July 8, 2006

OKLAHOMA CITY – A University of Oklahoma student, Courtney Leach considered trying out for the Honeybees dance team last year, but ultimately decided to decline going through the audition process. However, almost from the moment she made that decision, the Dallas-Fort Worth area native has been itching for another chance.

A total of 101 women were on hand at the Cox Convention Center on Saturday to give making the Honeybees dance team their best shot. (Jim Eichenhofer/Hornets.com)

On Saturday, Leach was among 101 women who attended the first stage of Honeybees tryouts, attempting to secure one of the roughly 20 spots reserved for the final team. To Leach’s delight, the longtime cheerleader and dancer learned that she reached the final round, which will include 32 candidates.

The final stage of Honeybees tryouts will take place on Monday, July 17 at Bricktown Brewery from 7 to 10 p.m. Final auditions are free and will be open to the public.

“I wanted to do it last year, but I didn’t have the guts to do it,” Leach explained after learning she was not among the initial cuts. “Ever since I didn’t try out last year, I’ve been wanting to try it. So I’ve just been waiting for it to come back around.”

Aside from appearances by several Honeybees veterans – who are required to try out again for the team every summer – many of the women attending Saturday had never previously auditioned for an NBA dance team. Leach said it took a while to shake off some of her early jitters, but once she did that, she became more comfortable in front of the watchful eye of Honeybees manager/choreographer Ashley Deaton, as well as a handful of judges.

“I hadn’t performed in a long time,” Leach explained. “I was extremely nervous, but I think I did pretty well. I had some little mistakes, but I picked it back up. I thought my chances (of making the final roster) were pretty good, I guess. But it’s hard to say, because I’m not sure exactly what they’re looking for. My dance experience may be lacking, or it might be good enough. It’s tough to know.”

In her first attempt at auditioning for the Honeybees, Courtney Leach was among 32 women selected to reach the final round of tryouts. (Jim Eichenhofer/Hornets.com)

During the morning session, Deaton simultaneously taught all 101 dancers the steps of an intricate routine similar to what the Honeybees perform during Hornets games. The women were asked to repeat the moves and show off some of their creativity during freestyle portions of music.

“I want to see some attitude, some sass!” Deaton implored the large group. “I need energy!”

Each of the 32 Honeybees finalists will be interviewed beginning Monday, July 10, leading up to the final audition on Monday, July 17. Leach was pleased to be within one step of officially becoming a Honeybee, and hopeful that she will be among those women chosen for the NBA’s premier dance team.

“I’d love to be on the Honeybees,” Leach said. “I think it would be a great experience. It’d be fun to come out and cheer for the Hornets next season, have fun and perform for people.”