DANCING IN HER SHOES

Meet Alexandra, a Phoenix Suns Dancer

By Taylor Seely

*Alexandra requested her last name be emitted for privacy and safety reasons.

Rehearsals, strengthening, yoga and healthy eating – these are just a few relevant themes common in any Phoenix Suns Dancer’s life.

For fans, game days begin at the start time of the game, but for Alexandra, a dancer on the team for the past three years, game days start bright and early at 8 a.m.

Hot yoga is the perfect way to clear her mind and loosen up her body for the rest of the day, she said.

After returning home and showering, she gets her hair performance-ready and runs through her dances to make sure she doesn’t forget any last-minute details.

When she’s got it down and has her hair just right, she packs up her costumes and heads to the arena an hour before her 3 p.m. scheduled rehearsal.

For two hours, she and the rest of her teammates run through their dances with Coach Sumer.

Pom-poms wave, cowboy boots tap and music blares through the US Airways Center’s sound systems. The rehearsals are tiring but fun, and the costume accessories always fit perfectly with the theme.

At 5 p.m. the dancers rush back into their locker room for quick hair touch-ups and makeup then head out to greet fans around 5:30.

Outside the U.S. Airways Center, a band sits atop a stage about 2 feet off the ground playing some tunes for game attendees. In addition to standing near the entrances, the Suns dancers freestyle some easy moves the public can jump in on.

It isn’t uncommon to see two dancers holding hands with toddlers jumping around to the drums, or see the occasional crowd dare devil, who whips out the worm or the robot for all to see.

Come game time, the dancers can be found courtside and in the stands dancing with the crowd and boosting the fans’ spirits.

The pumped-up and energetic morale during the game can be attributed to the dancers’ hard work and smiling faces each and every game – even when the tides roll against the Suns.

The dancers perform at least twice a game, and at the end they play with kids on the court and help them shoot some hoops.

Finally, the team heads back to the locker room, changes into their sweat pants, yoga pants or whatever else they wear on the norm, and head home.

“It’s a long day, but it’s a fun day,” Alex said. “It’s worth it.”

By the end of the day, Alex said she’s exhausted and starving. She’ll usually eat something light like chicken or quinoa. After all, healthy eating is imperative for someone as active as she is.

“It’s so hard because you’re just so hungry and want to eat everything,” she said, but after a day of nonstop moving, unhealthy food does not sit well.

Even so, everyone has their vice, and on her occasional cheat day, Alex was embarrassed to admit her favorite fast-food destination.

“Ooh, dare I say it? Mcdonald’s! I love Mcdonald’s,” she confessed. “But I haven’t gone there in a long time! I’ve been trying to be good,” she quickly added.

As much as she loves the occasional french fry, the experience of being a Suns dancer is much more rewarding for her.

With practices twice a week Tuesday and Thursday, three hours each, and daily work outs, she said her dancing is constantly challenged and improving, and the relationships she’s made with her team are irreplaceable.

Alex does not doubt her friendships will last for life, and she hopes to continue on with the Suns for seasons to come.

Auditions for the 2015-2016 dance team have already occurred, so be sure to check out the Suns’ website soon to see if Alex will make it back for a fourth season with the dance team!