The Dallas Mavericks Dancers held their auditions at the American Airlines Center followed by training camp at the Verandah Club at the Hilton Anatole.
The team was officially announced at the end of the final night of training camp the final roster included five rookies.
Amanda is one of the new members of the Dallas Mavericks Dancers and she joined us after making the team to discuss her journey to becoming a member of the Mavs Dancers.
See Photos of AMANDA in the Slideshow Below:
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Photos by Dominic Ceraldi
PDC: Talk about your dance background.
AMANDA: I was born and raised in San Marcus, TX. I started dancing when I was in middle school then when I moved into high school, I did drill team for four years. In college, I danced for Sam Houston State University for the Orange Pride Dance Team where I will be graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting.
PDC: What did you do to prepare for the Dallas Mavericks Dancers auditions?
AMANDA: I showed up to every prep class that I could, making the three-hour drive from Huntsville. Then I would wake up the next morning and drive right back down to Huntsville. I actually made sure that my Mondays were cleared so that I could come up to Dallas for the class that night and do what I needed to do to be ready for auditions. I also worked out and ate right to make sure that I was physically ready for whatever came my way.
PDC: For anyone wanting to audition, would you say the Mavs Dancers prep classes are important?
AMANDA: Absolutely, they are so important because you get to see the style of the Dallas Mavericks Dancers do and the veterans are there and they are super helpful. The classes also help you in being able to pick up choreography quickly which is a big thing at the tryouts. You also get face time with Mallory (Mavs Dancers Director Mallory Mills) and after every class, I would go up and talk to her and see what I needed to improve on or work on and she will give you the corrections. One-on-one time in a class with the director is great because you don’t get that opportunity in an audition.
PDC: So we arrived to the auditions at American Airlines Center. Emotionally, what was it like for you leading up to the big day?
AMANDA: I was so nervous and getting ready with last minute things from spray tan, nails, hair and outfit. It was definitely very nerve wracking and I just tried to keep calm and focus on myself and not let my nerves overpower my ability to perform what I came there to do my best.
PDC: You survived the weekend, make it to training camp, how did that feel? Did you allow yourself any time to soak it all in or was it still all business with the next four nights of training camp?
AMANDA: It was so exciting and an honor to make it to training camp, being able to dance with the girls for a week, but my eyes were still on making the team and I didn’t really celebrate at all after making it past finals. I came here with a goal and I wanted to achieve it.
PDC: What’s Thursday like leading up to the final night of training camp, knowing that one way or another, this is it for the audition process?
AMANDA: Come Thursday, I was so nervous and I didn’t think I would be. Anytime there was a deliberation or another group was called in, I kept thinking they would make a cut. Every minute felt like an hour. As soon as I walked in the room, the veterans were so welcoming and the love that they had for one another, it bounced off of them and onto the candidates and I didn’t want it to end.
PDC: How did you find out that you had made the team?
AMANDA: They gave us envelopes and told us to leave the building before opening them. It was raining that night, so I across and into the actual hotel. I’m soaking wet and I remember opening the letter and it was like I was reading but I wasn’t able to comprehend anything, but the first thing I saw read “Congratulations.” It was amazing when I got to run back inside and join all of my new teammates.
PDC: Now that you know you’ve made the Mavs Dancers, what is it like to be one of five rookies on a team with 15 returning veterans?
AMANDA: It’s intimidating, but I think the relationships that they have with each other is amazing and they feed us nothing but positive vibes. It is awesome having so many veterans that will be there to guide you in the right way and share their experiences and I can already feel that we are going to have a close bond.
PDC: What are you most looking forward to in the upcoming season?
AMANDA: The thing I am looking forward to the most is performing on the court at my first game. I’ve always had my eye on the Dallas Mavericks Dancers and I moved up here to be on this team. The energy that they bring and they look like they are having so much fun, it’s entertainment and it’s different from what I’ve been raised in with technical dancing and this is a great start to a new career that will be fun, yet very challenging. I am so excited and I know that it will be an experience that I’ll never forget.
The 2018-19 Dallas Mavericks Dancers are:
VETERANS: Ashley, Katelyn, Janae, Ally, Maggie, Taylor H., Tristen, Julia, Tori, Jenifer, Lisa, Janie, Alise, Sheridan, Aliyah
ROOKIES: Hanna, Hannah, Taylor N., Riley and Amanda.
For more photos and videos from the Dallas Mavericks Dancers, visit HERE
See PHOTOS from the Dallas Mavericks Dancers Team Announcement in the GALLERY below:
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