While the Magic players will be gone for 11 days on their West coast trip, the Magic Dancers won’t just be sitting around waiting for their men in blue to return. For nine days they will be traveling overseas on a trip of their own.

The Magic Dancers and Stuff the Magic mascot will join the Armed Forces Entertainment Tour in Kosovo and Bosnia entertaining thousands of troops. This opportunity of a lifetime came when the AFE called Magic Dancers’ coordinator and choreographer Jeanine Klem-Thomas to inquire if she and her dance team would be interested in doing a tour. Like a true performer, she didn’t miss a step. Thomas sent the AFE a promotional package with photographs and video of the dancers and Stuff performing. She wanted to display the talent level of her team and show the AFE exactly what they would be getting. This sealed the deal. The Magic dancers would not only be the feature act, but the only act of their very own AFE Tour. Rising to the challenge and the chance to fulfill a lifelong dream, Thomas accepted.

“This is so exciting for us,” Thomas said. “It’s been a goal of mine for many years. A lot of the NFL cheerleading squads have had an opportunity to do this. They typically have larger teams and in several cases they have specific show squads who go and do the tours. For whatever reasons NBA teams have not been involved in tour programs.”

The Magic Dancers, preceded by the Indiana Pacemates, are only the second NBA dance team to be invited on such a tour. They are honored to represent the NBA bringing a little bit of the game and a little bit of home to the troops during the holiday season.

“I am proud and honored to be able to have this experience to perform for the AFE and bring the same joy to the soldiers,” said Magic Dancer Deanna. Deanna, in her first season as a Magic Dancer, has reasons that are near and dear in her desire to be a part of the tour. Both of her grandfathers were soldiers, one fought in WWII and the other in the Korean War. Growing up, she heard their stories of the good times they had whenever a tour came to their sites.

“We are all so blessed to have such wonderful and courageous people in the world to continue to fight for our country,” Deanna said.

She is not alone in her personal sentiment or for wanting to give back by performing for the troops. Kim, a rookie to the Magic Dance team but no novice to performing, has her own very special interest. Her boyfriend of five years, Austin Goodrich, is on a six month deployment in Kuwait.

“His first day of duty at Fort Benning, Georgia was on September 11, 2001 and a year and a half later he found himself sitting on the border of Kuwait and Iraq,” Kim said. “This was obviously a terrifying moment for Austin and everyone in his troop, and back home it was the same feeling of fear.”

Teammate Kasey knows exactly how Kim feels. Last year her new husband was overseas in Operation Iraqi Freedom for six months. She is not taking for granted the chance to express her gratitude for the sacrifices our service men and women make everyday to defend our freedom and the rights of others.

“My being a part of this just makes me feel so blessed and so happy to be able to see even a blink of what he went through and to be there to help lift the spirits of the soldiers serving there now,” Kasey said.

The tour includes a one hour variety show performance providing troops with a much needed break from their daily combat support operations. In addition to dancing, the Dancers will sing, act and bring troops on stage for the crowd interactive segment. At the end of the show, the Magic Dancers and Stuff will conduct autograph and photo sessions and have meals with the troops. They will also visit schools and hospitals during their stay in both Kosovo and Bosnia. They depart tomorrow, Tuesday, December 7 and will return on Thursday, December 16.

As the sole act, Thomas and her team have spent a great deal of time customizing their show. A patriotic autograph card of the dancers has been made specifically with the troops in mind. The troops will see videotaped messages of thanks and appreciation from the Magic players, Head Coach Johnny Davis and team owner Rich DeVos. They have been working almost nonstop to ensure the best show possible.

“There have been some days when games, the Orlando opera, and AFE rehearsals have been overlapping,” Thomas said. “A certain group of girls who were in the opera were doing opera rehearsals that morning, and then we were having AFE that afternoon, and a team rehearsal at night for a game. Some of our days have been that intense!”

Dedication and devotion to the project and the cause have the Magic Dancers doing whatever is necessary without complaint. In their pursuit to bring a little of home to the troops during the holidays, the Dancers are sure to represent the NBA in a stellar way!

Teyah Townsend is an intern in the Magic's Communications department.