Interview for Suns auditions

The Pussycat Dolls certainly know how to move on the dance floor — but how about the basketball court? That question will be answered this Saturday when Ashley Roberts of the multi-platinum pop group returns to her childhood home to choreograph routines during tryouts for the Phoenix Suns Dance Team this Saturday.

“I choreographed a lot growing up, but with Dolls I haven't in a while,” says Roberts in a phone interview from her home in California. “I'm excited to get out there and do it again. [The routines] are going to be a little different, a little more current.”

The guest appearance will mark the first time the Suns have ever brought in an outside choreographer of Roberts' level, says Kari Harrick, the new dance team director. “This is a big stepping stone for us,” Harrick says. “The Pussycat Dolls are huge in the dance community because of what they do and the routines they have. We're hoping this will generate more interest in the team and what we're doing.”

With only 16 slots available for the approximately 200-300 dancers who show up for tryouts, the competition will be fierce — especially with what Roberts has in mind. “Kari and I are doing a collaborative effort on the routine. It will have more technique [than in previous years], but with a hip-hop base,” Roberts says. “Dance teams have a different style than what the Dolls do. We're going to do something more stylized, more technique to it, less cheerleader.”

As of now, Roberts' involvement with the dance team will be a one-off gig, though she keeps the door open to the future. “I hope to come back during the season and watch the performances to see how they're doing,” Roberts says. “And Kari and I will stay in touch and play it by ear year to year to see if my schedule will let me do this again. But I'm just excited to do this and hopefully it's a huge start to something.”