Darlene had taken a few dance lessons around age five, but had then left it alone until she turned eleven. Her mother then enrolled her in Burch Mann's Alhambra studio. Darlene's dance lessons were funded by an avocado nursery Larry had, in which the whole family worked. Burch, who had been asked by the producers to help find kids, sent Darlene, Bonni Lou Kern, Mary Espinosa, and some others to the Mickey Mouse Club auditions. Darlene was hired on her first try, as much for singing Davy Crockett
