The Making of the 2011-2012 Luvabulls

When we initially discussed creating a behind-the-scenes look at the Luvabulls' tryouts, our expectations were mixed. Sure, it's a process filled with nerves, emotions and, for those who don't make it, heartbreak. But what blew us away is something that we probably didn't truly realize: the Luvabulls are athletes...great athletes for that matter. These women come from different backgrounds and each one of them is unique to the say the least, but they also share a common bond: they love to dance, but more importantly, they love to dream big. 

Over the course of four weeks with over 20 hours of footage, Comcast SportsNet could easily create a "The Making of the Luvabulls" mini-series. We started filming at tryouts on Aug. 13th, when over 200 dancers were vying for the 25-woman roster. That's right, only 25 girls make up the Luvabulls dance team. That means 175 of them had to go home. Dreams shattered, hopes dashed for those who didn't make the cut. Euphoria and self-fulfillment for those who did. 

We'll take viewers through the entire process. In particular, what stood out to us were the Saturday tryouts held at the United Center. They were a killer, just a long, grueling day. The girls learned choreography and had to perform it on the spot in front of Luvabulls director Cathy Core, choreographer Kim Tyler and a panel of judges. The room was filled with intense pressure throughout this exhausting day and, at the end of it all, 155 cuts had to be made. The 45 remaining girls were invited to mini-camp. 

Mini-camp was repetitive, featuring many of the same routines over and over...until Kim's choreography to Beyonce songs was perfected. We both know the dances by heart and could probably perform them with the squad, but trust us, no one wants to see that. After another long, hard-fought day, cuts were whittled down to the final 25. Talk about an emotional roller coaster for these young women. You will be floored by what you see. Core says that is one of the toughest parts of her job," I can't always hold it together, especially if I have to cut a veteran." 

We also captured the official 2011-12 Luvabulls roster photo shoot held in September. Talk about organized chaos that ran amazingly smooth. The girls get their hair and make-up done and then have to go from posing with a smile to being very sexy. Bill Smith, the team photographer for the Bulls, is a great coach and, of course, Cathy and Kim are there to help the girls get the best shots. It is amazing to see them hit so many poses in such a short span of time. 

In her 28th year with the Luvabulls, Cathy is headstrong and vocal, but she is honest. Through her guidance, the Luvabulls are taught life lessons that go way beyond center court, "When I look at a person, I can just tell by the way she carries herself, by the way she speaks and by the way she walks. You know that person has it and you know there is something raw in there."
To see the inner workings of a tryout process from beginning to end was a long journey for us, so you can imagine how tough it was for them. Even we felt emotionally and physically exhausted when it was all done. We followed a lot of the dancers through their own personal journey. Our cameras captured the raw emotions, the physical and emotional pain and so much more. 

Some of you may see them as pretty girls that can dance. Although that is true, we can now tell you it is so much more than that. We were privileged and lucky to capture the true essence of being a Luvabull and the sacrifices these girls make...all to live out their dream of dancing on center court at a Bulls game. We know you will enjoy the journey as much as we did.