of America at the 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
“I wasn’t expecting to make it because they usually only take big teams and I auditioned as an individual,” said Watson.
One thousand people audition from each state. They take the best 500 from all the states.
She heard about Spirit of America last year on television and thought that would a really cool thing to do.
After the audition process which included sending in dance and cheer videos, she was sent an email invitation in February of 2025.
For the first three days, it’s non-stop practice, Makya said. The routines aren’t specific, but she has received videos to learn them prior to arriving in New York City.
“I have to learn three different versions of the dance. And, then we mix and match when we get there. Some girls are doing some parts and some girls are doing others.”
While in New York, she will tour New York for one day, go shopping one day, and get to see the Broadway show Moulin Rouge. The cheerleaders will also get to see the Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall.
She is excited about the parade.“I’m in it for the experience. And, I am debating whether to cheer in college or not. When I get this done, I can decide if I want to cheer in college.” She wants to attend the University of Georgia. She added, “If I don’t cheer in college, I want it to be my last big bang for my senior year.”
If she likes it, she will try to do it next year. Next year is Macy’s 100th anniversary, so she said that would be an awesome thing to be a part of.
She hopes she will inspire others to not be nervous and scared, and take a chance and audition.
“I’ve seen so many girls not try out for stuff because they are nervous about not getting it. They are scared of the rejection. I just say go for it.”
Watson does sideline cheering, competition cheering and basketball cheer at FCHS.
Cheerleading is in her DNA. She is the daughter of Mark and Makisha Watson. Makisha and Makya’s grandmothers Jeanette Wilson and Judy Watson were also cheerleaders.
Makya started dancing at Studio 1 in Blue Ridge when she was four years old and did it seven years. She has cheered for seven years. “They overlapped for a little bit,” Makya said.
She has also danced at multiple University of Georgia football games, at Disneyworld and the Citrus Bowl. “I always wanted to do the big events and then I switched to cheer. Anything about cheer I go for.”