Royal Caribbean goes hip-hop; guests star in onboard Gotta Dance show

Putting guests in a hip-hop dance show!? We have to give Royal Caribbean credit. Ever since introducing their "Get Out There" tag line years ago, the cruise line has lived and breathed that brand essence, enabling adventurous guests to immerse themselves in out-of-the-box experiences during their vacation. First it was rock climbing, then surfing, boxing, zip-line excursions... you get the drift.

And the latest experiential innovation is a Hip Hop dance adventure open to all ages and skill levels, which will be fleetwide this summer. In Gotta Dance, based on the documentary film of the same name by award-winning director Dori Berinstein, guests let loose and 'wow' their cruisemates with cool new dance moves.

You probably haven't heard of the movie Gotta Dance yet, but you will. It's an award-winning documentary film hitting the big screen in July. Gotta Dance (www.GottaDanceTheMovie.com) chronicles the first-ever senior-citizen, hip-hop dance troupe for the New Jersey Nets Basketball Team. Just like the film, Royal Caribbean's Gotta Dance program will offer guests, from the young to the young-at-heart, a chance to grab their moment in the spotlight.

Kicking off each cruise will be a special screening of the film. Participants are divided into teams and, during their vacation, learn choreographed routines with a member of the Royal Caribbean dance team in sea-day rehearsals. Then the main event is a show on the cruise's last evening where each team performs in the ship's main theater. The routines were choreographed by New Jersey Nets Dance Coach Kimberlee Garris, who also appears in the Gotta Dance film.

Sounds like fun!