Team travel is a fun and exciting opportunity for Dance/Drill team young ladies. There are a variety of destinations for both competition and performance trips. We contacted several companies and found that a variety of travel opportunities exist that will fit virtually any team's needs, desires and budget.
Imagine sunning on tropical white sand beaches, swimming and snorkeling in warm, sparkling clear blue water, the island sound of steel drums, music, dancing entertainment and fine and casual dining. Combine this with your team's performance on stage to a packed house, complete with professional lighting and a Master of Ceremony. Follow this with other performances for appreciative people outdoors on the stage of the Lido Deck. You've guessed it . . . your team can kick, leap and cruise on a Carnival Performance Cruise. You can arrange private classes with the cruise line dancers for your team, and since many of these dancers have trained in England they bring a unique perspective and style to the classes they teach. The performing cruise experience is fun, exciting and an educational adventure.
If the thought of a cruise makes you queasy, there are plenty of exciting, educational destinations where you won't be surrounded by the ocean. A popular team destination is New York, New York. Fun things to do and see include China Town, Greenwich Village, the Empire State Building, and the Statue of Liberty. Also not to be missed is St. James Theatre, Whoopi Goldberg's "A funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," Radio City Music Hall (have a Rockette come to talk with the team), the musical "Rent," a cruise of the harbor, Battery Park and Ellis Island. These tours most often last 5 days and 4 nights and are packed with fun, learning opportunities.
A really neat but somewhat pricey destination that can be arranged is a trip to England. This European destination can include a tour of Windsor, a tour of Covent Garden, a concert dance performance by the drill team and many other performance and sightseeing opportunities.
Las Vegas, Nevada is another great destination that's not just for adults anymore. With many new additions it has become a town with a family-friendly atmosphere that's full of adventure. Envision your team performing at the MGM Grand, and then join in the fun as you spend the afternoon at the MGM Grand Adventures Theme Park. Enjoy a shopping excursion to Caesar's Forum shops, a pirate ship battle at Treasure Island, an erupting live volcano at the Mirage, and famous Las Vegas shows such as "EFX," starring David Cassidy and "Mystere," a production from Cirque Du Soleil.
Many drill teams are currently not allowed to travel out of state. Annette Stark, director of the Alief Hastings Golden Brigade has shared with us the list of reasons she uses to gain support to allow her team to travel to out of state competitions.
Consider what a talented group you have. If they are repeatedly recognized within your state for their accomplishments, then they deserve the opportunity to compete out of state as well. Also bring to attention other schools and school districts which allow their drill teams to travel.
Members can raise their own money through numerous fundraisers. The money would not have to come from the school district's budget.
A trip can be educational as well as enjoyable. Share specific sights the team will visit on their trip and point out the educational value of each.
Team travel will be the experience of a lifetime for many of these young ladies. Some of them may not have the opportunity to travel again.
Trophies and awards from national contests bring a lot of exposure not only to the team itself, but also to the school, the school district and the community.
Members are motivated to excel in their schoolwork, knowing that they must pass their classes in order to take the trip. Also, membership in the team could increase; more young ladies would want to try out knowing they would have the opportunity to travel and compete nationally.
Tom Sanchez of Four Seasons Tours suggests enlisting the help of a tour company. "By dealing with a tour company, ALL arrangements are made which resolves all conflicts commonly brought about by trips. Tour companies are on top of EVERYTHING. The director does not have to worry about any of the arrangements because they are already taken care of." Tom also adds, "it is better to go with a company that is based in the city you are traveling to. They can usually get a better rate on hotels and local transportation because of the large number of teams they bring to the area. Another advantage is that your tour guide is a local citizen, if there is an emergency the tour guide can be of immediate assistance as well as be very knowledgeable about the area."
Hints for choosing the right tour company:
Check out the reputation of the company by calling directors who have been on the trip.
Check with the Better Business Bureau.
Check to see if the company is familiar with the destination.
Ask how many groups they deal with per year.
Get everything in writing.
Always be aware of cancellation policies.
Kim Burge, director of the Keller High School Indianettes shares her tips for successful team travel:
Check with the hotel about room charges. If they are not able to turn long distance privileges off, make arrangements for all trip participants to use the pay phones in the lobby.
Place a bright colored ribbon on all trip participant's bags. This will help to identify if anyone has left bags behind when you travel from place to place.
Send an information sheet home for the parents to fill out. Ask where they will be while you are gone on the trip. Have them include location, times, beeper number, cell phone number, etc.
Request a beeper for yourself from the travel company. These are handy for amusement parks or destinations where the team will be in small groups. They are also helpful so that team members or parents can contact you in case of an emergency.
Both performance and competition trips can be a great way to top off your year. The memories you and your team bring home with you will be cherished for a lifetime.
Special Thanks to Four Seasons Tours, Half-Time Entertainment, Connect Tours and UNIGLOBE for submitting destination information, and to Christy Berg, Annette Stark and Kim Burge for their insights and tips.
