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Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times
National
Mariah Rush

Black girl friendships at the heart of Disney’s made-in-Chicago skating show ‘Saturdays’

Stars Peyton Basnight (from left), Daria Johns and Danielle Jalade shoot a “Saturdays” scene at the closed Markham Roller Rink. (Disney)

Inside Markham Roller Rink, amid flashing neon lights, a sense of gravity and urgency is unfolding. Fifteen-year-old Danielle Jalade and her friends Daria Johns and Peyton Basnight are trying to nail down a complex roller-skating flip. After, the girls let out a piercing cheer and a hug. 

The trio make up the We-B-Girlz skate crew that practices and performs on the best day of the week — Saturdays! When the director yells cut, the teenagers giggle to each other between scenes, their change in demeanor almost imperceptible. 

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