Clippers chatted online with Taylor, a veteran member of the Clippers Spirit Dance Team on Thursday, March 20th.

Taylor answered your questions about her experience with the Spirit, how fulfilling it is to be accomplished in two different walks of life, who her favorite player on the team is and much more!

The Spirit Dancers face the Heat Dancers in the Finals of the 2008 NBA Dance Team Bracket. Vote online until April 4th at 9:00 am (PT)! You must be registered as an NBA All-Access member to vote in the NBA.com Dance Team Bracket. Access is free, so sign up today.



Spirit Dancer Taylor: Hey everybody, we're going to start a little bit early today! Thank you for asking all of your great questions. Be sure to vote for us all weekend long on NBA.com!

Jimmy (San Luis Obispo): How does it feel to be the veteran on your team and the one that the younger girls look up to?

Spirit Dancer Taylor: I am honored to be a veteran of the Spirit. I'm trying to set a good example just like the veterans did when I was a rookie.

Robby (Torrance): Taylor, you are my favorite Clipper Spirit. I have three questions for you.
  1. Will you be back next season?
  2. With the Clippers losing, how do you and the rest of the Spirit keep your... uh, spirits... up, especially when the Clippers are clearly losing the game?
  3. What movie really makes you cry every time you watch it?


Spirit Dancer Taylor: Hi Robby! To answer your questions:

1. Absolutely! I would love to continue to be a part of this organization.

2. We just love our team, and we understand that we've been hit with the injury bug since before the season even started. We are just proud of our guys for going our every night and playing hard.

3. I don't really cry at movies. I prefer comedies.

Thomas Mato: Love your performance at STAPLES center with the Spirit Dancers. How do you juggle between your career and the Spirit?

Spirit Dancer Taylor: It's tough. I am fortunate to have a work environment that is very flexible with me. They understand dancing for the Clippers is such a big part of my life and the time commitment that it involves. I do work full time, but it's all worth it to be a part of the Spirit.

Migel (Bakersfield, CA): Hello Taylor! I think you are so awesome and beautiful! You are a great dancer and my favorite member of the Spirit Dance Team. I was wondering... how can I get an autographed picture or poster of you? Thank you and I hope to see you at future Clippers games!

Spirit Dancer Taylor: We have official team photo cards and you can request an autographed photo card from our director Jessie Christensen at spirit@clippers.com.

Mike (Irvine): What do you enjoy doing other than dancing and work? Keep up the fantastic work! Go Clippers!

Spirit Dancer Taylor: I love to rent movies and watch them in the comfort of my own home, and spend time with my family and friends.

Donny (Thousand Oaks): How can one win a date with thou?

Spirit Dancer Taylor: I appreciate the invitation, but I am not on the market for dates.

Jason (Ontario): Hi Taylor, How does it feel to be both a CT/MRI Technologist and a Clippers Spirit dancer? Who is your favorite Clipper player to watch? Thanks a lot :)

Spirit Dancer Taylor: It gives me a very full life, and I appreciate being accomplished in such different walks of life.

My favorite player is #13 Quinton Ross. I love him! He is so underrated it's ridiculous!

Steve O! (Whittier, CA): Taylor Rules! Hey Taylor, I promise that I will wave back at you next time you wave at me. Or will I???

Spirit Dancer Taylor: You'd better!

Paul (Whittier): What is it like to dance at STAPLES Center in front of so many people?

Spirit Dancer Taylor: It is nerve racking at first, but we go out there every night and there's always a different crowd. We just dance our hearts out and it never gets old.

Tim (Whittier): Hi Taylor, I'm so happy that you're on the Spirit Team for the past several years. What was your first night like back when you started with the Spirit?

Spirit Dancer Taylor: Nerves! Nerves! Nerves! Luckily we had an amazing team, just like we do now, and all of the veterans made me comfortable. Clipper Nation was so welcoming that it was just a great experience.

Joe (L.A.): With your stunning good looks, have you ever been asked to model or star in movies?

Spirit Dancer Taylor: We've been given opportunities as part of the Spirit to do things outside of games. Last summer we had a photo shoot at the beach. I'm sure you've all seen the photos by now!

Michael (Camarillo): When did you first become interested in cheerleading? What does your workout regimen consist of? Do you and the dance team have any interaction with the players?

Spirit Dancer Taylor: I've been dancing for as long as I can remember, so basically all my life.

My workouts include rehearsals twice a week for three hours each, and as many kickboxing and step classes at the gym that I can fit in.

We are friendly on the court, but have no fraternization with the players at all off the court.

Adrian (santa ana): So have you learned how to throw a pack of thunder stix without hitting a defenseless poor sap like myself on the forehead yet?

Spirit Dancer Taylor: I'm still working on my form. :-)

John McLeish (Scotland): Hey Taylor, What's the best thing about living in LA apart from supporting the Clippers?

Spirit Dancer Taylor: Being close to my family. And the weather, of course!

Justin D: Hi Taylor! Were you a cheerleader in high school?

Spirit Dancer Taylor: Yes, I was part of the dance team for two years and part of the song team for two years.

Kelly (Pomona): When and why did you become such a big Clipper fan?

Spirit Dancer Taylor: I didn't have much time to watch a lot of sports in the years preceding my Clippers Spirit time because I was in X-Ray school. The moment I joined the Spirit I became a HUGE Clippers fan and now I'm a die-hard.

Mike (Burbank): You're the only ray of sunshine in this dreary season (well, you and Al Thornton, but he's nowhere near as cute). What type of guys do you go for?

Spirit Dancer Taylor: I like men who are professional, intellegent and someone who can make me laugh. If he's a Clippers fan that's just an added bonus!


Sonny (Huntington Beach): Taylor, how come the Clippers Spirit do not sit on the sidelines during the first three quarters? We only get to see you girls for the fourth quarter and I don't think that's right! I have been going to Clippers games since the Ron Harper days and its always been like this. Why is that?

Spirit Dancer Taylor: We change our uniforms in between each quarter, and we dance during the timeouts during each quarter. I've seen other teams that sit on the sidelines every quarter, but only dance once or twice during the game. We prefer to sit on the sidelines for one quarter and dance on the court three or four times each game.

Kevin (Palm Springs): What's the strangest thing that has ever happened to you as a member of the dance team?

Spirit Dancer Taylor: When I was walking through the tunnel at STAPLES Center, and I thought I was walking by a door. Only it wasn't a door, it was Shaq. I don't know if he knew I didn't realize that he was there, but when I wasn't paying attention he lunged out at me! You could hear my screams at the top of STAPLES Center. I almost had a heart attack!

Susan: What do you think about Clipper Darrell? I think the Spirit should do another routine with him.

Spirit Dancer Taylor: I think Clipper Darrell adds a dimension to Clipper games that probably no other team in the league has. I have heard that he's done a routine with the Spirit in the past, and maybe we'll look into doing another one with him in the future.

Harmony: If there was an extra hour in the day, what would you spend it doing?

If you could hire one of the following, which would it be: driver, chef, maid or stylist?

Spirit Dancer Taylor: If I had an extra hour each day, I'd probably spend it doing some form of exercise. With my busy schedule, it's really hard to find the extra time.

I'd hire a stylist! Actually, any time I've needed a stylist, my sister Galen has been able to fill in. Thank goodness!

Chad: Hey! How many brothers and sisters do you have?

Spirit Dancer Taylor: I have one older brother, Grant and one younger sister, Galen. Grant works in computer technology and Galen is a professional dancer. You can check out Galen in two of Janet Jackson's music video: "So Excited" and "Rock With U."

Antwan (Corona): Taylor you're a "quadruple threat": smart, beautiful, good spirit... and a Clippers dancer. Hope your here next season when we are on the road to the playoffs.

Spirit Dancer Taylor: Looking forward to it, and thanks!

Mark (N. Hollywood): Do you ladies have one choreographer, or do you all contribute something to your routines?

Spirit Dancer Taylor: We have a variety of choreographers who come in to teach us routines - Andy Vaca, Tim Stevenson and Mina Ortega. We just debuted a new routine last night choreographed by our very own team captain Kristin.

Pete from Walnut, CA: Did you have any input when posing for the pictures featured at the Clippers website?

Spirit Dancer Taylor: We take so many photos during the photo shoots! Our team director, Jessie picks which photos make the final cut.

Spirit Dancer Taylor: Thank you all so much for coming online to chat with me today. This was a lot of fun! I hope to chat with you again soon. Don't forget to vote for us every day this weekend and help us advance to our Conference Finals! I'll see you at the game this Saturday. XOXO.