Three Honeybees Herald from St. Charles and St. John
By Earl Hodges
NoLa.com
For as long as Victoria Pellerin can recall, she has dreamed of being a Honeybee for the New Orleans Hornets. “The Honeybees have always been a role model for me,” said Pellerin, 20, of Montz. “I would see them at the dance school I attended, and I was always in awe of them. I remember telling people when I was very young that one day I, too, wanted to be a Honeybee for the Hornets.”Pellerin’s dream became a reality this year when she, along with two other women from the River Parishes, were chosen to perform with this year’s 23-member Honeybees team. MaQue Hollins of LaPlace and Tramera Lee of Boutte are two-year members.
The Honeybees perform choreographed dance routines to music at all of the Hornets home games. They also serve as ambassadors for the Hornets, as well as for the city of New Orleans, and they make several appearances each year at promotional and charity events.
Pellerin is a graduate of Destrehan High School, where she was a member of the Desty Darlings, the school dance team, for four years. Pellerin is a junior at Southeastern Louisiana University, where she is majoring in nursing.
Lee, 21, is a junior at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, where she is majoring in business and marketing. Lee is a graduate of Hanhnville High School. She was also a member of the Hi Steppers, the school dance team, for four years.
Hollins, 20, is majoring in public health at Xavier University in New Orleans, where she is a junior. Hollins graduated from St. Charles Catholic High School in LaPlace, and she was a member of the cheerleading squad.
Hollins and Lee learned the ropes last year.
“I’m more excited about being a Honeybee this year than I was last year,” Hollins said. “I want to see how much I can improve.”
Being a member of the Honeybees, Hollins said, gives her an opportunity to combine her love for dancing with being an ambassador for the city.
“When I dance, it’s a way to express my feelings and emotions. Dancing helps calm me down.”
Lee said, “As a Honeybee, you have an opportunity to not only be an ambassador for your city, but you can also be a role mod
el for young girls. Young girls look up to the Honeybees, and we can have a positive influence on their lives.”
Lee agreed with Hollins that dancing is a way to express her feelings.
“Dancing allows me to express myself and come out of my comfort zone,” Lee said. “And dancing with the Honeybees at Hornets games is different from dancing in the studio. It broadens your horizons.”
Pellerin calls dancing a “form of therapy. No matter what kind of day you’ve had, you can put your emotions into your dancing and this helps relieve all of your stress.”
Pellerin says being a Honeybee is an “amazing experience.” “It’s wonderful to be part of such a professional organization. The Hornets are one big family.”