‘I’m a New Knicks Girl!’
These dancers made the cut…and they’re flying high
By Christina Amoroso
New York Post
Eight months ago, Jaclyn McFadyen packed her bags, left her family and friends and booked a one-way flight from her native Phoenix to New York.
As her plane descended over the Manhattan skyline, she had only one thought on her mind: “I am going to be a Knicks City Dancer.”
Last week, McFadyen finally got her chance. After beating out nearly 400 candidates, she competed in a grueling boot camp against 25 other women for just 22 slots on the Knicks’ official dance squad, which performs booty-shaking routines during home games.
“I’ve always loved the Knicks Dancers and Madison Square Garden because there’s so much history there,” said McFadyen, 23, as her eyes welled up at the tryouts.
Although she was a dancer for the Phoenix Suns for two years, her prior experience was no guarantee of a spot. Even members of the Knicks City Dancers squad have to reaudition for their slots every year.
At the one-hour boot camp at a Midtown studio on Wednesday evening, McFadyen jogged in circles, sprung into the air and held her body in a push-up position as though her life depended on it. On Friday, she heard the news she was waiting for: Along with five other new women, she had made the cut.
“One of my favorite quotes is, ‘You have to take big risks to get big rewards,’ ” said McFadyen, beaming from ear to ear. “And this is my reward.”
It’s a particularly special year for the Knicks City Dancers, who will celebrate their 20th anniversary this upcoming season. For head coach Danielle Mimnaugh, it was heart-wrenching to pluck a small squad after the open call at Chelsea Piers on June 18. This year, two slots were added to the group, and 16 out of 17 returning dancers were picked.
“Everybody wants it so bad,” says Mimnaugh, who was a Knicks City Dancer from 2006 to 2008. “It’s very emotional to make or break somebody’s dream.” Dancers are whittled down based on a series of criteria. The first two days, women are judged on how quickly they pick up choreography. After that, Mimnaugh and the other nine judges — who include several Knicks City Dancers alumni — assess the women’s poise and professionalism. Because they serve as ambassadors for the Knicks, traveling during the off-season and performing charity work for partner organizations such as the Garden of Dreams Foundation, the dancers need to be polished, says Mimnaugh.
Several of the winning dancers said the marquee gig — dancing courtside at Madison Square Garden — eclipses the Broadway stage. “I really like the styles of dancing that the City Dancers do,” says Stephanie Rizzolo, 26, “as well as everything that they stand for: being a strong New York woman.”
Dancer Amanda Eve, who tried out twice before making the team three seasons ago and has been on it ever since, says she understands the need to audition year after year — but continually having to prove yourself never gets easier.
“It’s been a crazy week,” says the 24-year-old Queens native. “But at the end of the day, it’s worth it, because whoever does make the team knows what hard work is. . . . Being born and raised in New York, [I know] nothing comes easy.”
And the Knicks dancers are much more than shiny hair and six-pack abs: All but two attended four-year universities, and some even work flexible 9-to-5 jobs in fields such as advertising and journalism. (One dancer, Kelly Volz, 23, is an overnight production assistant for CBS News.) Plus, being a Knicks City Dancer provides a “competitive” five-figure salary, full benefits and perks, including gym memberships and discounts on MAC makeup.
Michele Roe, a two-time Jets dancer who decided to make the switch from the football field to the basketball court, broke down when she found out she made the team.
“Dancing in the NBA is in my top five list of things to do before I start a family,” says Roe, 27. “[Making the team] felt like I was dreaming, and someone had to wake me up, and I still feel that way.”
