Beatrix returns to the USA
Almost 30 years after its first crossing of the Atlantic Ocean in 1975, Beatrix Drum & Bugle Corps has set off for its sixth trip to the North-American continent. In 1975, the corps traveled to the southwestern part of Canada, where the first encounter with the drum corps phenomenon took place.
In the summer of 1979, exhibition performances were given at DCI competitions and in 1988, 1991, 2000 and now again in 2004 the corps actually competes in DCI competition. Friday morning, July 16, the busses filled with excited members and staff left for Schiphol airport, waved off by a few dozen parents and fans. From Schiphol flights took the corps to New York and Cincinnati, Ohio.
For many of the members, this is their first trip to the heart of the drum corps activity. Others already experienced a USA tour with Beatrix or with American corps where they marched. Everyone at Beatrix have been talking about the tour for weeks: the departure, the flight, touring and living on the bus and gyms. Experiences have been shared, advices about what to bring and how to load your suitcase - which is your closet for more than three weeks - have been exchanged.
During the coming three weeks, regular reports about life on tour will be submitted on the Beatrix website, including several pictures. During the tour the Beatrix guestbook will function like a virtual message board. It will be printed out on a regular basis so everyone can read the messages. (Text: Beatrix website, Harald Bartelds)
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