Jennifer P., a name given to her by a family of dancers, began busting moves in elementary school. She continued through high school and when she arrived at Auburn University she tried out for the Tiger Paws dance team.
She was cut in one of the first rounds.
Jennifer didn't let this small rejection get to her and her persistence paid off. Today she cheers for the Atlanta Hawks and has served as the team captain for two years.
Jennifer graduated from Auburn in 2010 with a degree in political science. After being rejected in the Tiger Paws audition she turned to AU Rhythm. She was welcomed with open arms and that's where she stayed all four years of college.
"AU Rhythm had a huge impact on my life and some of those dancers are still my closest friends," Jennifer said.
Jennifer said her favorite music to dance to is hip-hop, but she is always pushing herself out of her comfort zone. She found her love for hip-hop with AU Rhythm, but lately she has been trying ballet and jazz.
While at Auburn she found herself involved in the High School Leadership Program her junior year. She said the experiences she shared with the youth made her time in college far more rewarding.
After receiving her degree, Jennifer was hired into quality management in California. She said it was her first real-world job and it was a big one. Working for the government full-time in California didn't stop her from wanting to dance.
Her passion for dance outweighed any chance of a 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. lifestyle. Despite her hectic schedule with work, she auditioned for the San Jose SaberCats. Jennifer danced for two seasons and served as co-captain.
From there she kept moving, on the lookout for other opportunities which lead her to the NBA. She auditioned and performed with the Golden State Warriors for one season. Being apart of the NBA was an experience to remember, she said.
Just as Jennifer began to really settle in, her job transferred her back to the South. While she does miss living in a larger city, Jennifer said she really appreciates Atlanta. Originally from Birmingham, she was happy to move back to the area. Atlanta was next for her and dance connections got her an audition with the Hawks.
Four years later, Jennifer is still dancing for the Hawks and is one of the team's All-Star Representatives.
"The thrill of dancing in front of thousands of fans as they smile at you," Jennifer said. "It's not something I can easily describe."
With all the thrill, comes the hardships and challenges. Jennifer said time management is the biggest struggle for her. She works a full-time job on top of dancing, which she said is also a full-time commitment.
"Sometimes you just have to get on the floor and do what you have to do," Jennifer said.
With this season being her fifth, she is halfway to the record season number of 10 consecutive seasons with the Hawks. Being a leader on the team has it's ups and downs, Jennifer said.
"If I come in with a bad mood, others will pick up on that and it affects the whole group," Jennifer said.
She said she tries to come in on time, have a good attitude and always work to be the best role model for the team.
The team, Jennifer said, has become a family to her. She said they all hold special spots in her heart as lifelong friends.
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