Gary Woman Lands a Spot with Luvabulls
By Bob Kostanczuk
Post-Trib.com
As a new member of the Chicago Bulls’ Luvabulls, Asia Dickens is able to ratchet up her love of footwork a notch. “I’ve been dancing since I was about 10,” said Dickens, a 26-year-old Gary resident who will keep the fan energy going at Chicago Bulls games this season.
“It’s overwhelming and it means a lot to me because it’s a steppingstone in my career,” Dickens said of her inclusion on the 2010-11 Luvabulls squad.
Catherine Core, Luvabulls director, said Dickens possessed the personality, the dancing experience and the ability to be “a good ambassador” for the Bulls of the National Basketball Association.
“She had all of what we look for,” said Core, noting that about 300 women were invited to audition for the 2010-11 Luvabulls squad.
However, many more hopefuls had applied, but were not offered a chance to try out, Core added.
Dickens came to the audition with national television experience from her time on MTV’s “Made,” a reality series about transforming lives. A 2003 graduate of the Emerson School for Visual and Performing Arts, Dickens was able to complement that Gary education by studying dance at the prestigious Alvin Ailey School in New York City.
Nowadays, Dickens will get a stipend when performing with fellow Luvabulls at Chicago’s United Center, said Core, who declined to reveal the per-game pay.
“They’re not going to get rich on game-day pay,” Core recently said. “All the girls that join the Luvabulls have to have a full-time job. They have to have a full-time job or be a full-time student with part-time employment.”
Dickens keeps busy outside of her engagements with the Luvabulls. “I am the rehearsal director and I’m a choreographer and instructor at the South Shore Centre for the Arts,” said Dickens, alluding to the dance studio on Lake Street in Gary.
Her stint with the Luvabulls allows her to play cheerleader at Bulls games, in addition to adding flash at a charitable golf outing or other team functions.
Known for their attractiveness, Luvabulls also get to sign autographs and pose for photos with fans.
There is no denying that in order to be one of the couple of dozen members of the Luvabulls, a woman has to exude a fair amount of sex appeal.
“That’s part of the package,” Core acknowledged. “We need to be entertaining without being provocative. They do wear skimpy outfits.”
