The team will have just one shot at making it to the final, after qualifying for semifinals.
Members of Vuelta Dance - four women from Dunedin and one from Christchurch - qualified for the right to compete after finishing second at the New Zealand World Latin Dance Cup earlier this year.
But that left them with what coach and choreographer Rebecca Connaughton said was an almost full-time job of raising money to get there.
''It's been busy,'' she said.
None of the members were professional dancers, and had to work or study at the same time as training and fundraising.
''Liaising and co-ordinating the fundraising was at times almost a full-time job.''
The women found they were ineligible for most grants, as they did not fit within either sports or arts grants criteria.
''We had to look at creative fundraising.''
That had ranged from pub quizzes to cleaning to modelling wedding dresses and much more.
''It's been quite an intensive year,'' Mrs Connaughton said.
The money had covered things such as registration and costumes - two were needed as a second costume was required if the troupe made it to the finals - but members had to pay for their own airfares.
Money had also been needed to bring Christchurch member Lucy MacVicar south for training.
The competition starts on December 12 and runs for five days.
Qualification for the semifinals meant the competition could be a short one.
''If we don't qualify, that's it,'' Mrs Connaughton said.
But there were workshops and the world's best dancing to watch, so even if that happened, there was plenty to gain from the week that could be brought back to Dunedin.
''It's going to be inspirational.''
But the ''ladies shines'' team, which danced without partners, could also become world champions in their discipline.
''It would be be phenomenal if we did, and it's not inconceivable.''
Mrs Connaughton said she was most looking forward to the thrill of dancing in Miami with the team.
''We've worked so hard this year, and it's an amazing team of ladies.''
