Americans Determined To Compete In World Tap Dancing Competition Halted By Lufthansa Strike

NORTH ANDOVER (CBS) -- From a toddler to age 17, Shanna Bonanno grew up in Nancy Chippendale's Dance Studio.

She's one of 82 tap dancers nationwide practicing to compete for the USA in the World Tap Dancing Competition in Dresden, Germany. Their plans to leave Saturday, though, were halted when their flights were canceled due to the Lufthansa pilots' strike.

"I'm a little frustrated because it's out of the dancers' control at this point," Shanna said.

The airline is offering them refunds or a chance to re-book their flight on Sunday. The competition starts on Tuesday.

"We need a plane and a pilot," Kelli Carberry, the American Tap Company director, said. "Anyone who can get us to Europe anywhere, just get us to the continent."

With 82 dancers plus their parents flying, Carberry said it's a struggle to find enough space on a flight.

"It's really difficult to find a flight for 197 people," Carberry said. "We've reached out to other charter flights. We've reached out to other airlines but they're not really able to accommodate us because everyone is trying to re-book, everyone is trying to get where they need to go, especially during this holiday weekend."

For some, like Shanna, it will be their first time dancing in the esteemed solo competition – if they make it. The dancers' parents and instructors refuse to take no for an answer.

"To have that shot at a solo performance in the world championships is what she's been wanting," Denise Bonanno, Shanna's mother, said. "I talked to other mothers and we're like, 'whatever we have to do.' We're going to figure this out and they're going to get there and they're going to be dancing on that stage."

"We will get there however we can," Carberry said.

The dancers remain hopeful.

"It's kind of a letdown, but also hopeful that we will get there and we're going to go," Shanna said.