MiamiHeat Dancers

Ever wonder what you miss by watching a basketball game at home instead of live and in person? The MiamiHeat Dancers, for one. The 2005-06 season will be the 18th for the MiamiHeat Dancers, a troupe of talented entertainers who perform during the game, at halftime and during time outs. According to the team's official website, the group has been featured on several television networks, including ESPN, Comedy Central and E!, as well as the TV series "NBA Inside Stuff" and "Casting" (a series on Telemundo). They have also appeared in commercials, magazines and music videos, making them one of the most popular dance troupes in the National Basketball Association. Sure, if you sit at home and watch the game on the tube, you might see a glimpse of the dancers and their choreography, but anyone fortunate enough to purchase tickets to a Heat game will have the unique opportunity to see the ladies perform in all their glory.

The Driving Force Behind The MiamiHeat Dancers

The person who currently acts as the Director and Lead Choreographer of the MiamiHeat Dancers is Janine M. Thompson, a renown dance instructor with a resume full of experience. A former member of the Heat Dancers, Thompson has also worked as the director of the Sol Patrol, a co-ed dance and tumbling group who worked during games of the now-defunct Miami Sol WNBA women's basketball franchise. In addition, Thompson serves as co-Director and Choreographer for the dance team at her alma mater, the University of Miami's Sunsations. Thompson, who took over the reigns of the MiamiHeat Dancers in 2002, is also an instructor with Dancenet Fitness, an online dancing and fitness resource. Music fans may also recognize her from appearances in several music videos, including Gloria Estefan’s "Don’t Let This Moment End" and Will Smith’s "Miami." Under her tutelage, the Heat Dancers have become one of the most popular performing groups in all of professional sports.