Laker Girls facts for kids

The Laker Girls performing during a time out.

The Laker Girls are a famous dance team. They cheer for the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team. You can see them perform at home games. They also appear at many other events.

History of the Laker Girls

The Laker Girls were started in 1979. Jerry Buss owned the Lakers team then. He wanted basketball games to be more fun. He thought the games were a bit boring. So, he decided to add dancers. This was part of his idea called "Showtime". It made the games more exciting.

What the Laker Girls Do

The Laker Girls are a semi-professional team. This means many members have other jobs. They might be dancers, waitresses, or even university professors. They usually perform about 30 dance routines each season. They also represent the Lakers team. They help promote female empowerment in Los Angeles.

How to Become a Laker Girl

Auditions for the Laker Girls happen every July. Even current members must try out again. Each person auditioning needs to bring a resume. They also prepare their own dance routine. They learn two new routines to perform. Judges look for great dance skills. Personality, style, and teamwork are also important.

Famous Laker Girls

Being a Laker Girl can lead to other opportunities. One very famous former Laker Girl is Paula Abdul. She was discovered by The Jacksons. They hired her to choreograph their music video "Torture". This led to her choreographing their Victory Tour. She also worked on many other music videos. Paula Abdul's success made being a Laker Girl even more special.

A TV movie about the Laker Girls came out in 1990. It was called Laker Girls. It starred Tina Yothers and Alexandra Paul. The movie showed the story of three friends trying to join the team.

Notable Former Cheerleaders

• Paula Abdul
• Lisa Joann Thompson (choreographer)
• Tina Landon (choreographer)
• Emily Harper (actress)
• Moon Bloodgood (actress)
• Vanessa Curry (dancer)
• Taylour Paige (dancer)
• Carmella (wrestler)
• Natasha Martinez (TV host)
• Shelby Rabara (actress)
• Anne Fletcher (actress, director)