A Dance and a Dream: Local Women Prepare For Brooklyn Nets Audition

Claire Zcerniuk is ready to show the Nets that she has the all right moves to cheer on Brooklyn's first home team in more than 50 years.

Almost ready, that is. 

Zcerniuk, 22, was one of about 40 women taking advantage of a special training class last week at Crunch Fitness in Fort Greene to prepare for the for its all-new dance team at on June 2.

"I'm so happy to have a chance to get a feel for the audition process," Zcerniuk said before beginning to practice the choreography she and an expected 700 other women will be judged on.

According to Nets entertainment marketing director Kimberlee Garris, the big audition will begin with all of the women performing the same dance moves. If at any point one of the judges taps one of the dancers on the shoulder—that's it, they're out.

The lucky 30 women who make it through to the final round will then have to participate in a training camp the following week.

"It's a big commitment," said Garris, who as a former Knicks City Dancer should know exactly what it takes to represent a pro-basketball team in front of millions on TV and for thousands of cheering fans. 

Crunch will hold one more session of its Nets Dancers Brooklyn Intensive class this Thursday, May 31 from 8:15 p.m. to 10:15 p.m. at 691 Fulton St. Classes are open for intermediate and advance dancers 18 and older.

"We could not be more thrilled to be partnering with the Nets and the Nets dancers in their inaugural year in Brooklyn," said Christina DeGuardi, vice president of marketing at Crunch.