I-Light Media
Finally, Fifteen
By Jake McDonald
After a week of learning new dance routines, boot camp, interviews, and fan interaction fifteen hopefuls were selected to represent the Atlanta Hawks as members of the 2009-2010 A-Town Dance Team. This year six newcomers will join nine veterans when the dance team takes to the Philips Arena court. Making the team was a bit more difficult this time around. Although six veterans opted to pursue other opportunities, the seventeen slots was reduced to sixteen.The reduction in slots added a new twist to this year's selection process. Beginning Sunday, June 14, two more newcomers go up against one-year veteran Kym in an online contest. Fans will cast votes on the Hawks website to determine who will be the sixteenth member of the 2009-2010 A-Town Dance Team.
The week began with an initial audition in front of a panel of guest judges made up of local television sports anchors Sam Crenshaw of 11-Alive, former A-Town Dancer Star Bradley, dance choreographers, stylists, Comcast's Brandon Hometeam Leak, and Atlanta Falcons quarterback DJ Shockley. After learning the first segment of a dance routine, the seventy some odd dancing hopefuls, performed for the panel.
Slideshow Audition Day 1 Part 1
Halfway through the day a smidge over a quarter of the applicants were headed out of Philips Arena's practice court having missed the cut. Those who survived geared up for another round of judging and cuts. By days end roughly 36 hopefuls remained to endure what would be a hectic week.
Slideshow Audition Day 1 Part 2
Each of the finalists were tested for physical fitness during a grueling two day bootcamp. On the heels of bootcamp, finalists were judged on poise, ability public speaking, and social aptitude at the Fabolous Finalist Mixer at Taco Mac in Philips Arena on Wednesday. Fans, friends and family members in attendance selected their favorite dancer on ballots handed out by the finalists during the event. For newcomer Alyssa, a former Atlanta Falcons Cheerleader, making the squad was no small accomplishment.
Meet and Greet Slideshow
Of course, getting the chance to perform is a big part of making the team according to Nikki a finalist who is returning with 1 year under her belt.
On Saturday, the finalist performed one last time with hopes of impressing the judges enough to win one of the coveted slots. This time the routine was far more complex and the judging far more demanding.
Finals Saturday Slideshow