Lexi Haslam… The Peoples Dance Pak Choice

That is Lexi Haslam who was the winner of the final spot on the Raptor Dance Pak. She owes her spot on the team thanks in part to her own hard work, but also to you the Raptor Fans.  She was named the winner of that last spot on the squad a couple of weeks ago. Now as you will recall the Dino Nation Blog interviewed another candidate(Dina) that did not win. But in the spirit of us all being Raptor Fans I offered my congrats to Lexi and a chance to come here and talk with us. Despite my support of the someone else she agreed to do so.

So, I figured the logical first thing to ask was, why did you decide to try-out for the Dance Pak in the first place?

When I was seventeen I wanted to try-out for the Raptors Dance Pak, but I was a year shy of the auditions. Then I went away to school and since I was in Waterloo, I would be unable to commute to the games and practices. It seemed unrealistic. Finally, this summer my mom was getting my hair done at great lengths hair studio in Markham, and she grabbed a flyer that had all the information for the auditions. At first I was a little nervous about going because I hadn’t danced in a couple months and felt out of shape.

As usual my mom wouldn’t take no for an answer, and her enthusiasm got me all motivated and excited. So I decided that this was one of those opportunities that I couldn’t turn down. Plus I was all finished school and this is something that I have wanted to do since I was seventeen! This was my time!

The Dino Blogger has a mother as well and even though she is not a huge basketball fan by any means, she supports me and gives me encouragement. It is great to have the support of family in whatever we do. So with the blessing of mom, Lexi did of course try-out but how did she end up in the spot she did as part of this contest?

During the final round of the auditions five ladies (including myself) were pulled aside by one of the members on the judging panel. His name is Anton, and he is my ‘new’ boss. He told us that we didn’t make the dance pak, however we had a chance too be the very last member added to the pak by entering into this contest. Anton filled us in on the details of the contest, and at first I was a bit hesitant. I really wanted to just be on the ‘dance pak’ without waiting in anticipation, but not everything is always handed to you, and this was a great opportunity I couldn’t pass up!! It was great exposure, and gave me a second chance to be on the team.

I think that involving the fans choice is a great idea. The community gets to feel more connected to the Raptors dancers, and recognize that their opinions/votes are valued.

During that contest a lot of Raptor fans got introduced to all these girls. Through the promotion on Raptors.com, In various Raptor Forums on the Internet and even here at Dino Nation Blog. Lexi had a facebook group that had over a thousand people in it. Obviously people have learned some things about Lexi but I asked her if there was something people didn’t know based on all of this publicity that she wanted people to know?

Well, I drive a 1994 Buick Regal that goes by the name of “Baby-blue.” My loving Grandfather gave it to me as a gift when I went away to University, so I could come home and visit more often. It isn’t the most stylish of cars, but it has a lot of memories and it is very close to my heart. Plus it has an awesome bench seat in the front, so I can fit six people in that puppy, I wouldn’t trade it for the world!

I am a graduate of Sir Wilfrid Laurier University. I have my Honours BA in communications, and a minor in psychology. These were the best four years of my life, and I am most definitely going to pursue more education.

I found out Lexi won on one of the forums I read on a daily basis. I checked on Raptors.com and indeed she was the winner. I am thinking the actual winner will have a much more exciting answer to how she found out?

Anton called me first thing Monday morning and told me the great news! I was completely freaking out and jumping around! I called my mom and dad at work and they started yelling on the phone! It was almost a question if they were more thrilled than I was!! It was probably the most excited I have been in a long time. That feeling of relief, and the anticipation of knowing that I was going to be dancing with Raptors Dance Pak was beyond amazing!!

So you the fans gave Lexi and her family that excitement and her a new job.  So what does she think that job is as a member of the Raptors Dance Pak from her prospective?

My new job entails dancing, performing and entertaining the fans while I am on the court. However, there is much more that it requires since it entails a lot of hard work and dedication. There are two – three practices a week that run for about 2 hours and 30 minutes. During game season, the dancers are doing all the home games and rehearsals. There are also a lot of appearances at charity events, tournaments etc. As a member of the raptors dance pak, you are representing a huge organization. Therefore, I believe that my new job expects me to have the same dedication and respect that all the other employees and athletes have at the ACC. This is a professional job, and like any job that is truly valued you take care of yourself in the position, dedicate your time to the position and prove yourself to be the best employee that you can be.

It has to be pretty cool from a fan’s point of view to work for the Raptors in any form. Lexi is now part of that large group of people make a living thanks to the Toronto Raptors and MLSE. So it is quite an experience to be part of that I am guessing. So, what does Lexi hope to gain from this experience in working for the Raptors?

Throughout my life, different experiences have granted me growth within myself and with others. Dance has always physically and mentally challenged me, strengthening me to become a better person and better dancer by surpassing the obstacles. As a dancer for the Raptors Organization, I hope that I will continue to be presented with new challenges as a dancer, form new relationships/friendships with the dancers, and continue my love and excitement for dance.

Fans have a general understanding of what it takes to be a pro basketball player. The skills and the work that goes into that. I would think for the most part they have no clue in how much work goes into being a dancer or a member of a NBA Dance Pak. So I asked Lexi to explain what goes into that for people that do not know what is takes to do what they do?

From going to the practices, it is very intense. I can sum it up by saying that it is a “cardio-kick butt class” that goes for two and a half hours. All the girls are sweating from head to toe, but you can tell they are loving every minute of it. Practices are two-three times a week, and I think that it becomes even more intense as the season continues. I will keep you updated.

Amberley, the choreographer for the dance pak, works very hard. She is very creative with her choreography and her time and effort is evident in her marvellous works of art. It is underestimated the time it takes to choreograph and create innovative ideas for dances!

Paula Abdul who most know these days from American Idol was once a Laker Girl and did the choreography for the famous dance pack of the Lakers.  It is an example of what this can lead to for people. She would end up getting work with the famous Jackson family and eventually moved on to her own singing career. It is an example of what can come from working with NBA dancers or being one. But one of the things I have noticed is for fans they want to have girls who are not only good at what they do and to be attractive,  but also true fans of the team as well.  So I asked Lexi how she became a fan of Basketball and the Raptors and some of her reasons for loving basketball and her favourite player on the Raptors:

To be honest, I was never really into sports when I was younger. I played basketball in elementary school and soccer but I was so involved in dancing that it was difficult to have time for other things. However, the dance pak was what truly sparked my interest in basketball. When I was seventeen I went to try-out for the dance pak, but since I was a year shy I was unable too. While watching the dance pak, it got me really into basketball and my love for the game continued to grow. I couldn’t believe how exciting the games were, in comparison to other pro-sports.

While going to school, my roommate in first year was a die-hard Raptors fan. She absolutely loved them, and went to several of the games with her boyfriend. She was the one who truly got me hooked on the game. We would all sit around our little TV in residence and watch the games, as she screamed at the TV and made us laugh. But usually by the end of the game, all of us were so into the game that we would 4 inches away from the screen! So overall I think that the dance team was an instant influence on keeping me interested in the game, but as my university life continued my friend/roommate got me seriously hooked!

My favourite player is Chris Bosh, of course. In Chris Bosh, the Toronto fans have seen his progress in working hard and bettering himself over the years. His true leadership skills have come to the surface, ad he is a truly valuable player to the team. His work within the community as well as his foundation, has encouraged so many youths to strive for their goals. He is the new face of the Toronto Raptors, and a great role model for all fans as well as many professional athletes.

I agree with all of the things Lexi said about Chris Bosh. I think he has done a great job in growing into his role ” The Face ” of this franchise.  I also agree that he has done a ton for kids in the Toronto area and community as a whole. The Raptors as a franchise do a lot of work out in the community working with a variety of programs as part of the Raptors Foundation and NBA Cares and Read to Achieve Programs. Is there anything that you(Lexi) are passionate about as far as that aspect of being part of the organization?

I love that the NBA encourages and motivates children/youth to set goals, as well as offering them the facilities to reach them. Going out into the community shows us, the fans, that being in the NBA is not only about the sport; it is about having the opportunity and resources to help others strive for their goals and become a part of the bigger picture in which we all want to live in a healthier/better community. The NBA Cares and Read to Achieve, sets great examples and sends out a message to youths today, that reading/writing is imperative to success. For many of us, reading becomes an unconscious means of our everyday life. However there are many children, youths etc. who cant read, or were never encouraged. This program is designed to be the ‘support’ system, so that they can function in life with confidence, and strive to be the best they can in their future life, such as higher education and work.

It is true, the NBA for their work in New Orleans and the work they and the teams do in every community deserves some respect from us all. I mentioned American Idol when I spoke about Paula Abdul but another popular reality show is “Dancing With the Stars”.  So I asked Lexi what Toronto Raptor current or former would she think she could team up with and turn into a winner?

Mo-Pete. He is one of the coolest characters on the court and seems to always get those wild lucky shots. His sense of humour would definitely make the show a lot of fun to watch as well as his athleticism and dance skills. We have all seen him bust out some moves on the court and you can tell he’s got rhythm. He would be a great partner and definitely make the tough long practices go by much faster.

I have mentioned in this blog how much I love Morris Peterson. I personally have had chance to be around the guy a few times and he is a great guy. He will always be a loved by the fans of the Raptors and myself personally. I have no idea if he could or would win on that show but I do know he would get a lot of support if he did.

Lexi has had some time to get over the excitement of winning her own contest. I was wondering what she most was looking forward to and her biggest fear as well as she gets set for a season on the dance pak?

I am most looking forward to performing at the games. I am so excited to perform to such a large audience, with a group of ladies that have so much energy. Throughout the practices I have realized how much fun everyone has while dancing, and it is great to share the same love and passion as the others. Everyone really feeds off of each other, and I know that once we are all on the court, we are going to have a blast!!

My biggest fear heading into the experience was being able to keep up with the dances. Since the pak was practicing before I joined, they had about five dances plus fourth quarter routines. However, the girls have been very helpful by holding extra-practices, so I am feeling much more comfortable and confident.

Lexi is getting to live out a dream for sure. As part of that dream comes a lot of responsibilities. Charles Barkley made the famous claim once that he is not a role model. It is something that is debated about athletes in general all the time. So, I was wondering if that idea of being a role model is something that applies to girls on the Dance Pak. So I asked Lexi if she considers herself a role model for young ladies and people in general?

YES. I definitely think that anyone in the public eye is a role model for others. The way in which you act, and treat others is very important because it is being monitored at all times. Especially, young girls who look up to the dance pak or look forward to dancing on the pak – they are highly influenced by our presence. The ladies on the team are great role models because they are confident, outgoing, down to earth and good-hearted. Many of the ladies are in college/university or are graduates, and are all very motivated to achieve goals. This is definitely the role that I embrace, however I have always felt like a role model with my younger cousins. They are a huge part of my life, and I have always wanted to set a great example for them, and encourage them to be their best person.

This whole experience has to have been a life changing one for Lexi. The fact she is doing an interview in this blog is a small example of that. When you look at how she became a member of the Raptors Dance Pak and all of the many things that have gone on in her life connected to it in the last several months. So I thought a good way to end this would be to ask about how this entire experience has impacted on her life?

This experience has definitely been life changing. I think that it is really important to have the confidence within yourself and go for the things in life, that are important to you. I know, like many people, I can be discouraged from pursing something that I love because of the fear of failing. I am so thankful that I went to the Raptors Pak auditions, and was given such an amazing opportunity. Overall,this has given me great confidence to never shy away from great opportunities. I am looking forward to a great year!

I want to thank Lexi first and foremost for being kind enough to come talk with the Dino Nation Blog. I was honest and explained how we interviewed someone who was going against her in the contest. But still she was excited and happy to take me up on the chance to connect with Raptor Fans. I admire that and wish her nothing but success and welcome her back to visit anytime she wants to do so. Be it as a reader or guest of the Dino Nation Blog. The women that make up the dance pak are attractive and in general smart young ladies that have a passion for dancing but also for the Toronto Raptors. I can’t dance and do this as my way of connecting with Raptor fans. We all have the same goals in the end, which is to see the Raptors be successful. If that happens more people see Lexi, more people read this blog and Raptor fans are happy to see the team have success.

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Tags: Chris Bosh, Lexi Haslam, Morris Peterson, Raptors Dance Pak, Raptors.com