The Lake Show must go on

Hopeful veterans fighting for another year on the team. Back row: Veronica, Dara, Jessica, Octavia, Melissa, Brilane, and Brittney. Front row: Ashley, Heather, Brandi, and Deanna

Stephanie Graves
FoxSportsWest.com
July 16, 2011

Check out FOXSportsWest.com’s gallery of the Los Angeles Laker Girl auditions on July 16.]

Carmageddon might have turned out to be a disappointment of near apocalyptic proportions, but you know what wasn’t? The 2011-12 Laker Girl auditions.

Not an over-exaggerated traffic jam, nor rain (if LA ever had any), nor NBA lockout could have stopped the nearly 500 young women from arriving bright and early at the Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo on Saturday.

The Lake Show must go on.

“It’s business as usual,” said Lisa Estrada, director of the Laker Girls. A former member of the squad herself, Estrada seems to enjoy two things: being positive and being brutally honest.

“In auditions, I don’t like to pick people who I couldn’t see putting on a uniform tomorrow,” Estrada told the possible future members. “We are looking for dancers who are family friendly, who possess great showmanship, who can perform in front of 20,000-plus people, and not only in an arena – we do personal appearances.”

When you have 16 world championships and Jack Nicholson as a season ticket holder, you’re allowed to be picky.

Some girls came wearing the Laker Girls’ iconic 1980s style white socks and sneakers, or purple and gold in order to give the judges a glimpse of what they might get if they were chosen. The first cut – which essentially cut the group in half – featured a grab bag of personalities.

We first met Lydia Mercado – a nursing student who’s been dancing for 15 years – last week at Clippers Spirit auditions. They dismissed her in the second round, but she still showed her spirit after making it past the first cut.

“These girls are really good. There’s a lot of competition right now, but I’m just feeling off the competition.”

Competition like 22-year-old professional dancer Marina Fabila.

A dancer since the age of the three, she’s dreamed of being a Laker Girl ever since her parents told her about the days when Paula Abdul wore the purple and gold. She just returned to her native Southern California after dancing professionally in New York with Ballet Hispanico and Steps on Broadway so she could be front and center, head-to-toe in Lakers colors and rhinestones this weekend.

“I’ve been a Los Angeles Lakers fan since day I was born,” Fabila said.

There were many a fresh-faced 18-year-olds or 20-somethings who claimed dancing as their passion and the Lakers as their team. Both seemed to be the prerequisites of the day.

Current Laker Girl Dara has been there, done that, and is doing it again. The Texas native was approached her senior year of high school at a dance competition about trying out for the one and only Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders. Two days after she turned 18, she auditioned and became one of the famous southern belles of America’s Team. After relocating to Los Angeles two years ago, she’s now a southern (California) belle of a different kind.

“It’s more personal dancing inside of a basketball court. The people are closer. It’s not as big of a group of girls. That’s a little more fun because we’re closer.”

Saturday’s audition process was far from over when Dara and the rest of the veterans arrived. They only receive a get-out-of-jail-free card through the first cut, then they have to compete with the rest of the girls. At that point, there are several more dance routines – including a solo – and an interview before the final 20 are chosen.

“There is someone that always wants to be in your shoes,” said Dara.

Because not just anyone can cheer for Kobe Bryant.