Matawan Dance Student Performing at New York Tree Lighting

An eight-year-old dance student at Arts in Motion Academy in Matawan is heading to New York City Wednesday to help celebrate the Rockefeller Center tree lighting.

Jhailyn Farcon, who has trained at the dance studio for the past four years, will join performers including Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blidge and Kelly Clarkson for the 7 p.m. celebration, according to AIM co-owner and instructor Kimberly Tam. 

“Jhai is one of my most successful proteges and a powerhouse student, dancer, and performer,” she said in an email.

Farcon recently completed a six-month international Broadway tour of “Billy Elliot.” She also spent two years performing at New York Knicks games as one of the “City Kidz” dancers.

“She is every instructor/choreographer's dream—the perfect storm, combining incredible natural talent and unrelenting drive, focus, fearless dedication and of course the heart to become a true artist,” Tam said. “We are so proud!”

The tree lighting will be televised locally on NBC. More information about Arts in Motion is available here.