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Photos by Dominic Ceraldi, Dustin Schneider, Velton Hayworth, Roman Pena and Jamie Ford
ALLY is in her second season with the Dallas Mavericks Dancers.
She joined us at a recent Dallas Mavericks home game at American Airlines Center for PDC Meet the Dancers:
PDC: Talk about your dance background and what brought you to being a Dallas Mavericks Dancer.
ALLY: I started dancing when I was three years old and did ballet for a few years. Once I got into middle school and high school, I did cheerleading. I was a cheerleader all four years in high school and I was cheer captain, so that came with a lot of responsibility. Then my senior year in high school, I took a lot of pro league prep dance classes to get myself ready for the next step. Freshman year in college, I was on the Texas Legends Dancers and now this is my second season with the Dallas Mavericks Dancers.
PDC: How did your time with the Texas Legends Dancers prepare you for being on the Mavs Dancers?
ALLY: Being on the Texas Legends Dancers gave me a lot of responsibility and being so young, there was a lot of dances to learn and a lot to remember. You had to be prepared to know them right away. It was also nice to be out on the court, it gave me a sense of what it was like and where to be during certain formations which is huge for being on the Mavs Dancers.
PDC: How did working under Jen (Texas Legends Dancers director Jen Contreras) help prepare you for being on the Mavs Dancers and would you recommend going the TLD route for girls who dream of being a Mavs Dancer?
ALLY: Oh absolutely! Jen was amazing. She really gave me some good constructive criticism and never let us fly by with a mediocre performance. She always gave us really good feedback and was very supportive.
PDC: You were on the Texas Legends Dancers with Taylor and then tried out for the Dallas Mavericks Dancers together and both made the team, did that make things any easier or make for a smoother transition for you?
ALLY: It was nice to be able to lean on someone during a stressful time. We both into the Mavs Dancers auditions with a hopeful heart and were very thankful to make it together. It was also nice to just have a friend to understand the specific stresses, being a young rookie dancer on a pro team and we supported each other a lot.
PDC: What is a highlight that stands out from your rookie season with the Mavs Dancers?
ALLY: Fan Jam, the Mavericks open practice, was my first time performing out on the court at American Airlines Center. There was only a select few of us that could do it because it was during the day in the middle of the week. There was such a good energy in the building and it really made me feel good knowing that I had worked so hard to get there and it was as great as I had hoped it would be.
PDC: What’s the biggest difference in being a rookie and a veteran?
ALLY: Being a veteran comes with a lot more responsibility. You are expected to know your choreography and spaces on the court. Basically, you’re not expected to make any mistakes on and off the court. You also get the chance to be a leader and a positive influence for the rookies.
PDC: Now for some fun stuff. What are some of your favorite foods?
ALLY: I love Oreos! Aside from the Oreos, I like pizza. I’ll never turn down pizza. I also love turkey burgers and sweet potato fries.
PDC: Any favorite restaurants?
ALLY: Kenny’s Burgers is probably my all-time favorite restaurant.
PDC: OK, we’ve talked about food. Talk about your passion for fitness
ALLY: Honestly, I’m just going to say this, I really got into fitness when I was on the Legends Dancers because Jen recommended that a few of the rookies tone up. Surprisingly as an 18 year-old, I didn’t expect to be told that, but she really wanted the best for us. I started working out hard back then and kind of just fell in love with it and how it made me feel with the endorphins. Then I started watching other girls and their fitness journeys and it really inspired me to be a healthier person. I began to research things and the why certain foods are good for you and the specific exercises I should be doing to have the body that I want and I didn’t realize how simple it was. I felt better when I ate healthier and worked out and everything kind of just trickled down to where now, I am able to help other girls out with their fitness journeys. It’s awesome that people have that drive and motivation.
PDC: Is meal prep important or how do manage that with such a busy schedule?
ALLY: I do have some general meal plans that I use. Technically I am an aspiring personal trainer and looking at this time next year as being in the position to really help people.
PDC: Are there any nutrition bars you like or recommend?
ALLY: I really like the Oh Yeah! bars. They only have one gram of sugar and they taste amazing.
PDC: When your days as a pro dancer are over, what would be your dream job?
ALLY: Actually it goes back to fitness. I’d say being a fitness model or even just being a personal trainer and getting to help people out. That’s what I love doing and love getting people on the right track. I know a lot of people struggle with it and I’d love to be able to help them out.
PDC: Let’s go to entertainment, what are some of your favorite movies?
ALLY: I’m a huge Twilight fan, I love Bridesmaids and Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
PDC: Breakfast at Tiffany’s? The one from the 1960s?
ALLY: One of my friends who is a really old soul had me over and showed it to me for the first time and we actually just watched it on repeat all night and I never got tired of it. Oh and any Disney movie. I have a younger sister, she’s 11 years younger than me and she’s my best friend, so we watch Disney movies together.
PDC: Do you have any TV shows that you binge watch?
ALLY: Not currently, but I have watched Gossip Girl, That 70s Show and 13 Reasons Why
PDC: If you had a dream vacation, anywhere in the world, where would you go?
ALLY: Summertime, I want to go to Hawaii. I’d also like to see Rome or Germany.
PDC: Last question, you were in the inaugural PDC: Summer Edition this past summer. Looking back on it, how was your experience and what type of feedback did you get?
ALLY: I got a lot of good compliments, especially when they learned that was my first bikini-type of photo shoot. It was really cool for me to be a part of it and be one of the girls who were hand-picked to be in it. I also did my photo shoot with Jessica and Kat (former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders) and they are like legends to me and I will always look up to them. Now I’m in the pro dance world and am a part of that, it really felt like a huge accomplishment to be alongside them in that piece, it was really cool.
Fans can follow ALLY on Twitter @DMD_Ally and Instagram @DMD_Ally
For more photos and videos from the Dallas Mavericks Dancers, visit HERE
See ALLY in the 2017 PDC Summer Edition in the PHOTO GALLERY below:
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