Television personality and AZfoothills.com columnist Nadine Toren is scouring the area, finding savvy Valley features, bringing readers “on the scene.” Every day she’ll introduce you to celebrities, athletes, and give you an inside look into local events and hot spots. She'll touch on topical issues, and keep AZ fans posted on all the big talkers around town.
She's the new bombshell spearheading the Suns Dance Team. Get to know the lovely lady now calling the Valley home.
She’s dead center in the above photo, boasting an A-list athletically toned bod. However, the former Suns dancer is only 5’2, but Teresa McAuliffe’s height didn’t stop her from starring in an array of shows on the Las Vegas strip.“Vegas is all about tall and beautiful. I might be short, but I’m very determined,” said Teresa McAuliffe, dancing extraordinaire.
Yes, McAuliffe spent years dancing in must-see magic, Cirque, and impersonator shows, but the brown-eyed bombshell has, once again, ditched Sin City for Phoenix.
“I’m so happy to be here,” said McAuliffe.
Meet your new Suns Dancing Director, 28 year old Teresa McAuliffe. She’s in charge of the 18 lovely ladies strutting their stuff during this upcoming season’s Suns’ games. And our new Valley girl comes with quite a resume.
“I’ve been dancing all my life, ever since I was 3 years old.”
McAuliffe grew up in New Jersey, spending summers training at dance academies in New York. And all that discipline paid off. After high school, McAuliffe moved out west, making herself quite comfy as a University of Las Vegas Hotel Management Major. By day, McAuliffe was a studious school girl, but by night, she transformed into a Vegas showgirl.
“I started at The Rio in, ‘Show of the Sky.’ I also did a lot of magic shows—that was fun.”
And chances are, years ago, you could have caught McAuliffe in “Folies Bergere,” Tropicana’s premiere French-style performance.
At 18 years old, the ambitious young woman was living her dream, and figured she’d throw her dice at Broadway. So McAuliffe moved to NYC, hoping to make it big time. But the stars clearly had another plan for the tiny dancer…Miami.
“I had a great opportunity with a major dance company, so I moved to Florida. But the hurricane hit and destroyed the theatre.”
Obviously she wasn’t meant for Miami either. And so she returned to Sin City.
“I traveled the world dancing with Vegas-based shows. It was fun; unstable, but I loved every bit of it.”
After dancing in a number of different states and countries, McAuliffe pursued a perfect combination of sports and dance. The self-proclaimed guy’s girl tried out for the Suns Dance Team in 2009, and ended up scoring a part center-stage.
“I loved it.”
Her season spent as a Suns Dancer was one she’ll never forget, but one year was enough for the maturing young woman. Once again, McAuliffe moved to Vegas, landing a spot in a big Bellagio show.
But then she really got her dream job.
“I saw the Suns Dancing Director position posted, and I knew I had to get it.”
And she did.
McAuliffe moved to Ahwatukee about a month ago, and it’s been a whirlwind since. She already held team auditions and chose the group of girls who now make up the Suns Dancers. She’ll lead 3-4 hour practices 2-3 times a week, and hopes to add some sass to the choreographed performances.
“I come from a lot of experience, so I hope to be a great mentor to these young ladies.”
And guys—she’s single…but picky! Her career comes first, so any man who wins McAuliffe’s heart must accept her profession. However, when she’s NOT at work, you can often find McAuliffe hanging out at home, hiking Camelback, or going somewhere sophisticated in Scottsdale.
But you’ll find it tough to squeeze into this girl’s schedule—McAuliffe is on the fast-track, bringing some serious star-power to this season’s Suns Dancers.
“They’ll be great. Just wait and see.”
