[Body]
Alright, so you wanna be one of them NBA dancers, huh? Listen up, it ain’t all glitter and glam like them TV shows make it out to be. It’s hard work, I tell ya, hard work.
First off, you gotta know how to dance. I mean, really dance. Not just jigglin’ around at the town square dance. These folks, they do all sorts of fancy footwork, spins, and jumps. You gotta be flexible, like a dang rubber band. They say you need experience in different dance styles, too. Ballet, jazz, hip-hop… sounds like a whole lotta hooplah to me, but that’s what they want.
And get this, you gotta be in tip-top shape. I’m talkin’ strong and fit. These dancers, they ain’t just shakin’ their pom-poms. They’re liftin’ each other, jumpin’ high, and dancin’ for hours. So, you best be hittin’ the gym, runnin’ around, and eatin’ your vegetables, even if you hate ‘em like my grandson hates broccoli.
Now, they say you gotta be 18 or older and have a high school diploma, or whatever they call it these days. Sounds fancy, huh? Basically, you gotta finish school and be grown-up enough to handle the job. They also want a resume, which is like a list of all the stuff you’ve done, and a picture of your face, a “headshot” they call it. Make sure you comb your hair and put on a nice shirt for that picture.
- Step one: Get yourself some good dance training. Find a dance studio, join a dance team, anything to get your feet movin’ and learnin’.
- Step two: Stay in shape. Exercise, eat right, and take care of your body. You can’t be huffin’ and puffin’ after two minutes of dancin’.
- Step three: Get your papers in order. That diploma thing and your picture, like I said.
And let me tell you somethin’ else, this ain’t no high-payin’ gig. They call it a “stipend,” which is just a fancy word for a little bit of money. You get paid for each game, and maybe a little extra if they make it to the championships or do special events. But when you think about all the hours of practicin’ and rehearsin’, and all the makeup and fancy clothes you gotta buy, it ain’t much money at all. They do charity work and fundraisers too, so you gotta have a good heart and be willin’ to help folks. Makes you wonder if all the shakin’ and dancin’ is worth it for just a few dollars.
Now, I hear most NBA teams got these dancers, except for one team, can’t remember which one. They’re like part of the whole basketball show, entertainin’ the crowds and makin’ things lively. These dancers put in a crazy amount of time, 12-15 hours of practicin’ for a one-minute dance routine! Can you believe that? That’s more time than it takes me to cook a whole Thanksgiving dinner.
Practice, practice, practice, that’s what they say. You gotta be dedicated, they call it. Means you gotta stick with it, even when it’s tough, even when your feet hurt, and even when you’re tired of hearing the same song over and over again. If you really want it, you gotta work for it, just like anything else in life, like milkin’ a cow or plantin’ a field, you don’t get nothin’ for free.
So, there you have it. That’s the lowdown on becomin’ an NBA dancer, from what I hear. It’s a lot of work, a little bit of money, and a whole lotta shakin’. But if you got the passion and the moves, go for it, I say. Just remember what I told ya, and don’t come cryin’ to me when your feet hurt.
Tags: NBA dancer, dance career, professional dance, cheerleading, dance auditions, fitness, dance training, performance, sports entertainment, NBA requirements
