Pelicans Dancer Tramera

Pelicans Dancer Tramera (photo courtesy of Pelicans)

Pelicans Dancer Tramera will draw you in.

To be an NBA dancer of course means a great smile and insanely good dance moves. But it takes a lot more to snag one of these coveted spots, especially to be a member of the Pelicans Dance Team.

To prove just how versatile (and amazing) these women are, we profiled Tramera – a fourth-year co-captain for the Pelicans Dance Team, and found out some pretty cool things about her and her team. For example? Tramera admits that the locker room is a dance party before every home game (for the dancers–we’re not certain what it looks like for the players–but you never know).

Check out our exclusive Q&A with Tramera, a series on The Blonde Side brought to you by Ideal Protein Houston.

Man Cave Daily: Where are you from?

Tramera: Boutte, LA.

MCD: Years on team?

T: This is my fourth year on the Pelicans Dance Team. I actually made the team the first time I auditioned. It shocked me because I wasn’t expecting to make the team, but I was the final dancer chosen. It has been the best opportunity! I’ve had the chance to be a part of a really great organization.

MCD: Tell me about your dance background?

T: I started dancing when I was two years old. As soon as I was able to walk, I started taking dance classes. It wasn’t so glamorous at that time and I cried my eyes out every single practice and refused to dance. My dance teacher was worried that I wouldn’t know the routine by the time the recital came around, but I knew the dance perfectly, as if I was practicing every time we were in the studio. As the years have passed, I’ve taken classes from top-name choreographers such as Tyce Diorio, Wade Robson, Tabitha and Napoleon and Frank Hatchett. I owe a lot of the dancer I am today to those instructors and wouldn’t change a thing.

MCD: Hardest part about being an NBA dancer?

T: The numerous routines we have to remember. We learn a significant amount before the season starts, but it could be a couple of weeks before we perform that routine. We have to make sure we keep every dance fresh in our head to make sure we know them when that time comes.

MCD: Have you ever gone onto the court and forgotten your routine?

T: This is funny because I actually have forgotten a part of a routine, but not the entire thing. The only thing I could do was just jump in place until I caught back on track and hoped no one noticed. I definitely laughed at myself afterwards.

MCD: Favorite NBA player?

T: My favorite player would have to be our very own Anthony Davis. I’ve seen his transformation from being the number one draft pick a few years ago to dominating the game every time he plays, so it’s hard not to chose him. He’s still young, and I can’t wait to see what he can achieve and accomplish in years to come.

MCD: What’s the best part about basketball?

T: The energy our fans bring to every game. Their enthusiasm is contagious and inspires us to be energetic every single game. So, thank you, Pelicans fans!

MCD: What’s the coolest part of Smoothie King Center?

T: I think coolest part would have to be our locker room. Every game is like a dance party before we take the court. We have our music playing loudly and we get to enjoy “girl time” before we entertain thousands of fans every game.

MCD: If you had a Real Housewives intro, what would yours be?

Tramera celebrates Mardi Gras on court for the Pelicans (photo via Pelicans)

T: It would have to be “Don’t let this cute face fool you, I’m like a hot tamale!” I am sweet, but I can be feisty!

MCD: Favorite music to dance to?

T: Anything upbeat. If it’s a song by Nicki Minaj or Beyonce, you will definitely catch me dancing like no one’s watching. Two songs that they collaborated on –”Flawless” and “Feelin’ Myself”–are two of my favorite songs of all time.

MCD: What song instantly puts you in a good mood?

T: “Bend Ova” by Lil Jon and Tyga. The intensity of the song and beats just get me going. I could be having the worst day and this song can come on and I’m instantly in a better mood. You can’t help but dance and groove to it.

MCD: Dream vacation?

T: Spending a week in Greece with Khloe Kardashian. You might ask why I would chose her to go on a vacation with her of all people, but I know I would not have a dull moment with her. She’s a no-nonsense type of person but still has a goofy personality.

MCD: Fan of selfies?

T: I am a HUGE fan of selfies. The keys are lighting and positioning. Your body has to be at the right angle to where you partially see the outfit without showing too much because then it’ll take the attention away from your face (which you don’t want). The perfect lighting will make your skin glow and look flawless.

MCD: Favorite thing about New Orleans?

T: Our extensive list of festivals. We have festivals for just about anything, such as Crawfish Festival, Jazz and Heritage Festival, Oyster Festival, French Quarter Festival, just to name a few. At each festival, some of the best restaurants come out and serve mouth-watering dishes that will have you taking a trip to the restaurant to see what other delicious meals they have to offer. If you haven’t experienced a festival in New Orleans, you should come and see the great food and music New Orleans has to offer.

MCD: App you use the most?

T: The app that I use the most is of course, Instagram. I just like scrolling down my timeline and seeing what my friends post. Sometimes they post beautiful pictures of scenery or cute selfies.

MCD: If you could go to dinner with any celebrity/athlete in the world, who would it be and why?

T: It would have to be Sandra Bullock. She was in a New Orleans Mardi Gras parade when I was a young girl and threw me a stuffed alligator (which I still have to this day). She is one of my favorite actresses and seems like a down-to-earth person.

MCD: Tell me something people would find completely out of character?

T: Something people might not know is that I love to draw. I can sit for hours and just freehand so many different pictures that might pop-up in my head. When I’m not dancing, you can find me drawing.

A huge thanks to Tramera for giving us an exclusive interview and a big thanks to Ideal Protein Houston for sponsoring this NBA Dance series to learn more about the hard-work these ladies put into their love for dancing.

Ideal Protein is a medically developed protocol only available from qualified professionals. Ideal Protein provides one-on-one weight loss coaching including educational support and weekly weight and body measurements analysis. Check out Ideal Protein’s website (link above) to learn more about their health and management offerings for weight loss.

Click here to see the original article of Tramera from the Pelicans on CBS Man Cave Daily.