April 22, 2008


Mike Trudell
Wolves Reporter

Third-year dancer Erica talks about nearly being cast on the "Real World," her disdain for pets and her love for Brett Favre.

MT: What's something that most people would be surprised to know about you?
Erica: That I have a serious side ... And also, I've never had a pet.

MT: Never?
Erica: I don't like animals. They make me feel uncomfortable. Every time I'm around animals, I don't know what to do. Do I pet it? If I pet it, will it bite me?

MT: That's a fair point, actually. Plus they poop a lot. I've asked one of your teammates this already, but if you could have any pet, what would it be?
Erica: A dolphin. I like the noise they make.

MT: You were nearly selected as a cast member for a future "Real World" show. How close were you?
Erica: I don't know, but I made it past three or four rounds.

MT: Take us through the process, after you sent in your video:
Erica: The video was just me talking, and then they sent me a 14-page application full of questions. I spent about an hour doing it, sent it back in, and they called me for a phone interview. At the end of it, they said they'd call me again if they wanted to talk to me more. So they ended up calling again to set up a Skype interview, and then they e-mailed me asking for another tape of something I didn't show the first time around. That's when I don't know if I didn't send in bad stuff, but I didn't get a call back.

MT: Wow. That has to be just one or two steps away from being cast in the show. Crap! Why didn't you let me consult?
Erica: It was totally last minute.

MT: But you should be proud of yourself ... Most people don't even get called once. Anyway, rumor has it you control the locker room playlist?
Erica: I always download every new song that comes out. I play Miley Cyrus to annoy everyone ... But just to annoy them.

MT: That's nice. Do any of the other dancers try to step in and take over DJ duties?
Erica: Yes. Alicia sometimes tries to throw in some country music, and Annie U usually tries to sneak some alternative rock groups on.

MT: Right, we learned about Annie U's penchant for Indie music in her interview.
Erica: Let's just put it this way: She doesn't like my playlist.

MT: Let's play word association. I say a word, and you say what pops into your head, OK?
Erica: Uh, OK.

MT: Diamond.
Erica: Marriage.

MT: Ferret.
Erica: Gross?

MT: Wizard.
Erica: Card games.

MT: Huh? Whatever. Tom Cruise.
Erica: Hot.

MT: Not "freak?"
Erica: Nope.

MT: All right. Which dancer has the best signature move?
Erica: I like Bianca's poses. She has some really creative moves for the ends of dances. She drops down and does a robot thing for one of them.

MT: You just completed your third year on the team. Highlights?
Erica: I like the performing the best, so the games are probably the highlight. The practices are fun too, and they've been really challenging this year since we've been doing serious fitness training.

MT: What's a stereotype about dancers that you'd like to counter?
Erica: I think people sometimes don't realize that we have other talents and are successful in several different things outside of dance. We're not just dancers, it's only a small part of our lives.

MT: Are the Timberwolves Dancers better than the Vikings cheerleaders?
Erica: Uh oh. I have some friends on that team, so I should say "No comment."

MT: Come on, we know the Wolves are better.
Erica: I'd say that our styles are so different, you almost can't compare them.

MT: Fine. Did you know anything about basketball before making the team?
Erica: I knew nothing about it. I'm from Green Bay, so it was all football. We never watched the Milwaukee Bucks or anything, it was just about the Packers. So when I came here, (former dancer) Stacey taught me everything I needed to know about basketball. This year is when I've been able to actually enjoy the games, and I've grown to really like it about as much as football.

MT: As a huge Packers rube, what are your feelings on Brett Favre's retirement?
Erica: I just got done reading his wife's book, called "Don't Bet Against Me."

MT: Lame.
Erica: No, it's good. Just when I finished the book, he retired like the day after. It was weird. But the book made me appreciate their family and how close-knit they were.

MT: Although they had some issues that have gone pretty underreported, right?
Erica: She talked about that, actually, like how he was out all the time and she was miserable, flying back home. She didn't say, "He cheated on me," but it was implied.