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Sixers Dancers Blog: Nov 9
Posted by Danielle, third-year Sixers Dancers veteran
Welcome back, Sixers fans, to the 2009-2010 NBA season! As a three-year member of the Sixers Dancers, I am incredibly excited as the 76ers season begins! The players have put in a lot of work during their off-season, and the Sixers Dancers have been working hard as well to prepare for a new and exciting year.
Outside of the 76ers, many of us have other full-time obligations. I am currently teaching first grade, and with two major commitments, you can imagine how busy I am! At times it can be tough juggling two very different jobs; I try to stay organized and manage my time wisely! I receive a lot of support from my family, friends, and co-workers, which allows me to be successful in two jobs that I am very passionate about.
Leading up to the home opener, the dance team had been practicing two nights a week, learning fresh new choreography to bring to the court this season. We also were very involved with Sixers Tip-Off Week to kick off the new season! The week included media and radio hits, and guest appearances throughout the community. The Sixers Dancers also appeared in a fashion show for our sponsor at South Moon Under, in which proceeds were donated to Sixers Charities.
We could not wait for Opening night so we could finally showcase our hard work as a new team, perform for our fans, and support our team! The night before the home opener, I packed all of my costumes and organized them in my suitcase. You’d be surprised how many different costume pieces we actually have! My family often says they’d think I was packing for an entire weekend with the amount of clothing and shoes I bring to each game.
Friday, October 30 had finally arrived. I woke up early and with excitement for work that morning. I double-checked what was packed in my suitcase to ensure that I had everything I would need. On my drive to work, I popped in our music CD to review the routines in my head one last time. Although it was a big day for me, it was an exciting day for my students as well! That day at school, we celebrated Halloween with a parade and party. I was equally excited to share a fun-filled day with my first graders!
After a busy day, I left straight from school and headed to the Wachovia Center as the Philadelphia 76ers would take on the Milwaukee Bucks at 7:00 pm. The dancers were due to arrive two hours prior to the start of the game. Bernard’s Salon was there to do our hair and make-up for us. I was a ‘greeter’ that night, so at 6:00 I headed up to the doors to greet, take pictures with and sign autographs for our fans! I cannot express the heartwarming feeling to meet and interact with a fan who is excited to meet ME! We performed two routines that evening – Shook Me and Calle Ocho. Both performances went great and it felt amazing to be back on the court! The team took a win that night 99-86!!
The very next week, there were two home games on Tuesday, November 3 against the Boston Celtics, and Friday, November 6 with the New Jersey Nets. In between, we practiced on Wednesday evening to fix formations and review the routines we would perform at the upcoming games. We take pride in what we do and want to ensure that we are putting the best possible performance on the court each night.
The average week of a Sixers Dancer is a lot of work, but very exciting. We have a weekend off so I am looking forward to relaxing and spending time with family and friends. See you at the game on Monday, November 9 as the Philadelphia 76ers take on the Phoenix Suns! LET’S GO SIXERS!!
