Dancers replaced by coed ‘hype team’

They were there for all five of the San Antonio Spurs’ NBA championship runs, dancing in the aisles, performing during halftimes, trying to liven up the crowd. From the early days of David Robinson, the Silver Dancers were part of the Spurs’ game day experience for more than a quarter-century.

But the Silver Dancers are apparently done. The team is reportedly eliminating its longtime dance team, replacing it next season with a 35-member “family-friendly” coed “hype team” that will feature tumbling and acrobatics. While the Spurs haven’t linked the decision to recent headlines, it comes in the wake of a series of high-profile complaints and lawsuits involving NFL cheerleaders. The Spurs have faced no such public criticisms. The team announced the new “hype team” last week, but made no formal announcement about the fate of the dance squad, which has roots going back to the 1992 season. ESPN San Antonio reported that the Silver Dancers were eliminated “due to lack of fan interest.”

Several current and former members of the dance team confirmed the news on Twitter, many expressing skepticism, confusion or anger over the stated reasoning behind the move. Alexis Flores, a member of the squad, said she received an email Friday at 3 p.m., announcing that a meeting would be held three hours later. That night, Flores and her teammates received phone calls informing them that the Silver Dancers were finished.

Melissa Schoonover, a former Silver Dancer, wrote on Facebook that she felt “devastated and helpless” after the news.

“I know there are better, more productive ways to handle this, but … I will not stay quiet about this,” she wrote. “Professional dancers and cheerleaders are an ASSET to communities and professional dance organizations around the WORLD.”

The Silver Dancers disappeared off Instagram, Twitter and the team’s official site — “as if the team never existed after 26 years!” Flores wrote in a text message.