The Brooklynettes' Asha Singh on Her Idols, Fave Dance Movies, and Dance Bag Essentials
Veteran Brooklynettes dancer Asha Singh knows what it takes to get a crowd pumped: This NBA season marks her fifth year on the squad. And as team captain, she’s also well-versed in the art of keeping a team looking picture-perfect. An Overland Park, KS, native, she trained in ballet, modern, jazz, hip hop, and tap as a child, and later majored in dance at the University of Missouri. Since then, she’s danced with music legends, including Beyoncé and Alicia Keys, and performed in commercials for big brands like ESPN and T-Mobile. Catch her courtside cheering on the Brooklyn Nets—and read on for The Dirt.
What’s your most-watched TV show?
I can’t just say one! So I’ll list my top 5.
1. “Law & Order: SVU”
2. “NCIS”
3. “Stranger Things”
4. “Rick and Morty”
5. “Bob’s Burgers”
What’s your favorite dance movie?
Definitely, without a doubt, Center Stage! I mean, how epic was that 2-second costume AND hair change into cornrows/red lipstick/red pointe shoes at the final showcase? Nothing else will compare.
What would you be if you weren’t a dancer?
I would have probably ended up being a lawyer or doctor.
What’s one food you can’t live without?
Indian food. I’m half Indian, so I need to eat Indian food at least 2 to 3 times a week.
What’s your advice for young dancers?
Focus on your technique! Whether it’s ballet, tap, jazz, or hip hop, make sure you’re executing it properly. I know we all want to take the most popular advanced class and then post us killing it on social media. But none of that matters unless your leg is up and your hip is down. Your favorite choreographers and dancers took the time to train the right way.
If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
I would go back to Cape Town, South Africa. I’ve been once before, but it’s a place I could go over and over again.
What’s the last thing you do before you go to bed?
I have to play a few rounds of Candy Crush Soda Saga.
Singh (photo by Rhea Nail, courtesy the Brooklynettes)
What dance thing can you not live without?
A really good rehearsal sneaker with ankle support. Since we do a lot of high-energy choreography on the Brooklynettes, it’s important to have quality rehearsal shoes.
What did you want to be when you were a kid?
An astronaut.
What’s your go-to stress reliever?
I would definitely say ordering Indian food from one of my favorite Brooklyn spots. Eating cuisine that I grew up with gets me centered and calms my brain down.
What dancer or performer would you drop everything to go see?
If he were still alive, Michael Jackson. He had the best productions, hands down.
A version of this story appeared in the April 2018 issue of
Dance Spirit with the title “The Dirt with Asha Singh.”