The Star Steppers went on a trip to New York City on January 18-21. While on the trip, they took a tour of the city, saw two Broadway plays and took a private class from a Rockette.

“Spending four days in NYC was amazing,” drill team director Keri Pierce said. “From seeing musicals, learning the history, taking in the culture and making memories that will last a lifetime has been such an experience for us all.”

This is the second trip the drill team has taken to New York and will be returning in two years. The four day trip allowed the girls to learn more about the Rockette style of dance.

“This has been my first time in New York,” junior Keslie Cook said. “I have loved every minute of it from seeing The Waitress on Broadway to NBC studio tours to freezing in line for ‘Good Morning America.’ This is definitely the trip of a lifetime, and I hope I will be able to go back!”

On their first day, the drill team took a walking tour around Midtown Manhattan, Grand Central Station, New York Library and Time Square. That night the girls enjoyed the Broadway play The Waitress.

“New York was a blast,” senior Lainey Goodson said. “One of my favorite parts was going to watch shows on Broadway.”

The next day the girls went to tour the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. For their last Broadway play, they went and saw the movie-based play Mean Girls.

“The history throughout New York is so interesting,” senior Payden Prather said. “It was incredible to see the Statue of Liberty and walk through some of Ellis Island. It was a humbling experience considering what our ancestors had to go through.”

On their third day, the Star Steppers went to a studio to learn a precision jazz routine from a Rockette. Later that day, the girls received a private tour through NBC studios.

“I had never been [to New York City] before, and I was able to experience and learn so many things,” Goodson said. “I also loved going to a dance class and learning from a Rockette. I am so glad I was able to experience this trip with my teammates, mom and our instructors.”

For their last day, the Drill Team had a free day. The girls were able to split up into groups with chaperones and pick what they wanted to do. Some went to Chinatown, a museum or shopping on Time Square.

“Going to New York has been absolutely one of the best and coldest experiences of my life,” Cook said. “Being in a small town from Texas, coming to a huge city in New York has been interesting.”