For Mavericks Dancers Hopefuls, Making the Team Just Takes Three Things

2009-mavs-audition_3By Patrick Michels
The Dallas Observer
Jul. 27 2009
[Slide show]

It took talent and intensity just to make it past Saturday’s first round of auditions for the 2009-’10 Mavericks Dancers squad, but for Sunday afternoon’s finals, they’d have less than a minute to perform, competing with four other dancers for the judges’ attention.

Even a great performance couldn’t guarantee a spot on the team. The dancers’ longtime director, Shella Sattler, said she wasn’t looking for any number of rookies in particular — she’d invite back as many women as she felt were deserving. With a number of returning dancers in the mix, Sattler strolled through the ranks in downtown’s Elevation Fitness, calling out names and offering encouragement. Sattler said she’s looking for three things in new talent: “physical beauty, dance ability and personality.”

Danesha McGill was one of many who were hoping to make a return to the squad (she was a Mavs Dancer from 2003-2006), and when her turn came, she did seem to give a bigger performance than the first-timers beside her, looking more like she was playing to an arena of screaming fans than eight judges with notebooks.

As each group took a turn in front of the judges, the rest of the hopefuls looked on through glass doors, passing around mirrors and primping, following along with the routine, or sizing up the competition.

“Oh, yeah, she messed up,” one whispered to the woman next to her.

“As long as you do it fast with a smile,” the other dancer said, “they’re never gonna know.”

Mavs Audition Video and Photos

2009-mavs-audition_2

All weekend hundreds of ladies have been competing for a spot on the Dallas Mavericks dance team.
Aaron Smith
The 33 News
Video|Photos

Basketball season will be here before you know it. All weekend hundreds of ladies have been competing for a spot on the Dallas Mavericks dance team.

They’re not cheerleaders, they’re dancers so please don’t confuse the two. The Dallas Mavericks dance team competition started with two hundred fifty women Saturday. Now just these seventy-five ladies are left.

Melody Denoia is competing and says, ” I danced for the Mavericks from ’02 to ’06 so that’s a total of four years.”

Hillary Bordeaux also has experience saying, ” I was a professional cheerleader last year for a different squad but this is also totally different.”

Different because the routines change quickly with no notice, sometimes they have freestyle.

Alyssa Sarasani says, ” Its pretty intense because they teach at a very fast pace but the routines have been at a style that I really enjoy.”

Groups of five perform in front of judges. For some the last minute routines spell mistakes.

Laura McKie says, ” I messed up on the end which we just learned but I kept a smile on my face so hopefully they keep me around.”

Jasmin Flores also messed up, but recovered saying, ” I bobbled a few times during the performance but I think I recovered it well, obviously I recovered it well because I’m still here so i’m just thanking jesus right now.”

Its pressure. but so is a schedule of forty games, sometimes three a week.

Just because you were a Mavericks dancer last year that doesn’t mean anything this year. Everybody got to try out every single year. It keeps them on their toes. While looks are nice directors say the chosen few will need more to wear the maverick logo.

About forty ladies remain after todays eliminations. The final team will be chosen on July 31st.

Make sure you check out The 33 picture gallery for pictures from the tryouts.