Q&A with the Boston Blazers Sparks Director
The Boston Blazers are a relatively new team in the National Lacrosse League, starting play in the 2009 season. The Blazers Dance Team, The Sparks, are under the direction and choreographed by Jennifer. Jennifer graduated from Franklin & Marshall College with a degree in Psychology and a Dance Minor, before going on to earn her Masters from the Harvard School of Public Health.
As the Sparks second season approaches (tryouts were this past weekend), Jennifer took time out of her busy schedule to answer a few of our questions.
Q: What was it like building the Sparks Dance Team from the ground up?
A: It truly was an amazing once in a lifetime experience. It’s really exciting to create a vision and see it come to reality in a way that is much better than I could have imagined. The Blazers management has played a key role in our early success through their support and recognition of the dance team’s efforts. I cannot say enough about the talent and dedication of our Sparks dancers, it’s really an honor to be directing them and the friendships we have made and times we have shared through this experience are invaluable to me. It all culminates when we actually get to show off our hard work and get in front of the Boston Blazers fans, they are the best fans in the NLL (National Lacrosse League) and we want to make them proud!
Q: You’re a Senior Financial Analyst with a Masters from the Harvard School of Public Health. What’s the reaction from people when they learn you Direct and Choreograph a Pro Sports Dance Team?
A: I think the reaction is primarily surprise because they may have a stereotypical image in their head about cheerleaders/dancers and then curiosity about the Blazers and indoor lacrosse along with how I have the time to do it outside of work. I am now a finance manager so people tend to see me in a certain context at work which may be very different from my role as a dance team director/choreographer. The reality is that most dancers and dance team directors may need to have full time jobs outside of dance but we dance because we love it and love to perform. I’m happy to do anything I can to help reshape the stereotype and represent today’s dancers and cheerleaders in a new light as both talented and intelligent individuals so thanks to Ultimate Cheerleader for the opportunity to do that!
Q: What does your day job entail?
My typical day at work involves negotiating financial deals with companies who want to do research at our hospitals and making sure my team is running smoothly to provide our core services. As a manger, my role is not unlike my role as the Sparks director/choreographer. While they are totally different content, the roles have similarities in managing your team to provide the best end product for your customers. As you can imagine, it can be pretty intense working in finance at this time but that’s all the more reason I look forward to our Sparks practices and games!
Q: What’s one thing potential members of the Sparks Dance Team should avoid at auditions?
A: Hmm, that’s a tough one and I might turn the question around a little bit to what I would advise for girls to do at auditions, which would be bringing their “A” game and showing us their individual personalities through dance and what they can bring to the table. Show us your “SPARK!”
Q: Anything special you’ve got planned for the fans this season?
A: The Sparks want to build on our success from our first season and keep working hard to provide both new and existing fans with top quality entertainment and raise the bar for the in-game experience. We have a couple surprises in the works that I can’t reveal at this time but I promise we’ll be hard at work all pre-season and hopefully we will see you at the games!
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Jennifer seems pretty cool. Thanks for the article.