Power Dancers to electrify Manila

The summer heat is bound to sizzle even more as the Houston Rockets’ dance squad, called the Power Dancers, struts its wares during the NBA (National Basketball Association) Madness here on June 2-5.

Six of the Power Dancers’ cast of 22 bombshells are flying in to show local fans why they’re considered the hottest cheering crew in the majors.

NBA Asia’s managing director for Asia-Pacific Phil Hayes-Brown said the Power Dancers’ arrival will spice up the fifth anniversary of the annual Madness extravaganza, the interactive basketball lifestyle show in theme park form for fans of all ages. This year’s edition is the biggest since the NBA introduced the Madness concept here with the launch of the NBA 2Ball in 2000. It will be staged on over 30,000 square feet of outdoor space surrounding the Araneta Coliseum.

At least 120,000 fans visited and participated in the Madness event the last four years. A mammoth crowd is expected to show up for this year’s event and witness the performance of the Power Dancers.

Aside from the Power Dancers, the NBA is also bringing in Los Angeles Lakers forward Luke Walton and Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard as the Madness’ special guests.

The Power Dancers are the rage in the NBA. The spirited and enthusiastic group performs explosive tumbling and creative high-energy dance routines during the Rockets home games.

Making their NBA debut in 1994-95, the Power Dancers are known for their flashy costumes that punctuate their fast-paced act, drop-dead good looks and stunning vital statistics. They also perform at school rallies, youth basketball clinics and charity fund-raisers as the Rockets’ ambassadors of goodwill. They often join the Rockets players, coaches and business executives in promotional tours.

Last February, the Power Dancers created a stir when they put on full-retro attire for the Rockets’ Sunday game against the visiting Los Angeles Lakers. They danced to the beat of the Jimmy Buffet song "Volcano" and wore grass skirts, leis and bikini tops on the court. The Power Dancers also performed another routine wearing specially-designed throwback jerseys for the Hardwood Classic game.

NBA Asia marketing manager Carlo Singson, who’s organizing the Madness show, said the Power Dancers were a huge hit in their first Asian tour in China last year. He arranged for the Golden State Warrior Girls and the Laker Girls to visit Manila in past Madness events and said the Power Dancers will be as explosive, if not more.

The six Power Dancers coming to town are D’Anne Amos, Susie Boudwin, Alawan Payne, Courtney Young, Lexie Mason and Amaris Davidson.

Amos, 28, is from College Station, Texas, and has been on the team for six years. She’s partial to ballet as her favorite style of dance.

Boudwin, 29, is an organizational development consultant on her seventh year as a Power Dancer. Like Amos, her favorite Rockets player is Yao Ming. She hopes to earn a doctorate, raise a family and publish a book or sell a painting as her long-term goals.

Payne, 20, is the group’s "baby." A Power Dancer sophomore, she is a student at Lamar University and likes to dance to jazz music. She is from Crosby, Texas.

Young, 23, is a recent Northwestern State graduate where she earned an arts degree in professional dance. A second-year Power Dancer like Payne, she plans to pursue an acting career. Her ambitions include to own a dance studio, design and produce her own dancewear line and start a family. She likes contemporary jazz but classical ballet and hip-hop are also high in her list. Her favorite Rockets player is Tracy McGrady.

Mason, 21, is an accounting student and a Power Dancers rookie. As for her ambitions, the Houston native said she plans to be involved in sales because "I’m a people person" and do charity work for children. She likes jazz and stylized dancing because "they bring out of my personality."

Davidson, 23, is from Leesville, Louisiana, like Young. A student, she dreams of someday winning an Oscar, recording a top-selling album and starting a clothing line and modeling agency. Her favorite style of dance is hip-hop and she’s a big Yao Ming fan.

When the Power Dancers do their thing, expect a surge in electricity. They perform with a guarantee of no power outage.