Corina’s Blog: Happy Holidays

By: Corina

Happy holidays, everyone!

Thanks so much for checking out my blog. It’s been a little while since my last entry, and I have a lot of great updates to share with you – starting with my first game.

I still can’t get over how much fun I had at the Home Opener! Being part of that special celebration was an incredible experience I’ll never forget. I felt an overwhelming amount of emotion, from excitement to nervousness, since not only was it my first NBA game as a dancer, but we also had a sold-out crowd.

We ended up getting an amazing response from the fans, as well as Vivek. We have a clip of him smiling, clapping right after our performance and looking at the camera and saying, “Thank you.”

We put so much time and effort into making sure the night would be perfect. Though part of me was relieved it was over, I couldn’t wait to get back on the court again. There’s so much positive energy and so many fun surprises in the building every night, I can’t wait to see what happens at the next game.

I’m truly inspired by our ownership and front office. When I became a Kings Dancer, I immediately wanted to know more about our owners and president, and learning about their impressive backgrounds – which include degrees from schools like MIT, Yale and Cornell – makes me even more excited about being a part of the organization. I get inspired coming to the arena every day, and it gives me something to push for outside of dance, as well.

While in the beginning it was extremely challenging for my fellow rookies and me to adapt to learning four routines per night, everything has been progressing well and the process has become much easier. When you learn so much in every practice, it almost becomes second nature. After a quick warm-up, we either get started on a new dance or clean a dance from the week before, which entails setting the formation for the performers and taping it. Practice is extremely fast and non-stop the whole time, so the four hours go by in a flash.

Having mini-camp back in October was very important for team bonding and helping us grow closer. Although it was held in Sacramento, we stayed in a hotel and spent a lot of time getting to know each other better, from going out to dinners to having fun nights out on the town.

Now, we hardly ever leave each other’s side. If it’s not practice, we have a community appearance or a game. My teammates are literally like family – they’re my sisters.

The best part about being a Kings Dancer for me is having a chance to do community events. It’s great to get out and spend time with fans, whether it’s little kids or passionate, long-time Cap City Kingdom members. Being involved in the community is such a great feeling, and it was especially meaningful to be a part of the organization’s “12 Days of Giving BIG” campaign earlier this month. It means a lot to see how much of an impact we have, as well as how much people look up to us as role models.

We just finished our holiday photoshoot. Initially, I thought only a few dancers would be showcased, so all I could do was cross my fingers and hope that I would be chosen to participate. Then we got the news that instead of only showcasing nine or ten dancers, we were going to be featured in groups of two or three, so we all participated. It was so cool!

Off the court, I’m a respiratory therapist, so between putting in time at the dance studio and training with my competition teams, to working at the hospital, I’ve barely had any free time since the start of the season.

I’m hoping to catch “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” soon, which has received great reviews from everyone I know. I wasn’t sure I’d get into the trilogy, but once I saw the first movie, I was instantly hooked! I can’t wait to see what’s coming next.

Thanks so much to everyone who left comments and questions on my last blog! I really appreciate the kind words and encouragement, and the least I can do is take the time out to respond to people who reach out to me. I love interacting with fans, so please don’t hesitate to continue sharing your thoughts and feedback.

Thank you as always for reading my blog! I’ll be back soon with more fun updates from my rookie season.