Dallas Mavericks Dancers 2014-15 roster announced

By Jay Betsill
Special to DFW.com
July 27, 2014

DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks Dancers followed their weekend of preliminary auditions and final auditions at the Hilton Anatole with a four-day training camp at Elevation Fitness in downtown Dallas. When Thursday evening’s session came to a close, the Mavs Dancers had selected their team for the upcoming NBA season.

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The training camp featured the 37 ladies who had advanced through the weekend auditions and this gave the judges an opportunity for an up close look at each of the candidates. In addition to learning new choreography and showing the judges how quickly they could pick it up, each of the ladies had to go through a personal interview with Mavs personnel on why they should be a member of the dance team.

Of the 14 returning veterans, five of them are auditioning for their fifth season with the team and they know how important training camp is for the success of the team. It is also Mavs Dancers director Mallory Mills fifth season at the helm of the popular dance team.

“The first time I auditioned, I advanced to training camp and I didn’t really know anyone going in,” said returning veteran Lauren. “So I know how anxious the candidates are and I make sure that they know I am here to help them in any way I can. When the week is over, you realize that actually turns into a great team bonding experience because we are going through it together.”

When Thursday evening arrived, each of the ladies performed one of the routines they had learned during camp and the judges left for final deliberations. Mills returned with a handful of envelopes that she individually handed out to all 37 ladies. The main instruction she gave was that the envelopes were not to be opened until they had left the building as to avoid anyone celebrating in front of someone who had just seen their dream come to a sudden end.

Upon opening the envelopes, 20 of the 37 ladies discovered they had been summoned back to Elevation Fitness for instructions to yet another round of auditions. They returned and gathered around Mills to discover that they had made the team. A celebration ensued and tears of joy were wept among the ladies who had survived the audition process to perform at the Mavs home games at American Airlines Center and represent the team at corporate appearances and in the community.

The 2014-15 Dallas Mavericks Dancers are: Veterans Paige, Bonnie, Emily M., Lauren, Sequel, Ashley, Kathryn, Kennedy, Amy, Alexis, Amber and Kassandra and rookies Elise, Kelli, Jamie, Hayley, Jovann, Emily V., Dejanae and Hunter.