The mindset behind 407 Orlando Magic NBA Dancer and former member of Memphis Pom - Kinsey Hughey
Being authentic with her passions, learning her limits, and understanding the true ingredients to a healthy dance career.
For this week’s edition of MTP we are exclusively featuring…
Kinsey Hughey — Current 407 Orlando Magic NBA Dancer and Former Member of Memphis Pom
1. Give us your background and how you got to where you are today.
Ever since I can remember, I’ve been a dancer. From my earliest memory, I started out dancing at the age of three in the nutcracker as a little mouse at The Dance Centre of Oak Ridge.
I then transferred to the Oak Ridge Academy of Dance where I danced until I was 18 years old. I studied in multiple genres of dances, ballet, pointe, lyrical, jazz, and hip hop. I started student teaching around the age of 13. That is where I grew my love of teaching. I continued to student teach until I was a senior in high school.
After graduation from high school, I wanted to pursue my dream of making the University of Memphis dance team. I tried out Mother’s Day weekend in 2014. I made the dance team, but I unfortunately didn’t get into the University. I was upset, but knew it was just a part of my journey. I worked hard in school and continued to train in dance the year of ‘14-‘15. At the end of the spring semester, I reapplied for The University of Memphis.
That year my dreams came true and I made the dance team as well as getting into the school. I danced for the Memphis Pom Team for 5 years and 2 of those years as captain. The dance team came with many opportunities as in participating in Game Day for ESPN, traveling to New York with our Men’s Basketball team, dancing in the Cotton bowl at the AT&T Stadium and many more.
After finishing my 5 year college dance team career, I knew I wanted to continue my dance career dancing for a professional NBA dance team. I decided to moved to Orlando to tryout for the 407 Orlando Magic Dancers. I moved into my new place the 1st of August and tried out for the dance team the 14th of August. With a two-day tryout process and a couple days of deliberation from the judges, I was selected out 46 finalists to be a part of the NBA dance team.
I trained and danced with the 407 for the 21-22 season for the Orlando Magic. I’m currently residing in Orlando taking on new dance opportunities.
2. What sources of rehabilitation do you utilize before and after dancing?
Understanding that my body isn’t getting younger makes me want to take care of my mental and physical health.
To help both of those, I make sure to stay in good physical health by weight training. I enjoy gaining muscle strength because I do a lot of cardio in practice and on game days.
As for mental health, I make sure to journal my thoughts as well as speak to close family members to help ground myself. Those are the mains things I practice for good rehabilitation to be able to perform.
3. Have you ever had an injury that has prevented you from dancing? If so, please tell us how you recovered, and if not, please tell us how you are able to stay healthy and able-bodied.
I had some minor injuries here and there throughout my high school and college dance career, but nothing career breaking — which I am very thankful for. I believe I have been this lucky because I constantly try to practice perfect technique as well as knowing my limits.
I love to learn new things, but I also understand what my weaknesses and strengths are. I tend to push my strengths even more than my weakness which has helped me stay away from injuries.
4. Having performed different styles and on different teams, how has your outlook on the sport evolved over the years?
Being on multiple different teams has taught me that dance is a never ending lesson. There is always a new move, style, genre that could be embraced. Dance is continuously evolving so to stay current you, as a dancer, have to continuously take classes and gain knowledge of ongoing dance styles.
HUGE thank you to Kinsey for taking time out of her busy schedule to share with the MTP fam! I hope this interview inspires you to be authentic with your passions, learn your own limits, and understand the true ingredients to a healthy dance career. I am so proud of you, Kins!
This week’s interview piggy-backs off of last week’s topic: “ROUTINE MAINTENANCE"
Read and click on the link below for more in case you missed it! ;)
