The title of NBA Dancer is coveted by hosts of young performers, and every summer, teams hold open auditions for new members. With a diversity of styles, from heels to hip hop to pom, each NBA dance team offers its own unique appeal.

For hopefuls without prior experience on a college or professional dance team, the audition process for these squads can be daunting. For starters, no two auditions are quite the same from team to team. Many of them include rounds of dancing on video and in person, an interview, and a finals event. Then there are the nitty-gritty things to consider, like audition-wear, makeup, hair, personal branding, and more.

Dance Spirit spoke to three current and former NBA dancers to learn their best tips for the audition process, from visualization to prep classes, branding, and more.

Choosing a Team

In choosing teams to audition for, it’s important to know your priorities. Is it vital that you stay close to home? Do the team’s causes align with your own? Use the internet and social media to your advantage by researching squads and their dancers before audition season begins. This could include reaching out to dancers directly. Along with sharing team-specific tips, they can become friendly faces at an upcoming audition.

Trying out for the Miami Heat Dancers was a no-brainer for Julia Si, who just finished her rookie season on the team. A former University of Miami Sunsations dancer, she followed the Miami Heat Dancers while in college, watching their campaigns and nurturing an appreciation for the dancers. “You could just see how fierce and incredible these women were,” she says.

Another factor that drew Si to the Miami Heat Dancers was their Advancing Through Dancing professional-development program, which provides team members with workshops, master classes, and learning opportunities meant to enhance their careers outside of dance. The program culminates in a competition for a $10,000 grant to be used for a business idea or educational expenses. “I was fortunate enough to be runner-up, and I won $5,000 this year,” says Si. “It’s such an incredible opportunity to continue pursuing other professions and passions you have, and combining them with dance.”

For Kayla Cruz, a six-time NBA dancer and three-time captain, the culturally and stylistically diverse Brooklynettes were a perfect fit. “The fact that we have so many cultures allows us to really learn from each other,” she says, adding that they’re the only NBA team where Black women make up the majority of members. “I think that is such a beautiful thing,” she says. “That’s one thing that definitely drew me there, because as a Latina woman I was able to come in and really embrace my culture and connect with others.”

Preparation Is Key

Every online audition guide tells dancers to prep, prep, prep. But what does that really mean? Cruz knows a thing or two about coming prepared. In 2018, she auditioned for the Brooklynettes for the first time after doing minimal research. “I remember being so exhausted,” she recalls. “It’s such a long day—it can go up to eight, nine hours.” After that experience, Cruz knew she’d be back to give it her all in 2019 knowing what to expect, and she ended up making the team. What else did she do differently?

That first year, Cruz found that she was distracted by details like her makeup and presentation during the audition. For her next try, she researched and perfected the Brooklynette look in advance, showing up ready to laser-focus on her dancing rather than her appearance. Cruz also took full advantage of the Brooklynettes’ prep-class series in the months leading up to the audition to prepare her brain to pick up their choreography.

Hannah Anderson, a five-time Chicago Luvabulls dancer, recommends getting to know the culture of the team’s home city. “There’s this family energy that comes from the Midwest,” she says, noting that she and her co-worker at Bulls Entertainment embody that trait too. “As entertainers, we are reflecting back the experience we have collectively in this city.”

Anderson says that house music and dance styles, which originated in Chicago, are important to the area and its dance culture. The Luvabulls make a point to integrate house elements in their choreography. “It really makes an impact on the community,” she says.

Mental Strength

Anderson emphasizes the importance of mental health during audition prep. Visualization is one of her go-to tools, and she uses it to imagine how she’d like to feel throughout an upcoming audition: “How do you want to go through this process, and how do you want to feel coming out of it?”

Anderson also makes a point to pay it forward, asking, “What are things that audition veterans have done before to help ground me?” Giving compliments, offering to review choreography, or sharing snacks (her go-to is candy salad, a mix of various candies tossed in a bowl or bag) are all ways that she turns the audition environment into a safer, more supportive space. “If you want the space to be affirming, motivating, and positive, you can be the change in that room.”

Si recommends acclimating yourself to the audition space by attending workshops or prep clinics provided by the team. Using this method, she got a feel for the Miami Heat Dancers’ choreography and got to know some of her future teammates, which helped her feel more calm and confident going in. “I think it gave me more of a sound mind, knowing what to expect,” she says.

Top Tips

Kayla: “Approach your audition exactly how you would want to present yourself on the team.” Cruz says you should imagine exactly where you fit into the squad. It’s a balance between blending with the look and feel of the team and adding your own flair.

Julia: “It’s so important to know your brand. When I say ‘brand,’ I mean what you bring to the table that is unique. What is it that you can showcase during auditions that no one else can?” Si adds that this process looks different for everyone. In her case, she says that being an Asian woman with prior dance team experience made her stand out.

Hannah: “Be open to the entire experience.” Anderson says that fighting nerves to stay present and make memories with your potential future teammates is an important part of the audition process. “No one is asking you to be perfect. No one is asking for you to have it all together—you’ll learn that stuff as you go. You just have to be open to the experience to receive those things.”