Four-Time NBA Dance Team Bracket Competition Champions To Select 2009-10 Squad

 MIAMI, 7/17 –The Miami HEAT is searching for talented, high energy and poised dancers to wow a group of judges on Sunday, July 19, at 12:00 Noon at the AmericanAirlines Arena to become part of the hottest dance team in all of professional sports, the Miami HEAT Dancers.   

The HEAT Dancers, four-time winners of the NBA’s Dance Team Bracket Competition where they were crowned “The Most Popular Dance Team in the NBA,” is the league’s premier dance team. USA Today heralded the HEAT Dancers as “cutting edge,” “well-drilled and hip.” In addition to being featured on ESPN’s “The Season,” MTV’s countdown show “MTV Hits” and MTV’s “My Super Sweet 16,” the HEAT Dancers earned their greatest honor to date when they were selected to participate in a photo spread in ‘FHM’ magazine. The HEAT Dancers remain the only non-host city dance team invited to perform during the NBA All-Star Weekend festivities, wowing the audience in Houston during All-Star 2006. The HEAT Dancers were even celebrated on ESPN.com’s “Page 2.” Gregg Easterbrook writes that “their allure is an indicator of a power shift -- the best-looking beach babes now congregate in South Florida, not California.” Their appeal is global having recently traveled to and performed in China, Istanbul, London, Germany, Indonesia and the British Virgin Islands. 

Dancing for the HEAT also proves to be a gateway to the entertainment world, as several former HEAT Dancers have achieved stardom. The “Fly Khicks,” the all-female dance group made up of five former HEAT Dancers – Traci Young (2002-Present), Karelix Alicea (2002-06; 2007-08), Gina Frances (2004-08), Christina Pagan (2007-08), and Michelle Burgos (2007-08) – and one former SOL Patrol dancer, Wendy Simmons (2001-02), competed on Season 3 of the popular MTV reality dance competition series Randy Jackson Presents America’s Best Dance Crew. Ashley Allen (2008-09) was featured in the 2009 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition. Susie Garcia (2002-08) was one of the top 20 finalists on the 2008 season of FOX’s “So You Think You Can Dance?” Jamie Ruiz (2003-08) stepped into the spotlight on the popular CW show “Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious” and now works in Nevada as part of the Pussycat Dolls’ Vegas act. Johanna Gomez (2002-04), former co-host of the mun2 show “fuZion” currently serves as an entertainment reporter for WPLG-ABC 10. Brooke Long (2005-06) is Suitcase No. 15 Model for NBC’s hit show “Deal or No Deal” and Layla El (2004-06) was the winner of the “2006 WWE $250,000 Diva Search.” Jessica Sutta (1999-02) is a vocalist for the pop group “Pussycat Dolls” and was featured in the music videos of Will Smith, Beyoncé Knowles and Gloria Estefan. And Trista Rehn (2000-02) was the star of the popular ABC reality series “The Bachelorette,” and has appeared in a number of other TV shows including “The Bachelor,” “Dancing with the Stars” and “Fear Factor.”  

HEAT Dancers tryouts will take place at 12:00 Noon, and auditions are free and open to those who are 18 years or older by the date of audition, who have experience in dance, gymnastics or cheerleading, along with an outgoing and dynamic personality. Hopefuls participating must wear dance attire and sneakers, and are encouraged to submit a resume and headshot.  

All participants will be taught a routine to be performed in groups in front of the celebrity judges including WWE Superstar and former HEAT Dancer Layla El, WPLG-ABC 10’s Johanna Gomez, WTVJ-NBC 6’s Adam Kuperstein, Palm Beach Post Sportswriter Chris Perkins, as well as Ilia Castro and Martin Buzzo, performers from the production Fuerza Bruta currently showing at the neighboring Adrienne Arsht Center.  

Approximately 40 dancers will then be selected for a four-day boot camp, which will better assess their skills. Boot camp, hosted at the AmericanAirlines Arena, will begin on Monday, July 20 and run through Thursday, July 23 from approximately 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. each night. Final cuts will be held on Friday, July 24 at 7:30 p.m. as part of a production hosted at the AmericanAirlines Arena. The show is open to the public.  

As the four-time reigning champion of the NBA’s yearly online bracket competition, the HEAT Dancers have rightfully earned the title of the “Most Popular Dance Team in the NBA.” As the club prepares for the excitement of the 2009-10 audition process, it is conducting two polls online one to determine the Hottest HEAT Dance Team and the other to determine the Hottest HEAT Dancer. Fans are encouraged to vote for the first Matchup 2005-06 vs. 2008-09, beginning on July 19 at 12:00 p.m.