By Amanda Norvell

Photo Gallery: Meet the 2006-07 Magic Dancers

After a lot of tears, 12 renditions of the final audition routine and the dramatic addition of two extra spots on the Orlando Magic Dancers squad, the 2006-07 team was announced Friday night at Pleasure Island.

Emcee Scotty B. hosted the dancer finals at Motion nightclub in Downtown Disney’s Pleasure Island Friday night, and what a finale it was. Split into groups of three, the 36 finalists performed for a panel of ten judges, ranging from Orlando Magic General Manager Otis Smith to a season ticket holder as well as friends, family, and Magic fans.

While waiting in the loft of the nightclub to perform, the girls practiced their dance steps over and over as their competition performed on the stage below.

While most of the girls would admit they were nervous before they got on stage, it was the waiting after the performance that proved most difficult.

“I just want to know if I made it,” said Aziza, a member of the new squad. “I was nervous to dance, but this is a whole new level of nervousness.”

The night was filled with Magic entertainment including performances by former Magic Dancers, the Silver Stars senior dance team and even the Magic marketing interns – who performed their version of the final routine while the judges were tallying up the final scores.

But in the end, it was all about the naming of the 2006-07 Magic Dancers, and it was done in dramatic fashion. After a long deliberation period, Scotty B and Jeanine Klem-Thomas, the Manager/Choreographer of the Magic Dancers, finally came to the stage to announce the 18-member squad.

With all 36 finalists lined up backstage, holding-hands, eyes closed, and silently praying to hear their name, the new team was called one-by-one to the stage. As Scotty B. called the final name, there were 18 broken hearts left backstage. As the tears began to fall, and the girls began comforting one another, Scotty B. unexpectedly announced the 19th and 20th members of the Orlando Magic Dancers.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled,” said Jeanine, of her new team of 20. “The talent pool this year was so deep. We’ve got a great team and it’s going to be a great season.”

Now the real training will begin with rehearsals starting September 5th.

The Magic Dancers participate yearly in over 300 events, contributing over 700 hours of community service. Although the first full-team appearance will be at the Magic’s first preseason game, set for October 17 against Atlanta, expect the new Magic Dancers to be popping up at events soon.

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By Amanda Norvell

Hair was flying. Arms were flailing. Legs were kicking. There were oohhs and aahhs along with the occasional blood-curdling scream. It may sound a bit out of the norm, but this was all part of Magic Dancer Bootcamp Day 2 - Dunk Training.

Why do they need dunk training? Because Magic Dancers don’t just dance – they dunk. And not just any dunk - a sky-high, toe-touching, with some added beauty and grace slam-it-home style dunk. But before they can get there, they have a lot to learn.

The 36 Magic Dancer hopefuls gathered on the Magic’s practice court Wednesday evening to learn the art of the dunk. The challenge laid out before them included three elements - a small, angled trampoline, a huge mat and an ominous rim - not to mention the most important piece of equipment, the ball. The goal - learn the proper jumping and dunking techniques and then slam it home.

After a brief overview from the dunk-trainer, the girls formed a line behind half-court, and one brave dancer volunteered to go first.

“I’m ready, I’ll do it,” she said with her hand raised high.

Getting into the set position she leaned forward and then burst into a full-sprint, foul-line to foul-line. As she approached the trampoline the look on her face changed from pure determination to pure fright.

She jumped about two-feet in the air, legs kicking, arms flailing, hair flying and screaming all the while, but the end result didn't come out as expected. The crowd of dancers broke into laughter as the hopeful collapsed on the mat beneath the basket, having come nowhere close to the rim. She hoped up, all smiles, and ran back to the end of the line.

“That was terrifying!” she said, while giggling with another finalist.

On the first run-through most of the other dancer hopefuls looked much the same. Barely bouncing off the trampoline, and then crumpling onto the mat. But after some more tips and a few more tries, it began to click.

Erica, a two-year veteran of the Magic Dancers had this advice for the first-time dunkers.

“Try your hardest, but be careful! And mostly, have fun with it!”

During the dunk training it was easy to see who the veterans were, and who the first-timers were.

“I remember learning to dunk, and it didn’t make sense at all, I was so scared of the trampoline,” said Erica. “But then, I just made up my mind that I was going to do it, and I dunked!”

“I’m just trying to think of it like jumping on a trampoline when I was a little kid,” said Amanda, a Florida native who was making her dunking debut. “I’m determined to get it! But, I know it’ll take a lot of practice.

“I’ve always wanted to be a Magic Dancer. Growing up here I’ve watched them and wanted to do this since I was younger.”

By the end of the night, most every girl was at the least touching the rim while some caught onto the art of slamming down a good one, which was of course followed by flexing and squealing at their accomplishment.

Following the dunk training, the girls moved back to the studio and finished the night learning some jazz moves from a guest choreographer. The finalists will now have a day off to rest and practice on their own, before the final audition, Friday night at Downtown Disney’s Pleasure Island.

“I’m so excited about the final audition,” said Shana. “I’m ready to just go and get it done!”

On Friday's finale at the Motion nightclub at Downtown Disney's Pleasure Island, the dancers will be split into teams of three and will perform their routine one final time before a panel of ten judges and the 2006-07 team will be announced that evening.

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By Amanda Norvell

Hardcore sports specific training, hip-hop choreography and fitness-testing were on the schedule for Day Two of the Magic Dancers finalists auditions.

“I’d never done anything like that before,” said Aziza, a Magic Dancer hopeful, of the hardcore sports specific training. “I learned a lot about toning specific muscles – and I already know I’m going to be sore!”

Aziza just began her second year of law school at Florida A&M College of Law.

“Actually, classes just started yesterday,” Aziza said. "So between my first two classes I came out here for my interview, and now I’m back for boot camp!”

Aziza decided to audition for the Magic Dancers after witnessing them perform live during a Magic home game.

“When I saw them performing I was like, ‘I want to do that!’” said Aziza, whose also enjoyed getting to know the other finalists. “It’s been exhausting, but also a lot of fun! We did a ton of teambuilding activities during the fitness training so I’ve really gotten to know all the girls.”

After adjourning Monday night at 10 p.m., the finalists returned Tuesday for another day of dancer boot camp. They’ll continue the fitness testing and also begin learning some more technical steps from a jazz choreographer. But the high-flying fun will really happen at the dunk training, where the girls will learn all about becoming a Magic dunking-dancer.

Jeanine Klem-Thomas, the Manager/Choreographer of the Magic Dancers has been extremely pleased with the audition process thus far.

“There are 36 dancers that could do a good job,” Klem-Thomas said, making the job of whittling down the list to the final 18 extremely difficult.

“But that’s what this process is for, to get the best dancers suited for this job and all it entails.”

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By Amanda Norvell

The 36 remaining finalist for the new Magic Dancers squad steadily flowed into the RDV Sportsplex on Monday afternoon – but not to dance – to interview. As part of the auditioning process each dancer traded in their dancing shoes and short shorts for heels and suits and spent time in front of their future bosses, should they make the team.

While each dancer would admit that Saturday's dance audition was hard and that the waiting for their names to be called as one of the finalists was nerve-racking, some said the interviews were even worse.

“I’m extremely nervous,” one dancer hopeful said, “Do you see me shaking?”

One of the lighthearted, giggling interviewees was April, a recent graduate of Lakeland High school. April has known for a while that she wanted to audition and now that she's in the thick of it, she’s more excited than ever.

“I have just really gotten to love the family atmosphere here and I’m so excited about what might happen!”

April describes being on a dance team to having a second family and she’d like nothing more than to make the Magic her second home.

“I’ve heard nothing but great things about the Magic Dancers,” April said. “I’m so excited about the opportunity to dance in front of the Magic’s crowd.”

April admits however, that the waiting is the worst part of the process. “You’ve invested so much and you just want to see it turn out.”

Kelly, who’s originally from New York but now calls Orlando home, agrees.

“The only nerve-racking part is the waiting,” said Kelly, waiting for her chance to interview.

Kelly said she’s more excited than nervous and is really looking forward to this week.

“I can’t wait to be challenged in boot camp this week. I am looking forward to learning all the new choreography and of course the performance on Friday!”

After all the interviews are completed, the dancers will enter the boot camp stage of the auditioning process. They’ll be learning to perfect their dance moves for a final performance and final cut this Friday at Disney’s Pleasure Island.

Keep checking-in for more updates on the making of the 2006-07 Magic Dancers throughout the week.

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The first round of auditions for the 2006-07 Magic Dancers were held this past Saturday at the RDV Sportsplex in Maitland.

After starting with a field of close to 100 girls competing for a spot on the squad, a first cut dwindled the field down to 60 dancers. After the second cut, 36 dancers remained. Those 36 will compete in the finals - held this Friday, August 25 at Pleasure Island at Downtown Disney.

Twelve Dancers from last year's team are among the 36 finalists.