Q&A with Washington Wizards Girl Nina

James, East Coast Correspondent | May 21, 2010

(Author’s note: I kind of dropped the ball with this story. I’ve had it for a while, but could never find the time to finish it. It’s a little out of date. For example Nina talks about her plans to try out for DCC, but those auditions were last weekend)

Two-year veteran Washington Wizard Girl Nina was kind enough to take time out of her busy schedule to answer a few of our questions and share some photos from her time with the team. But first a little about her.

Nina was born in Houston but grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana. She’s part Louisiana Cajun and says she’s a Texan that’s a little more spicy than most!

She started dancing rather late compared to most dancers. She didn’t start taking studio classes until 7th grade, which really challenged her with having to continually catch up through much of middle school and high school with the basics that so many other dancers already had perfected. She says that having to come from behind with many of her skills forced her to work harder to prove herself, and ultimately, she believes it solidified my desire to dance beyond high school and college.

Nina graduated from Kilgore College with an Associates of Art, where she was a member of the wold-famous Kilgore College Rangerettes. She continued dancing at Texas A&M University on the Aggie Dance Team. She was part of a nationally ranked group of 20 ladies who performed at the Men’s and Women’s Aggie Basketball games. While at A&M the Dance Team marked our 10th Anniversary, and the girls continue to have bi-annual reunions.

After graduation from A&M Nina accepted an internship in the House of Representatives which eventually led to a permanent position as an Executive Assistant and Scheduler.

But as much as she loves the atmosphere and the culture inside the beltway, Texas is her home. Most of Nina’s family is in Texas, as well as countless close friends. So last month she moved back to Texas and is looking forward to being close enough to drive to see everyone. She says Washington will always be close to her heart, and with all of the friends she has in the area, she’s bound to be back occasionally.

UC: What was it like to be a part of the famous Kilgore College Rangerettes?
Nina: In today’s world, the idea of cheerleaders and dance teams performing on the football gridiron seems a given and expected part of the gameday festivities, but in 1940, Gussie Nell Davis was the visionary who brought the Broadway style of the Radiuo City Rockettes to a college football field in East Texas. My grandmother was a part of the fourth class of ladies called the Kilgore College Rangerettes, so my very first time to see the Rangerettes perform was at the age of five. I grew up with a goal to wear the red, white and blue and do high kicks to the sky. Immediately following high school, I auditioned in their seven day tryout and unfortunately was not chosen. I went back to intense studio training that year, and the next summer, finally my number was on that sign!! It was an intense, life-changing and unforgettable experience. I was so proud to follow in my grandmother’s footsteps as a part of the 62nd class of Rangerettes. Unfortunately, the events of September 11th affected some of our travel opportunities, but we still had a continuous schedule of performances with our football team winning the national junior college championship my freshman year, multiple national parade opportunities, and our annual spring production. The current directors, Mrs. Blair and Mrs. Wayne, expect nothing less than perfection, and being a part of 70 phenomenal dancers who were dedicated to deliver that really shaped my dancing career, as well as my life as a whole. We were taught so many life skills from responsibility and assertiveness to time management, teamwork and carrying ourselves like ladies. It was clear to us that we weren’t just Rangerettes in uniform; we represented our school and our team in our daily lives, and it was important for us to carry ourselves with class. I liken the experience to a military boot camp for a sorority of dancers. While that seems like a contradictory description, there is no other way to describe the level of discipline, the love of a sisterhood, and the dedication to an art form. Being a part of the Rangerettes was and still is one of the biggest and most lasting accomplishments that I will always cherish.

UC: Why did you come to DC?

Nina: Following my graduation from A&M, I accepted a post-graduate internship through the school in the US House of Representatives. After my internship, a Texas Congressman offered me a job as his Executive Assistant and Scheduler. I was honored to be able to serve both my boss and the constituents of Texas that he represented. Being a part of the public service of politics was never something I had an ambition to do, but with a little luck and loads of hard work, I worked in Congress for three years. From many White House visits to celebrity sightings, the life of a Congressional aide definitely had it’s perks, but it wasn’t all about the glamor. Balancing Wizard Girls and a demanding boss was definitely challenging, and there were many nights after games or practice that I would go back to work to keep up with the fast pace of politics. Having a career and dancing professionally, particularly with the number of games in the NBA, was and is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but I would do it all again in a heartbeat!

UC: What was the Wizards Girl trip to China and Mongolia like?

Nina: Our trip to China and Mongolia was the trip of a lifetime! I was so very excited when I was chosen to be one of the five girls who went on the NBA China Jam Van tour, along with one of our assistant directors, Brianne Ritzert, and our game operations manager, Jason Simon. Jason is now with the Bobcats, but he was smart enough to stay around long enough to escort us on our trip! We performed in Beijing and Shanghai, and Hothut, Mongolia. The people were so very excited to see us! They were truly enamored with us, because they really don’t have anything comparable in their culture to a team like ours. We would perform during the breaks of the tournament that Jam Van was hosting, and it was truly like being a celebrity! The NBA is so very popular in Asia because of the successes of the Chinese national players, such as Yao Ming, Yi Jianlian and Wang Zhizhi. Here, we may not even recognize those names, but in Asia, they are huge celebrity figures. The NBA staff was wonderful – from our escorts, security and tour guides, everyone took very good care of us. We were very grateful to have such wonderful tour guides to share the history and culture of the countries, as well as help us with the simple things like finding the restroom or reading the menu.

Seeing the buildings in Shanghai was like being in a Times Square on steroids! We went out one evening for a dinner on the 90th floor of our hotel, and we could feel the building move ever so slightly when the wind blew. Sounds scary, but it was by far one of the most phenomenal views of a city I could imagine. In Beijing, we were able to tour the Great Wall of China, which was an amazing lifetime experience. Seeing a wall built thousands of years ago stretch farther into the distance than you can see was definitely a breathtaking moment. We also went to the 2008 Olympic Village and saw the Bird’s Nest Stadium and the Ice Cube Swimming Arena, which were such incredible architectural structures in their own right. Silk Street markets made for some dangerous SHOPPING!! I believe each of us came back with an additional piece of luggage to fit all of our new purchases, and I know I have enough pearls to last me a lifetime! In Mongolia, we were honored to perform on China’s first reality show! Because of the government restrictions, this was their very first time to have something of this nature. We performed during several timeouts for the televised game, along with the Charlotte Bobcat mascot and the Harlem Globetrotters. The whole trip was unforgettable for each of us.

UC:What was the best part of being a Wizard Girl?
Nina: Wow! That’s a hard one to pinpoint with so many amazing experiences as a part of this team. From traveling to China and our swimsuit calendar shoot in the British Virgin Islands, to the thrill and excitement of an NBA game performing center court alongside so many amazing women and meeting and talking to our awesome fans, it’s been a true adventure! I guess it’s the whole experience really! I love every aspect of what this team has blessed me with – the dancing, the notoriety, the glamor, and most of all the friendships.

UC: How much are you going to miss the Wizards?

Nina: The Wizards organization has made a huge impact on my life. I am proud to be a part of Mr. Pollin’s legacy which is such an incredible part of the area’s triumphs and history. The fans here are incredible too! They come out of the woodwork to support the team through thick and thin, and everyone is excited for next season and what’s in store for the Wizards future. Most of all, I’ll miss our team. We have a wonderful boss in Amanda Ballute, who is always looking out for us; our director, Jessica Pikulski, is continually encouraging us to do our best and has always been so understanding with our hectic schedules, and our other assistant director, Kelly North, who just had a brand new baby boy Jackson that we all can’t wait to meet soon! I’ll miss seeing him grow up! The girls are the ones who keep me smiling, and I’m so grateful to have 19 wonderful friendships in my life! Each of them in their own right is amazing, but collectively, we complete each other to be an awesome team that I’m proud to have been a part of.

UC: What have you got planned next?

Nina: Next I’m heading back to Texas! It’s a bittersweet moment in my life, but I’m excited for the horizon. In a year or so, I plan to go back to school and get a marketing degree, and at some point in the future, I want to be a Rockette. Coming up first though, I plan on trying out for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, so cross your fingers for me on May 15th!

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