This summer was my first full summer back in Arizona from my year-long stay in Florida and I really wanted to get back into dancing. So I tried out for my favorite basketball team’s dance team, the Phoenix Suns Dancers. Before the actual tryouts, which took place the first couple days of August, the girls were required to attend at least one of the scheduled dance practices. Knowing I got to dance an entire month before the tryouts got me pumped up, I really just missed dancing that much.
There were classes taught by former Suns Dancers a couple times a week, starting in the beginning of July and running until the dance tryouts. The practices were not a part of the tryouts whatsoever, but were instructed only for our benefit. We were told to relax and have fun at these practices; they were for us as dancers and professionals to decide if this was what we wanted, and if we believed we would be committed to the Suns cooperation as not only a dancer but also as representatives for the Phoenix Suns. It was pretty nerve-racking how many girls were at each practice. I knew it was going to be a tough competition to make it to the top.
We were required to wear tight bottoms and a crop top for tryouts. All the girls (including the old Suns Dancers) who were trying out were dressed up and given a number. The first day of tryouts I believe there was over 200 girls on the Suns court learning the tryout dance. We were sent onto the floor in groups of four to perform in front of the judges. The first cut was made about six hours after we began, which included a very long and anxious lunch. Only about seventy names were called out at this cut, and it was such a nice feeling to hear your number. There was one more cut before you could make the finals. We were required to perform the dance one more time before we were sent home to sit and wait, until 9 p.m. to be exact, where we would call a hotline and hear our number if we made the cut. If your number was called, you got to come in the next day for the final day of tryouts.
When I heard my number on the hotline, I flipped out! Knowing I made it after they cut it down to 32 girls was a great feeling. The last day of tryouts we had to come in fully dressed in “business sexy” attire for some interviews with the judges, for an online interview and a photo shoot. Lastly, we went to dance a few more times for the judges, and had a get loose/improv time. We were then sent home to wait for another very anxious TEN-day wait. Our video and selected photos were posted on the Phoenix Suns Web site for fans to vote their “favorite 16 dancers.” Unfortunately, after the long wait, I did not make the team. It was a big let down but I have to say that entire experience was an AMAZING time that I would never take back. It made me realize how much I miss dancing and I’m still very excited for the 16 girls who did make the team. Although the competition was between 32 very beautiful, talented and charismatic girls, I will see where I am next year in my life, and hopefully try again and make it all the way!
