Babson College
8/13/2010

Alyssa Ziemba, a 2010 Babson graduate with a MS in Accounting, was named one of the 18-member Celtics Dance Team.

Ziemba, from Thomaston, Conn., has been dancing since the age of 3 and competitively since she was 8. She was named Connecticut’s “Dancer of the Year” in 2005.

“The Celtics Dancers audition was a chance to learn and perform with the top dancers in New England,” said Ziemba. “Almost 300 tried out, with 36 advancing to the final auditions which took place over three long days. The final audition, which included a six- minute opening number, group audition, solo audition, and swimsuit round, was held at the House of Blues where a celebrity panel of judges chose the winners. The whole process made us even more excited to get to know each other and to start a great basketball season with the Celtics!”

While at Babson, Ziemba continued her passion for dance earning a place on the Babson Dance Ensemble (BDE) in her first year. During her junior year, she became activities coordinator for the BDE, and was vice president as a senior. Ziemba also served on the Senior Week Committee and as a Peer Mentor, and participated in the winter 2009 Ghana Study Abroad course.

Ziemba will use her Babson degrees (Masters in Accounting and Bachelor of Science in business administration) in her new position as staff auditor at BDO Seidman, LLP, in Boston, starting in January 2011. She is currently studying for the CPA (Certified Public Accountant) exam.

WALTHAM (FOX25 / MyFoxBoston.com) - Close to 100 women strutted their stuff in hopes of becoming a member of the Boston Celtics Dancers. Check out photos of their auditions.

PHOTO GALLERY: Celtics Dancers auditions

This was the first round of auditions for the team. According to the Boston Celtics:

The auditions will be three rounds, including an across-the-floor combination, a jazz combination and a solo routine performed by each prospect. The final audition process will be held from July 13-15, 2010, at the House of Blues nightclub in Boston. All dancers who advance to the Finals will conclude with the Final Audition Show at 8 p.m. on July 15.

The Boston Herald
Sunday, June 27, 2010

Now that the NBA Draft is history, the Boston Celtics are ready to pick a new team of Celtics Dancers!

Director Marina Ortega held auditions for potential Dancer draftees hoping to get the Green light at the team’s practice facility at HealthPoint .

Casting calls are also planned for New York and La-La before the finals at the House of Blues on July 15.

Photos [Page 1] [Page 2]

Not that I don’t care about you New England girls, but those of you in California and New York need more advance notice. Obviously if you are chosen for the team, you’ll have to relocate, and that’s a big deal. But you know what else is a Big Deal? Dancing at NBA finals. And if you (and the Celtics) play your cards right, it could be YOU out there on the hardwood, this time next year. Close your eyes and picture it. The lights! The music! The roar of the crowd! And you, right smack in the middle of it, in a sparkly green tutu. (Ok maybe not a tu tu. Not that there’s anything wrong with tu-tus, but I’ve never seen a Celtics Dancer in one.) Strike the tu-tu. There you are, in a sea of shamrock green, smiling so hard your face hurts. Can this really be happening??

Well, no. It’s not happening.

Ok it IS happening, but not to you.

Yet.

Every year, in addition to the local open call, Marina Ortega, Director of the Celtics Dancers takes the preliminary audition to New York and Los Angeles, in search of the best of the best. The Celtics are the only NBA team that offers this opportunity. If you’re a dancer, you reallllly ought to consider it. They’re serious about finding strong, talented, kick-ass dancers, and every year, they find a few out-of-towners who fit the bill. See Exhibit A: the 2009 squad. Almost half of them are from somewhere other than Massachusetts.

I could go on, if you want me to. Do you want me to?

Boston is an extremely cool place. There’s a lot to see and do, autumn is beautiful, there are tons of people your age, and the natives talk funny. On the days when you don’t have rehearsal or a game, there’s plenty to amuse you. For instance, they have a little boat on the harbor where you can dress up like a colonist and throw boxes of tea overboard.

Good times, people. Good times. And it could all be yours. Don’t be afraid of a little sleet and snow.

Every summer Marina Ortega, Director of the Boston Celtics Dancers, hits the road in search of new talent for the team. And every year, I might add, at least a couple of LA and NY dancers are chosen for the squad (Exhibit A: Alison L., Caroline, Danielle, and Jenna). Just because you’re from out of town doesn’t mean you’re out of luck, so circle these dates on your calendar. Never say I didn’t give you plenty of notice!

Holiday Toy Drive
Doug Meehan
FOX25 Morning News

FOX25, myfoxboston - FOX25’s Doug Meehan was at South Station Tuesday collecting items for the Holiday Toy Drive.

Check out Doug’s interviews with the Celtics dancers, Susan Goldfarb, the executive director of the Children’s Advocacy Center and Karen Baker, South Station’s Senior Vice President of Operations. [Click Here]

Don’t forget to go to South Station to drop off your toys, books and games. The drive runs through Dec. 16.

New photos, bios, and wallpapers are now online. Click here to learn more about the women on the team.