Talk about déjà vu!!! Everything about Monday’s game against the Knicks was so familiar that it felt like I never left. My old car pool buddy, Kimmie Gee and I arrived at the arena early. We found Kate and got right to work as we always did in the past … Work on our hair and makeup that is!
“Hey girls, curly or straight!?!” Kimmie: “Straight is sexy!” Kate: “Definitely curls!” I went for loose curls, fun and sexy!!! Amber R. arrived and she had barely walked in the door when I asked, “So what are we doing with my eyes today?” She’s the makeup expert who did my face and hers, and in record time might I add (see below!)
5:45 rolled around really quickly and all of sudden it was time to “greet”. Greeting is an important part of being a dancer. We welcome our guests at the doors to enhance their experience, so our time up there is crucial. The present Sixers Dancers headed upstairs to autograph their calendars (which are hot! Check them out here! http://www.nba.com/sixers/dance/) and us alumni joined them at the doors. I snuck downstairs a little before greeting time was over…because let’s face it, I can no longer get fired!!! Lol!! (I wonder what else I could have gotten away with??)
As we walked around the center we saw sooo many familiar faces from the Hare Raisers and our mascot Hip Hop to Sixers staff members to Wachovia workers and even Aramark administrators … everyone in the arena is part of the Sixers Team and it was great to see all of my old friends. One of my favorite Wachovia Center guards is Paul, (photo’d below) he always takes good care of the dancers.
After greeting, back we went to the dressing room to relax. That was until Debbie came in, “GIRLS!! We’re going over the lines in the hallway! Let’s go!!!” she yelled. And right back out we all went. I noticed a lot of girls chewing gum as we reviewed the choreography and spacing. Strange, I thought. We used to never get away with that. Then in chimed Debbie “Girls, absolutely no gum on the court!!” Ahhhh there we go, just like old times! You tell ‘em Debbie!! (as I swallow my gum…shhh).
After our review, we did some last minute touch-ups, then hurried down to the tunnel to watch the 09-10 team perform at the quarter break. Good job girls!!!
Then it was back to passing the time as we always did…practicing the dance of course! Annnnnd eating, gossiping, taking more pictures and applying more lip gloss, you know the usual. Then…
OMG girls it’s almost half time, HURRY UP… AND wait! We all ran frantically back down to the tunnel just to find that there was still 5 minutes in the second quarter. Oh! We have time… but boy did it fly by.
While our performance did take a lot out of me, it certainly went by in a flash. It’s amazing how fast a 6 minute performance can fly by, especially when it took 4 weeks and 4 practices to prepare. You’re on, and then just like that, you’re off! Well, everyone except for Adrienne aka “A,” who was the only dancer to perform all 6 routines in the alumni performance. As a member of the dance team for 11 years, captain for 9 years, and coach for 1 year she had a lot to rep. And she did it so well. She’s didn’t miss a beat. Go girl!!! And that was pretty much it for us!
Well, actually that wasn’t quite it! There’s more to being a Sixers Dancers than everything that I described. There’s a very essential tradition that doesn’t even start until after the game… it’s called Chickies and Pete’s. The majority of us headed straight there afterwards … and our night began AGAIN 
What a night!!!
Miss Back on the Court: Part I? Check it out here http://www.phillyin.com/amber/back-on-the-court-2312
Well written article. This is a classy move on the part of the Philadelphia organization; making it so the cheerleaders are able to stay connected with the Sixer family. Many of the “crew” have gone on to do really big things making it a win win for everyone involved. I wish Philly still had Iverson although Lou Williams is the future.