Regional Dance Team auditions continue
J. Todd/Grizzlies.com
June 6, 2008
For the first time, the Grizzlies are taking their dance team auditions on the road. Earlier this week the judges were in Jackson, Mississippi, and the process will continue with auditions this weekend in Nashville and next week in Little Rock, before the Memphis audition later this month. We sat down with dance team choreographer Tamara Moore to recap the Jackson audition, and look ahead to the next ones.
How did the audition in Jackson go?
We weren’t sure what to expect because we’d never gone into that market before, we’ve never gone outside of Memphis for our auditions. We knew it was sort of a shot in the dark but worthwhile to see if there’s any other talent out there. There was, and we’ve been very pleased with what we’ve seen thus far, and it’s just getting me more excited about what potentially lies ahead for us as we go to Nashville over the weekend and then to Little Rock next week, and of course wrapping things up in Memphis.
So there were some talented dancers in Jackson?
There was definitely some potential talent. We’re looking forward to Nashville because I know there’s a huge pot of dancers down there so I think we’ll get an even greater turnout. And then I’m confident about Little Rock as well because we had two dancers last season who came out of there and relocated, so I’m feeling good.
For dancers in these other cities who have never auditioned for the Grizzlies before, what should they expect?
When they get to the audition it will be what they’d expect at any other audition. They’ll come in, Grizzlies staff will open up the auditions speaking to them about what our expectations are, what to expect in being a Grizzlies dancer, and understanding the commitment that it takes.
Then we’ll go through a group warm-up, then we’ll go across the floor doing basic drills, and that’s for me to see what type of technique the girls have – can they kick well, can they turn, can they leap – and then from there they’ll actually learn choreography, and that routine that they learn they will perform back to us once we give them enough time to get it in their heads.
Tamara Moore talks about the Grizzlies Dance Team auditions.
We’re also having our pre-audition classes this week and next week, and the good thing about that is the girls that come to that are going to learn the choreography that will be taught at the audition ahead of time, and so by the time audition day comes they should feel comfortable that they’re just tweaking everything and making it right. So it’s a big advantage for the girls that show up, and hopefully girls have learned from last year that it makes sense to show up.
After the regional auditions, what happens next?
We pick everybody, then the next time we see everyone is on Wednesday, June 18, to prep for the finals that happen on Thursday, June 19 in Tunica. On that Thursday we will have the girls from Memphis, Jackson, Little Rock and Nashville. Everybody will come together and we’ll create a show that day, and at night perform it back for fans and obviously for the judges, and see who makes it to the last stand.
For dancers that make the team, what’s the commitment they need to make?
The commitment will start a couple of months before the season with a boot camp and rehearsals. It’s a paid job, but it’s part time, even though it’s a lot of full time hours. There’s some weeks where we have three games in a week, so between three games and a minimum of two rehearsals, sometimes we’re seeing you five times a week. It’s a heavy commitment, but we still require our girls to have at least another part time job because it’s not enough to sustain them through the length of the contract.
After the final, when will the team debut?
The debut is one week later at Draft day so we’ve got a lot of work to do before then. But we’re thinking it will be the best possible time, fans will be there in anticipating of what we’re going to get from a player perspective, and of course who wouldn’t mind seeing what beautiful lades we get performing before next season. Everyone will be happy.
What advice would you give dancers in advance of the auditions?
I just want to make sure that people come out to the pre-audition classes if they know that they plan to audition because it will give them a leg up on the competition and will make them feel more at ease. Doing things this way is very rare. Typically you go to an audition, even for an NBA dance team, and you learn the material that day and you have to perform it back. This way they’re getting the opportunity to let it marinate a bit so that we can see their absolute best. We definitely want girls to try out, even if they think that they may not be qualified for it, at the end of the day it’s a great cardio workout and it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity because auditions don’t come up very often in Memphis, so why not see what you’ve got.