Teenagers Tripp and Otto

shine at local Winterfest

According to local Radio Disney station manager Theresa Kennebrew, their official job titles are “local talent.”

But there seems no doubt Hannah Tripp, 17, and Jordynn Otto, 16, both consider themselves dancers first.

The two Bothell teens are among the eight performers who travel to various events promoting the local Radio Disney outlet with a roughly 1 ½-hour show.

The pair have danced and played games with kids and young teens at such events as Bite of Seattle and a Taste of Edmonds, along with visiting various malls throughout the Puget Sound.

And most recently, Hannah and Jordynn performed in front of a hometown crowd at the city’s Winterfest event Dec. 5.

Neither reported experiencing any nerves about being on stage in front of their friends and neighbors.

“We’ve been inviting some of our friends to come watch us,” Hannah said prior to the show.

“We just both have a lot of fun,” Jordynn added.

“I think it’s great in that they enjoy it so much,” said Hannah’s mom, Francine Tripp.

If the Bothell show was similar to others, for their latest appearance Jordynn and Hannah performed an opening number, helped kids dance the “Cha-Cha Slide” and played games like hot potato with a DVD.

According to Hannah, the average age of the audience participants is between 5 and 12. There are, of course, prizes — Disney prizes, of course — for those audience participants.

Looking for what amounts to a fun part-time job was the main reason the two decided to try out for the Disney talent squad about six months ago. Being on stage and in front of an audience is really nothing new for either girl. For many years, both have taken dance classes at Turning Pointe Dance Centre in Woodinville.

Further, they belong to the studio’s Trilogy dance group and have gone to competitions in places such as New York, Florida and Canada.

“I just love to move around and perform,” Hannah said, adding she’s been taking some kind of dance classes since age 3. Jordynn said she beat her friend to the stage by a year, having been enrolled in “creative-movement” classes at age 2.

The pair learned about the potential Radio Disney gig from a mutual friend and yet another member of the Trilogy dance troupe.

Kennebrew said the duo competed against about 15 other teens. Jordynn said both needed to make up and perform a dance, as well as go through a job interview, with the latter including lots of questions on their interactions with kids. Jordynn said she talked about her babysitting skills, and both girls said they enjoy working with the youngsters at the Disney shows.

“A lot of the kids are really funny,” Jordynn added.

One girl insisted she had seen Hannah on TV the day before a Disney show. Both girls said they have been asked for their autographs more than once.

“People think we’re celebrities or something,” Jordynn said.

Hannah said she and Jordynn went through three or four rehearsals before putting on their first Disney show. They are out on the road with the station just about every weekend.

For the Trilogy dance squad, Jordynn said practices can run three to five hours a day.

“It’s fun, though,” Hannah added. “We wouldn’t do it if we didn’t like it.”

For the future, both Hannah and Jordynn say they want to keep performing. Also a singer taking voice lessons, Hannah wants to go to Los Angeles or New York with an eye toward getting on Broadway. She also mentioned possibly trying out for a gig at the Disneyland Resort in Paris.

“I honestly don’t know what I want to do,” Jordynn admitted. “I just know I want to dance.”

Teenagers Tripp and Otto

shine at local Winterfest

According to local Radio Disney station manager Theresa Kennebrew, their official job titles are “local talent.”

But there seems no doubt Hannah Tripp, 17, and Jordynn Otto, 16, both consider themselves dancers first.

The two Bothell teens are among the eight performers who travel to various events promoting the local Radio Disney outlet with a roughly 1 ½-hour show.

The pair have danced and played games with kids and young teens at such events as Bite of Seattle and a Taste of Edmonds, along with visiting various malls throughout the Puget Sound.

And most recently, Hannah and Jordynn performed in front of a hometown crowd at the city’s Winterfest event Dec. 5.

Neither reported experiencing any nerves about being on stage in front of their friends and neighbors.

“We’ve been inviting some of our friends to come watch us,” Hannah said prior to the show.

“We just both have a lot of fun,” Jordynn added.

“I think it’s great in that they enjoy it so much,” said Hannah’s mom, Francine Tripp.

If the Bothell show was similar to others, for their latest appearance Jordynn and Hannah performed an opening number, helped kids dance the “Cha-Cha Slide” and played games like hot potato with a DVD.

According to Hannah, the average age of the audience participants is between 5 and 12. There are, of course, prizes — Disney prizes, of course — for those audience participants.

Looking for what amounts to a fun part-time job was the main reason the two decided to try out for the Disney talent squad about six months ago. Being on stage and in front of an audience is really nothing new for either girl. For many years, both have taken dance classes at Turning Pointe Dance Centre in Woodinville.

Further, they belong to the studio’s Trilogy dance group and have gone to competitions in places such as New York, Florida and Canada.

“I just love to move around and perform,” Hannah said, adding she’s been taking some kind of dance classes since age 3. Jordynn said she beat her friend to the stage by a year, having been enrolled in “creative-movement” classes at age 2.

The pair learned about the potential Radio Disney gig from a mutual friend and yet another member of the Trilogy dance troupe.

Kennebrew said the duo competed against about 15 other teens. Jordynn said both needed to make up and perform a dance, as well as go through a job interview, with the latter including lots of questions on their interactions with kids. Jordynn said she talked about her babysitting skills, and both girls said they enjoy working with the youngsters at the Disney shows.

“A lot of the kids are really funny,” Jordynn added.

One girl insisted she had seen Hannah on TV the day before a Disney show. Both girls said they have been asked for their autographs more than once.

“People think we’re celebrities or something,” Jordynn said.

Hannah said she and Jordynn went through three or four rehearsals before putting on their first Disney show. They are out on the road with the station just about every weekend.

For the Trilogy dance squad, Jordynn said practices can run three to five hours a day.

“It’s fun, though,” Hannah added. “We wouldn’t do it if we didn’t like it.”

For the future, both Hannah and Jordynn say they want to keep performing. Also a singer taking voice lessons, Hannah wants to go to Los Angeles or New York with an eye toward getting on Broadway. She also mentioned possibly trying out for a gig at the Disneyland Resort in Paris.

“I honestly don’t know what I want to do,” Jordynn admitted. “I just know I want to dance.”