Denver Nuggets Dancer Makes Move from NFL to NBA
Alicia spent two seasons as cheerleader for the Kansas City Chiefs
Goodbye, frigid Sunday afternoons in Kansas City. Hello, electric heat of the Pepsi Center.
After spending two seasons as a cheerleader for the Kansas City Chiefs, first-year Denver Nuggets Dancer Alicia is ready to make the transition to the NBA.
“I’m excited for the new opportunity,” she said. “I came out to Denver in March to verify that this was something I wanted to take on and do. It was a really neat experience. It was entertaining and high energy.”
Raised in the farming community of Marshall, Missouri (pop. 13,065), Alicia got her start in dancing when her grandmother enrolled her in a class when she was 10.
“She wanted to get some coordination in me,” Alicia said.
Grandma Carol knew what was she was doing. Alicia adapted quickly and eventually became a member of her high school dance teams and cheerleading squads.
While expressing her artistic side through dance, Alicia also began to think about her career path while attending Avila University in Kansas City.
Intrigued by the opportunities in technology, she transferred from Avila to ITT Technical Institute to pursue her degree. She then landed a job as a networking analyst for Century Link in Kansas City.
“I don’t fit the typical IT stereotype,” Alicia said. “I have a passion for what I do, and I take pride in how fluent I am in what I do.”
Because Century Link is based in Denver, she was able to stay with the company after moving from Kansas City. The biggest challenge will be juggling her work calendar with her Nuggets dance practice and game schedule.
“I’m pretty good managing my time,” Alicia said. “I can definitely say I don’t know what to expect with the NBA. The NFL was one home game every two weeks. Luckily my co-workers and staff are very supportive. They’re going to work with me on my schedule. My organizer is my best friend.”
Nuggets dance team manager Amy Jo Wagner was impressed with Alicia’s confidence and choreography during auditions in July.
“Without looking at her resume, I could immediately tell that she had performance experience.”
Though she’s an NBA rookie, Alicia brings a veteran presence to the team because of her two years with the Chiefs.
“She understands the pressure of dancing in front of a large audience,” Wagner said. “That will definitely help Alicia as she settles into a new town, new building, and new league.
“In the few shorts weeks we have worked together, she already has proven herself to be a valuable team member and a great role model for our younger dancers.”
