Senior Mariana Nieto, the Mam’selles’ First lieutenant, is making a change from crowd-pleasing school performances to jaw dropping million dollar live performances. Nieto is deciding to pursue a career in dancing. Even though she loves being in drill team she is thinking about taking on a new form of dance in the future.
Drill team is a type of dance that includes field routines, kicking and sharp movements. Nieto discovered she liked more of a freestyle type of dance, like the Dallas Mavericks. Nieto says the Dallas Mavericks dance team is a hard group to get into but she is confident she has what it takes. Nieto will try out July 13-15.
“I’m going to their prep classes in May,” Nieto said. “I’m really excited.”
In preparation for tryouts she recommends being prepared before auditioning. Dallas Mavericks dancers can be a group of any girls that want to dance. Dallas Mavericks dancers range from highly trained professionals to aspiring amateurs.
“We dance in front of [the] judges, and every day they eliminate girls until the last day,” Nieto said. “I’ve looked at the website. There are no requirements other than being 18, and there are no pre-requisites. I know I’m short but there is no height requirement.”
With her time as a Mam’selle coming to an end, she has learned new things and does not want to stop dancing.
“These four years I have really enjoyed dancing,” Nieto said. “I learned a lot of things that I didn’t know I could do. I learned new styles such as jazz, lyrical and kick routines. It has really helped [me] learn that there are different types of dancing other than drill team.”
Nieto’s parents are very supportive in her dancing career, but her dad was hesitant when he found out about the revealing outfits she’ll be wearing to tryout and perform.
“For prep classes, we get to wear anything we are comfortable in and are required to wear tennis shoes,” Nieto said. “But for tryouts, we are required to wear a crop top with booty shorts, tights and white tennis shoes. At first, my dad was a little worried of what they wear and how they expose too much, but I told him as long as I have a good personality that shouldn’t matter.”
Nieto feels her good reputation will not affect her in the future when dancing is no longer an option.
“As long as I’m sure of what I’m doing, I don’t really mind what people think,” Nieto said. “I’m sorry they wear those kinds of costumes, but I love they way they dance and they also do a lot of community service projects. I read they went to an orphanage to give back; I think it’s a good experience and good opportunity.”
Prep classes, tryouts and interview are all approaching soon and will determine her future.
“If I don’t make it, I will continue to try again,” Nieto said. “If all else fails I’ll join a dance company at Brookhaven, but I hope everything works out. If I do make it they practice at a set time but they get there an hour earlier and stay an hour later, because they want to make sure everything looks good on the court. I’m ready.”
Practicing is a necessity that comes with performing. Nieto does things a little differently. She has a ritual that she recites to herself before every performance for motivation.
“Before dancing I always say, ‘passion, power, perform,’” Nieto said. “passion: to have the desire to perform. power: to have the ability to perform. And perform: to perform to the best of my abilities.”