Miami Heat basketball fans are getting a chance to dance their way to Bermuda thanks to a new initiative between the Tourism Department and American Airlines.

Over the next three months, the Miami Heat organisation will host a series of dance contests during the team?s home games with the successful contestant winning a three-night, four-day trip to Bermuda on the new American Airlines Miami to Bermuda flight.

The first dance-off took place on Sunday, October 28, during the Miami Heat-Boston Celtics game.

Six Heat fans danced for glory in front of 20,000 people and the winner ? Marianne Mijares ? won a Bermuda tote bag filled with souvenir items and the chance to come back on March 25, 2005, to dance for the grand prize Bermuda trip.

Minister of Tourism and Transport Ewart Brown said the contest was part of a ?full-court press? by the Department of Tourism to raise awareness of Bermuda in the Miami market.

?It is estimated that we will reach upwards of 800,000 people through this marketing initiative, and partnering with the Miami Heat to promote Bermuda tourism and the new AA flight makes extremely good sense,? Dr. Brown said.

?There is a tremendous excitement around the Heat this year, due to the addition of Shaquille O?Neal, therefore the sold out crowds ? which include many of Miami?s celebrities and movers and shakers ? are seeing aspects of our Bermuda campaign, such as our Bermuda shorts logo, throughout the stadium.?

In addition to the stadium, banners and electronic visual displays, the Department of Tourism in association with Ocean Drive magazine, plans a centre-court fashion show for January 23, 2005, which will include Bermuda shorts.

?For those people who are too shy to dance for a trip to Bermuda, they can stop by our concourse display in the arena and sign up for a chance to win a Bermuda vacation,? Dr. Brown added.