In the summer of 2021, Hayoung Roh auditioned for the Knicks City Dancers on a whim — and made it. After a year with that team, she moved on to the Brooklynettes Dancers, the official dance team for the Brooklyn Nets. She is now in her second season dancing with the Brooklynettes and her first as co-captain.
Roh’s dancing, whether on stage or on the court, exudes sincerity and effervescence. She has tried everything from commercial work overseas (“Destiny”, a local show at the MGM Cotai Resort in Macau), to backup dancing for Kylie Minogue, to dancing with Jessica Chen’s J CHEN PROJECT and Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company in New York. Her Brooklynettes experience is fulfilling in new ways. “Being a part of the environment that our coaches created was such a blessing,” she says. “From the moment I auditioned, I knew I was in good hands.”
On the helm:
“As assistant captain of the Brooklynettes, I try to give myself grace and hold myself accountable at the same time. In this role, it is important to develop personal relationships with the dancers. I’m even taking a leadership training course to consistently put my best foot forward and help lead this group of amazing women.”
Second action:
“Being at an age where my body is no longer able to perform physically, I would like to immerse myself in dance therapy. My younger brother is on the spectrum and I have seen how movement is so innate to him. We’ve gone to BTS concerts together and the music fills his body – his smile at those moments is unreal. I saw how powerful music and dance can be, whether someone is neurodivergent or neurotypical, and I really want to explore that one day to help different communities.”
New Perspectives:
Pursuing a BA in Dance at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts challenged the ways I approach dance. In addition to many genres of dance, the program offered classes in anatomy and music theory—courses that complemented my dance education and helped me become a well-rounded artist. It set me up for success.”