Student goes from classroom to courtside as Mavericks Dancer
TCU student Victoria Talbot has an all-access pass many don’t have, as she is a member of the Mavs dancers.
By Danny Gillham
Sports Editor

There are not many individuals who have the opportunity to get on the court for a Dallas Mavericks’ game at the American Airlines Center, but Victoria Talbot is one of those who gets the chance.

A junior fashion merchandising and marketing major at TCU, originally from London, Talbot is entering her first season as a member of the Dallas Maverick Dancers.
Talbot said the opportunity was one that fell into her lap.

“I used to do promotional modeling, and did promotions for ESPN (103.3 FM),” Talbot said. “The Mavericks were in the playoffs last year, and I was working a game for ESPN. We were throwing out T-shirts to the crowd and things like that.”

Talbot said she was approached by the directors of the squad, who informed her and a few other girls about tryouts for the Mavs Dancers in July.

After getting the money together for the application fee and a costume, plus taking a class to prepare, Talbot said she competed against about 370 other women for one of the 16 spots.

Dawn Holgate, corporate communications manager for the Mavericks, said besides the routines they perform at home games, the team makes appearances at promotions and birthdays, sign autographs and holds a clinic for young girls once a year in which they perform with the squad at halftime of a game.

The women even posed for the first ever Mavs Dancer Calendar, where Talbot can be found as Miss April.

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has no qualms about promoting his team. He welcomed the Mavs ManiAACs (the overweight male version of the Mavs dancers) and worked at a Coppell Dairy Queen as a promotional stunt.

“People come to Mavs games to have fun, and we think the Mavs Dancers add to the excitement and electricity in the arena,” Cuban said in an e-mail.

Talbot said many of the women who tryout do it because they are fans, but it is not the case with her.

“I’ve never watched sports in my life,” Talbot said. “Some of these (women) start in December and do it all the way to July just to make the (team). I could care less about the sport.”

Talbot’s lack of interest was apparent when she described her encounter with Mavericks’ All-star point guard Steve Nash.

“He came down to the practice courts and introduced himself to us, and many of the (women) were all excited,” Talbot said. “It was cool and all, but I wasn’t in a frenzy. I’ve seen him on billboards and everyone talks about him, so I guess he’s pretty good.”

Talbot said despite her lack of enthusiasm for the game, she still loves being a member of the team.

“It’s so much fun,” Talbot said. “The prestige of it is pretty cool, and everything that comes along with it. Sports fans are always really fired up, and they’re so much fun.”

d.r.gillham@tcu.edu