Donna the Honeybee
At long last…you’re all welcome!
By Aggrey Sam
For a few weeks now, I’ve been promising you guys Honeybees. Being a man of my word (if delayed; the SLAM editorial staff can tell you more about that), I’m ready to make good. This past Friday, I was involved with a photo shoot featuring Donna, one of the New Orleans Hornets’ Honeybees.
The first location for the shoot was Camellia Grill, a popular diner in the N.O. Since it was Good Friday, school was out for kids and a lot of adults were off work, so the place was packed and the line stretched all the way onto the sidewalk. Donna met me on the corner of the block–already in her Honeybees’ outfit–and as you can imagine, the stares and comments were crazy. As she told me when she was looking for a parking spot, “Time to stop traffic.” Indeed.
Inside the diner, we (myself and my anonymous photographer) had already told the mostly male staff what was going on, so they were ready for her–and hype as hell. The shoot went off without a hitch, as they even let her behind the counter to work the grill and help bake one of their famous pies (I think letting her “spank the pie” was the highlight of the day). For a good 20 minutes, Donna had the place on smash. The customers were loving her and had children take pictures with her; I think the staff (pictured below) wanted to kidnap her. By the way, I’ve been to Camellia Grill at least five times in my five months here. Highly recommended if you’re in the city.
The grill is located at the beginning of Carrollton Avenue, where the St. Charles streetcar line begins/ends, so my ace photographer got a few shots of her there (although she wasn’t too big on holding onto the pole), too. She caused a scene here, as well, with the streetcar passengers, conductor and people driving by all caused a fuss.
The next and final stop was Tee-Eva’s, on the corner of Magazine Street and Napoleon Avenue. For the record, Tee-Eva (the other beauty below, pictured in the window in the pic down below) has the best snowballs, pralines and pies in the city.
If you’re in the neighborhood, try it for yourself–you can’t miss the colorful storefront. Not to mention, Tee-Eva is one of the nicest ladies you’d ever want to meet. Plus, you might get a good run at the court on that corner, too.
Being that Donna has more going on for her than just dancing at basketball games, I wanted to give you a glimpse into her life, which we talked about after Saturday night’s Hornets-Celtics game (keep reading and you’ll see the money shot at the end).
“I’ve been dancing for about 20 years now,” says the lovely, 24-year-old Tulane student. “My mom sent me to dance school when I was 4. I do all types, but main focus and my major is ballet and modern dance.”
“I’ve always been a dancer, never a cheerleader or anything like that,” she continues. “I don’t have an athletic bone in my body. I always wanted to be a ballerina when I was growing up.”
A native of Algiers on New Orleans’ West Bank, Donna attended McMain High School before moving on to New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts. She went to college in New York for two years before returning home, where she saw a tryout for the Honeybees advertised in the newspaper. Unfortunately, Hurricane Katrina hit and the team (Honeybees included) had to relocate to Oklahoma City.
“It was very different because Oklahoma isn’t as live as New Orleans,” Donna recalls. “But the fans supported us completely, so I felt like I was at home.”
Like everyone else in New Orleans, Donna was affected by Katrina. While her family didn’t lose their home, she did have a difficult experience.
“We were trapped in the Hyatt Regency for five days with electricity or running water,” she says. “Then, we were bused to Dallas, then to Houston for a month.”
Now back in the N.O., with the recent surge in attendance and the team being a potential title contender, the Hornets’ popularity has made even the team’s dancers a hot commodity when they’re out in public.
“It doesn’t happen that much at school, but I’ll be looking a mess in the store or at the movies and fans will come up to me and say, ‘Hey, Donna!’ I like it best when little girls come up to me and say they remember me from a game,” just as two adorable little girls ask to take a picture with her, something that happened more than a few times (and not just by little girls) as we were talking.
As for the team, Donna is happy they’re doing so well, but even happier for the city itself.
“I think having the team back here gives the city hope that it’s coming back. The way it’s portrayed in the media is ridiculous,” she remarks, something I can attest to. “I’m like, ‘don’t feel sorry for New Orleans.’ At the same time, a lot of people don’t have much, but the team gives people something to look forward to.”
I can’t speak for all Hornets fans, but I know several (including our E-I-C, who recommended that this happen in the first place when he was in town for the All-Star Game) people look forward to the Honeybees’ performances. But as much as they look like they’re having a good time entertaining the crowd, it’s not all fun and games.
“We practice for anywhere between two and four days a week, depending on the schedule. Practice lasts for about three hours usually,” says Donna. “We do strength and conditioning training for an hour–lift weights for a half-hour, then get on the treadmill for a half-hour–stretch, run through our choreography as an entire team–then again in groups to see who really knows it–then again as a group.”
Although she’s been a Honeybee for three seasons now, Donna says her favorite moment is right before she goes on.
“I’m not nervous, just really excited. I wanna make a good impression, let people know I take it seriously,” she says. “The fans make the game; they keep it crunk.”
While she enjoys dancing for the Honeybees, eventually Donna wants to become a professional dancer (not like that) for a traveling dance troupe.
“Growing up, my dream company was Alvin Ailey, but now I want to dance for Grupo Corpo, which is Brazil’s premier modern dance company,” she says. “I’m going to Africa at the end of next month with the John Allen Project…I get to see what it’s like to be in a professional dance troupe.”
That trip, which will take her to international dance festivals in Zimbabwe and South Africa, will force her to miss the playoffs, but as the only college student invited to perform alongside professional dancers, she’s willing to make the sacrifice.
“I’m really, really busy these days,” she says. “I hardly have any time for myself anymore, but it’s definitely worth it–we’re having a great season.”
Balancing college life, a job–she’s been a licensed massage therapist since 2004 (again, get your mind out of the gutter)–and the Honeybees isn’t easy, but somehow Donna manages to do it and look like–well, check the pic below.
In case you’re ever in town and run into Donna on the street, here’s a couple of inside tips if you try holla at her:
–Her favorite player on the Hornets is David West, “because he’s not afraid to play D and he has so much passion. You can tell basketball is his life; he eats, sleeps and drinks it. Some guys, they’re just out there getting a paycheck.”
–While she wants to be in a professional dance company that tours internationally, she wants to open up her own massage practice for sports rehabilitation (including yoga, pilates and athletic training) when her dancing career is over.
–She likes to travel and has a goal of “filling my passport before it expires in 2017. Every page has to have a stamp.”
–Her favorite show is: “Martin. I know every episode, word for word.”
–Very outgoing and happy, Donna also claims to be “extremely goofy.” An example of that side of her was when “I was in the locker room getting dressed and these big shoe boxes were open on the floor. I stepped in one, fell and slid into a locker. I only had on pants! The other girls still tease me about that to this day.” Imagine that.
–She likes to sleep. “I’m really lazy, I like to lay around (seriously, stop it). One thing I love is to look in the Sunday sales papers. I don’t window shop, but I definitely do that.”
Hope you enjoyed that. I know I enjoyed being there. There may be more Honeybees to come, so check out their site (linked above) and feel free to make recommendations for the future or let me know if you have any specific questions for Donna. Thanks to the Hornets in general (Scott Hall and Brittany Cranston specifically), Honeybees coach/manager Ashley Deaton, the conductor who let us use his streetcar for a quick minute, Tee-Eva, the good people at Camellia Grill and of course, the beautiful Donna (she looks better in person–trust me!) herself.
78 Responses to “Donna the Honeybee”
Mar.26 at 1:13 pm
TADOne says:
I’m jealous.
Mar.26 at 1:16 pm
Eboy says:
Can this be a regular feature?
Mar.26 at 1:19 pm
TADOne says:
Oh, and THANKS Aggrey!
Mar.26 at 1:22 pm
Ron says:
Damn!!!! Aggrey when did you start writing for King Mag?
Mar.26 at 1:35 pm
Ron Hitley says:
Legendary. Thanks for that, Aggrey. I’d recommend you get at Kadie, Martine and Shannon next, in that order. Actually, I might try beat you to them and get some pics up on hornets247.com.
Mar.26 at 1:36 pm
Lang Whitaker says:
Heh, Aggrey said “spank the pie.”
Mar.26 at 1:37 pm
Lang Whitaker says:
Also, Aggrey, did you call her beh-bay?
Mar.26 at 1:37 pm
Toney Blare says:
man.
Mar.26 at 1:37 pm
TADOne says:
I don’t care who gets them first, lets just speed up the process fellas
Mar.26 at 1:37 pm
Eboy says:
LMAO
Mar.26 at 1:38 pm
Eboy says:
@ Lang and TAD.
Mar.26 at 1:50 pm
a. sam says:
TAD: Didn’t I say you wouldn’t be disappointed?
Eboy: Working on it becoming a regular thing.
Ron: I haven’t written for KING in a minute.
Ron H.: Kadie might be next.
Lang: She did call me that once or twice.
Mar.26 at 1:52 pm
a. sam says:
Also, when I stopped by Camellia Grill to give them blown-up pic Donna signed for them, I ate an amazing slice of their chocolate cream pie. No, I didn’t spank it.
Mar.26 at 1:52 pm
Emry DowningHall says:
I see you.
Mar.26 at 1:53 pm
thesubwayconnection says:
LMAO @Eboy. Regular feature, indeed.
Mar.26 at 1:53 pm
a. sam says:
Emry: I miss Philly less and less by the day.
Mar.26 at 1:56 pm
Cheryl says:
oooh, y’all…
Mar.26 at 1:59 pm
Eboy says:
Something about the shots of Donna with the straw and the snowcone are……..mind numbing.
Mar.26 at 2:01 pm
TADOne says:
Nice Eboy. Aggrey: You certianly did say that and delivered. I like a person who keeps promises. Cheryl: Hey, what you want? We men.
Mar.26 at 2:03 pm
Cheryl says:
*shakes her head*
Mar.26 at 2:07 pm
Eboy says:
Cheryl’s just mad at Donna for wearing those boots cause Cheryl would be 6′ 5″ in them.
Mar.26 at 2:09 pm
a. sam says:
How tall are you, Cheryl?
Mar.26 at 2:12 pm
Cheryl says:
5′10″
Mar.26 at 2:12 pm
Cheryl says:
or so…
Mar.26 at 2:13 pm
Eboy says:
Fine. 6′ 3″, Chris Paul.
Mar.26 at 2:14 pm
Eboy says:
And a tall woman is sexy as hell, so now what?
Mar.26 at 2:16 pm
Ryan Jones says:
Is it ok if I prefer Krista?
Mar.26 at 2:21 pm
a. sam says:
Good height to be.
Mar.26 at 2:24 pm
TADOne says:
Damn 5′10! I see you girl! Literally….
Mar.26 at 2:24 pm
Eboy says:
Fu*k you, Jones. I’ve been eyeballing her for the last 20 minutes. I was mezmorized by Papi Mali’s song on the Honeybees page and the twisted t-shirt she was holding and the thoughts I was having of her with said implement. I alos like that her preferred music choices are country and hip hop.
Mar.26 at 2:24 pm
TADOne says:
Krista should be next.
Mar.26 at 2:25 pm
Eboy says:
*also
Mar.26 at 2:26 pm
Ryan Jones says:
Dibs.
Mar.26 at 2:28 pm
TADOne says:
Dibs?! Damn, we old.
Mar.26 at 2:29 pm
Eboy says:
Well, the Heat dancers are all ridiculously smokin’, so I can work with them on my home court.
Mar.26 at 2:35 pm
TADOne says:
Actually, I like Nicole.
Mar.26 at 2:36 pm
Ryan Jones says:
Shotgun?
Mar.26 at 2:37 pm
Eboy says:
Nice.
Mar.26 at 2:48 pm
riggs says:
cheryl will always be MY honeybee *kisses ass for future reference*
Mar.26 at 3:17 pm
James says:
6 out of 10 max
Mar.26 at 3:26 pm
Khalid Salaam says:
Aggrey, I demand that this become a regular section. Demand i say!
Mar.26 at 3:55 pm
Cheryl says:
noted, riggs…
Mar.26 at 5:44 pm
Rubens says:
“dibs” LOL
Mar.26 at 5:51 pm
Bubba Chuck says:
:P
Mar.26 at 5:52 pm
Bubba Chuck says:
:b
Mar.26 at 8:47 pm
a. sam says:
Khalid: I’ll do my best to make it happen.
Mar.26 at 8:51 pm
a. sam says:
James: Your scale is off, but maybe I’m biased cuz I saw her in person. At least an 8 in real life.
Mar.26 at 9:19 pm
Balling NZ says:
Not that special really.
Mar.26 at 9:39 pm
Ben Osborne says:
I think Donna looks great, and I love that I am being credited for this idea. Aggrey is the man!
Mar.26 at 10:47 pm
a. sam says:
Balling: Thanks for your feedback.
Ben: I agree. I bet most of these dudes would be too scared to speak if they met her in person. What you think about the McDonald’s game so far? Brandon is putting on a show.
Mar.26 at 11:11 pm
Michael Tillery says:
A Sam you beat me to this. I had something planned with a fine sixers dancer lovely named amber. Good work.
Mar.26 at 11:13 pm
a. sam says:
MT: Thanks. Is Amber the one with curly hair? She’s bad. Also, good job holding down my old stomping grounds. Much better than I could do.
Mar.27 at 3:31 am
Doc Fan says:
Not really all that impressed,seeing as tho here in east flatbush most girls look like models….also,where’s the backside? I’m confused
Mar.27 at 7:29 am
Ben Osborne says:
McD’s was cool. Reke went for his like only he can. Dude is just a pure scorer. And Brandon was dope, from the hair to the passes. Meanwhile, Greg Monroe lived “up” or down? to your occasional opinions of him. Dude was invisible.
Mar.27 at 7:30 am
Ben Osborne says:
In light of this blog’s original goal, perhaps there will be some expert McDs analysis later today??
Mar.27 at 7:32 am
Sesa says:
ass and tits…
Mar.27 at 7:32 am
hursty says:
looks like Rihanna sorta. NICE!
Mar.27 at 7:33 am
hursty says:
calm down sesa
Mar.27 at 7:48 am
hursty says:
‘the fans keep it crunk’ haha. nice quote.
Mar.27 at 7:55 am
Westfall says:
I’d tap dat
Mar.27 at 7:56 am
Westfall says:
how do u write a letter to trash talk?? juz wonderin
Mar.27 at 10:20 am
Sesa says:
it’s almost enough for a jerkoff material
Mar.27 at 10:24 am
Ben Osborne says:
Westfall. Answer to your first comment: no sh*t. Answer to your second: trashtalk@harris-pub.com
Mar.27 at 10:36 am
backboard says:
meh,sounds and looks just like my ex-girlfriend…. good ridance!
Mar.27 at 10:41 am
backboard says:
correction: my ex is/was better-looking!
Mar.27 at 10:49 am
Fredo says:
I speak for all New Orleans men when I say…DAAAAAAAMMMMM!!!! And you’re welcome.
Mar.27 at 11:31 am
Michael Tillery says:
Yes brotha, she is def the one with curly hair. Goodness graciousnessss… Thanks for the props…I’m just next in line bruh.
Mar.27 at 11:49 am
James says:
Ok a.sam ill give her some ‘potential bad camerawork’ points too
Mar.27 at 11:50 am
James says:
its the smile! The one with the slush puppy or whatever that drink is called is 8-9 but the ones below aren’t
Mar.27 at 12:24 pm
a. sam says:
Ben: That’s coming soon.
backboard: Then why is she your ex?
MT: Amber is a problem.
James: If you ever make it down here for a Hornets game, I’ll introduce you. Then let me know what you think.
Mar.27 at 12:52 pm
Teresa White says:
Donna, I am so proud of you you are the perfect example of a go getta!!! I love you so much you are so much more than a friend you are my sister! You look so fab and its time for us to paint the town once again maybe twice again then make it rain one time b-4 you go to Africa! LOL Love ya
Mar.27 at 6:36 pm
Ivan Anderson says:
she looks like a laker girl but way finer
Mar.27 at 7:24 pm
backboard says:
@ a.sam: because its not all about the looks, brother! plus, i really didn`t want to move to Vegas!
Mar.28 at 7:10 am
hursty says:
teresa white…. wtf, if shes your sister then maybe you should both be honeybees
Mar.28 at 7:08 pm
Boing Dynasty says:
I like her because she said David West was her favorite Hornet.
Mar.29 at 12:01 am
nohornetspeja says:
as a hornets season ticket holder I want to say this was a realy interesting articl. as much as i like hoops its great to here about some of the other parts of the team. new orleans is starting to love the hornets (and we always loved the honeybees!… of course) you need to talk to the dude who writes for the hornets website he went out with one of the hottest honeybees, imho. maybe he could give yall a few pointers. he used to write for slam too so you guys should be proud!
Mar.31 at 4:34 am
chintao says:
After thorough research, I recommend that Kadie be made the next feature attraction. Also, Aggrey, could you please ask her what she likes about country music. Shocking….
May.1 at 11:57 am
SLAM ONLINE | » Stacey the Honeybee says:
[…] I said there would be a follow-up to this and here it is. Last week, I was at another photo shoot with Stacey, one of the New Orleans Hornets’ Honeybees. Stacey was selected by a vote of SLAM staffers over another Honeybee (who will remain nameless) and although not every potential candidate ran in the election, I think the people will be happy with the choice. […]