MLB has a piece on last week’s auditions for the Florida Marlins’ dance team, the Mermaids:
The tryouts are essentially Spring Training for the group. The participants were introduced to various dance moves as they showcased themselves in hopes of being among the 20-25 who ultimately will be selected.
With Bachman-Turner Overdrive’s smash hit “Takin’ Care of Business” blaring, Mermaids choreographer and coordinator Jose Guerrero took the hopefuls through a number of standard dance moves.
“This squad has come a long way. It started out as a promotions team. Now they are pretty much a dance team,” Guerrero said. “They also are hosts during a game. It’s not just dancers, not just pretty girls, but well-rounded talent. They are doing a little bit of everything. They can dance, speak well [in public], and look good.”
The Marlins introduced the Mermaids as the Major Leagues’ first dance team back in 2003. They are an integral part of the franchise’s promotional efforts, along with being involved in charitable efforts, such as visiting schools and hospitals.
“The girls are ambassadors for this organization,” Guerrero said. “Besides that, we are heavily involved in charities. They also do a lot of community events, as well as reading to children.”
We get the point. But check the photo gallery that accompanies the story; it contains about 8 or 9 photos of spandex-clad dancers going through the motions, before ending with this gem:
See the caption? It’s a panel, helping to decide which girls have the right stuff! Totally official and legit!
Also, if we had a time machine, god knows one of the first places we’d punch up is this 2005 Florida Marlins promotion: Josh Beckett Rapala Fishing Lure Night.
