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NLL GIRL OF THE WEEK - ALYSSA

Sparks dancer Alyssa says Mitch Belisle is her favorite player

02/16/2010

The newest NLL Girl of the Week, Alyssa, hails from Roslindale, MA and is thrilled to be representing the Boston Blazers and the Sparks Dance Team. One day, this NLL dancer aspires to be a nutritionist and counselor at a dance studio and for now works as an administrative assistant for an investment firm while pursuing her love of dance.

Alyssa graduated from Dean College with a B.A. in dance and a minor in business management. Her love for dance started at the age of four with a dance role as one of Cinderella's mice, complete with furry leotard and pink ears and she has not stopped dancing since. Her formal training includes ballet and jazz at various studios, including the New England Dance Conservatory, and has expanded to contemporary, modern, hip hop and tap styles.

She has come a long way since her debut as a dancer and has also worked on various choreography, direction and production projects. Her professional dance experience includes the Blazers' dance team, the Sparks, as well as Enigmatic Contemporary Company and Unyted Stylz, a Boston based hip hop group. Alyssa was also a finalist in the 2009 Boston Celtics Dance Team auditions.

Although she is no stranger to dance, this is Alyssa's first year on the Sparks and her favorite player is defenseman Mitch Belisle. She thinks the Sparks are "an amazing and talented group of women," but her favorite part of cheering on the Blazers is the energy from the fans.

"No matter how many times I've performed, I always get really nervous right before we go out. But once we run out onto the field and hear people cheering, the nerves just disappear and we have a blast!"

Alyssa describes herself as quirky and says her perfect day would include hanging out with family, talking or watching movies and eating "an obscene amount of junk food." She has great family values and attributes her success to having a great family as her role models.

"They have instilled an incredible set of values in me and have never failed to support me."

Don't let her sweet looks deceive you, though. Alyssa says that people might see her as a nice, quiet girl who loves to laugh, but those who know her well may likely say she's "a little crazy."

She also has a few pet peeves.

"There are few things that scare me more than people that run across the street when a car is coming, especially at night. I also can't stand people with narrow minds that take life too seriously!"

While Alyssa has traveled the country - 19 states - and the world - eight foreign countries - home is where the heart is and when asked for her summary on the Blazers organization, she replied with "Boston Rocks!"

The Sparks can attest that Alyssa's lively and fun personality has been a great addition to the team and helps keep the Sparks smiling on and off the field. Check out more from the Sparks here.