The Cool Kids
Yes, they’re cute. But the Brooklyn Nets Kids, who perform at Nets basketball games throughout the year, are so much more. Many of these little ones, who range in age from 6 to 13, have resumés full-grown dancers would covet. And all of them have the kind of charisma that can’t be taught.
“These kids keep me cool,” says Tanisha Scott, who coaches and choreographs for the BNK. “Dance-wise, they’re just as good as the adults—because they’re already going to conferences and workshops and doing music videos. They know anything and everything about the dance scene.” —Margaret Fuhrer
(Photo by Erin Baiano)
Alex Rubiano
Age
: 11
Hometown
: Manalapan, NJ
Favorite thing about being a BNK
: “The fans! And the fact that I get to dance on the actual court.”
Dream job
: “I either want to be a Harlem Globetrotter—because they dance and play basketball—or a cool choreographer, like Ian Eastwood and Will ‘WilldaBeast’ Adams.” (Alex is one of WilldaBeast’s LilBeasts.)
(Photo by Erin Baiano)
Fiona Krkuti
Age
: 10
Hometown
: Manalapan, NJ
Favorite thing about being a BNK
: “When the fans cheer for you. It makes you feel so good inside!”
Coolest moment as a BNK
: “We were on ‘LIVE with Kelly and Michael’—and then a few days later, Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan came to the game and danced right in front of us. Their moves were pretty good.”
(Photo by Erin Baiano)
Devin Neal
Age
: 11
Hometown
: West Orange, NJ
Favorite thing about being a BNK
: “I love getting the crowd amped up.”
Signature moves
: “I’m also a gymnast, so I get really happy when we do lots of flips on the court. I like to do back tucks and one-handed stuff.”
(Photo by Erin Baiano)
Mario Braxton Jr.
Age
: 12
Hometown
: Shirley, NY
Favorite thing about being a BNK
: “Doing special appearances—like being in Dance Spirit!”
Dream job
: “Right now, I’m part of a crew called Childz Play, and when I grow up, I want to be a professional b-boy, like B-Boy Gravity or B-Boy Morris.”
(Photo by Erin Baiano)
Serena Quadrato
Age
: 10
Hometown
: Staten Island, NY
Favorite thing about being a BNK
: “Dancing center court with all the fans cheering you on. It’s just an amazing experience, having a blast out there with your friends.”
Coolest person she’s ever danced with
: President Barack Obama. “I danced backup for Mariah Carey at the White House Christmas tree lighting—and I ended up getting to dance with the President!
(Photo by Erin Baiano)
Frankie Signorelli
Age
: 12
Hometown
: Staten Island, NY
Favorite thing about being a BNK
: “You feel like a celebrity out there. Sometimes you’re dancing for celebrities, too.”
Coolest moment as a BNK
: “At one game, Jay-Z and Beyoncé were there—and we did a dance to Jay-Z’s ‘Hard Knock Life’! They were both laughing and having a good time. Jay-Z gave us a standing ovation.”
