UNLV senior and Carson High School alumna Chloe Walt poses for headshots with the Vegas Vivas, the professional dance team with the Vegas Golden Knights. Walt was selected for the team over the summer and spends her time with the team as well as studying as a college senior.
Chloe Walt started dancing at age 3 and has continued to mold her life around the sport she’s become ever-increasingly passionate about.
The UNLV senior was selected as a member of the Vegas Vivas over the summer, giving Walt the opportunity to dance professionally.
“It’s a good way to stay in shape, help with anxiety and challenge my brain mentally,” said Walt. “When a sport clicks, it clicks and that was the sport that clicked.”
Working with the Vivas
The Vivas are the cheerleading and dance team for the Vegas Golden Knights hockey team.
Walt tried out for the Vivas last year, but wasn’t selected.
However, her perseverance allowed her to push past the final round of tryouts this summer and earn a spot with the team.
The tryout is a three-day process and Walt was tasked with learning several routines.
“It was such an opportunity to start a professional dance career,” said Walt. “It wasn’t something I considered while dancing in high school. I never thought I was going to get here.”
Walt’s coach at UNLV was an active NFL cheerleader and is the one who opened her eyes to pursuing dancing as a career.
After being actively involved in the Carson City community, Walt wants her opportunity with the Vivas to be a way to work into the community in Las Vegas.
Balancing work, studies and life
Walt is studying hospitality management at UNLV and has classes during the day.
Though she also works another job, she said the bustling day-to-day is normal.
“It’s something I’m really used to at this point,” said Walt. “At first, it was a big one to maneuver around. … Being that it’s professional, you’re set to a higher standard.”
Though Walt says she doesn’t have many classes left before graduation, it still took some time to find a daily balance.
Walt’s call time is two or three hours before the puck drops.
The group will go over any upcoming routines before walking to T-Mobile Arena.
Once the game starts, Walt and the Vivas will perform routines, sideline dances or any other performances they have.
Along with finding the time to dance professionally, the biggest challenge for the Carson High School alumna has been the turnaround time on learning routines.
“In college we would learn two to three dances at the beginning of the year and do them all season,” said Walt. “Now we learn a routine or two in practice and do it a week later.”
When there isn’t a hockey game, Walt and company are practicing for two hours twice a week.
The team also does appearance requests outside of game days.
“I was able to work with the Candelight (Childhood Cancer) Foundation here in Las Vegas,” said Walt. “We surprised two cancer patients with Golden Knights gear and to come to the game on Nov. 28.”
Walt, who worked the Nov. 28 game, said she got to see the families again at the event.
All-in-all, Walt said the experience she’s had with the Vivas and dancing professionally has opened her eyes to plenty of possibilities moving forward.