UPDATE, Thursday 7:45 p.m.: The Mavericks organization on Thursday evening clarified to The News why a new tumbling team quietly debuted during Wednesday night’s Mavericks-Pelicans game at American Airlines Center.

It turns out, the Mavericks quietly have been expanding what it calls the “Mavs Hoop Troop” ever since the organization held tryouts in July for potential game-night entertainment groups.

The Mavericks say their “new entertainment squad” is separate from the franchise’s partnership with World of Dance, which was announced in October, and provides entertainment for 30 select home games.

“The new group will bring an added boost of energy to the arena during the final weeks of the regular season and into the post season,” the franchise stated in one of several bullet-points released to The News. “The group includes the beloved ManiAACs, Drumline and Hoop Troup and will expand to include Tumblers, Stunters, BBoys and BGirls, Dancers, Cheerleaders and more.”

UPDATE, Thursday, 10 a.m.: Under a seeming shroud of secrecy, the Mavericks’ reconstructed dance team did in fact debut by performing several routines during Wednesday night’s overtime victory over New Orleans at American Airlines Center -- but don’t call it a dance team.

“Wasn’t our new tumbling team great?” Mavericks CEO Cynt Marshall said during a brief exchange after the game. “Wasn’t the atmosphere great?”

Honestly, I told her, I have my head down, writing or looking up statistics, during most breaks in the game, so, no, I did not notice the tumbling team. But I did notice that Wednesday’s crowd and atmosphere were outstanding, from the opening tip through the overtime.

“I love our crowd,” Luka Doncic said after the Mavericks improved to 17-14 at home vs. 21-11 on the road. “Our crowd is great. Hopefully they’re going to be like this. They’re always there. They always support us, no mater what. ... We appreciate it. We’re going to have to give these moments to them.”

For several weeks, we have heard rumors that a co-ed dance team of some form, including seven former Mavericks dancers, had been practicing, with a debut originally targeted for the first home game after the All-Star break. The Mavericks said they would provide information about the team and its makeup, but so far that hasn’t materialized.

Marshall, however, was ecstatic about the tumbling team’s Wednesday debut, adding, “They’re going to be here every home game the rest of the season.”

Playoffs, too, presumably.

Original post: It isn’t on the scope of famous entertainer reunion/comebacks like Fleetwood Mac and Guns N’ Roses, but for at least a faction of Mavericks fans, the news will be well-received.

Indications are that the eliminated and thus disbanded Mavericks dance team will return to at least some home games as soon as this week, albeit in a new form: co-ed, with 12 women and six men.

The Mavericks have not made any announcement to this effect. In fact, owner Mark Cuban told The Dallas Morning News two weeks ago that “that would be news to me,” but several sources say the revamped group -- which includes seven former Mavericks dance team members -- has been practicing for several weeks.

The new group would not replace the World of Dance, which in October signed what was billed as “an exclusive partnership” with the Mavericks to perform at 30 select home games. WOD groups’ routines include hip-hop, Latin and contemporary.

“I think World of Dance has been great,” Cuban said. “They really do a good job.”

In a puzzling trend to some and frustrating to others, the Mavericks inexplicably are 16-14 at home this season, compared to 21-11 on the road.

They have 11 home games remaining, including two this week, against teams that have this season’s NBA rookie sensations.

Zion Williamson and New Orleans are at American Airlines Center on Wednesday night, although it is the second game of a back-to-back for the Pelicans, so there is a good chance Williamson won’t play. On Friday, Ja Morant and Memphis come to AAC.

Stretches of some home games have lacked the crowd electricity that AAC had come to be known for during the peak Dirk Nowitzki years, but this year’s Mavericks players always are quick to point out that they haven’t given the home crowd much to cheer about, often getting off the slow starts at home.

Whatever form the new dance group takes, when it does debut certainly will fall within the tasteful-entertainment parameters set forth by Mavericks CEO Cynthia Marshall.

During the 2018-19 season, shortly after she was hired in the aftermath of Sports Illustrated-reported allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct within the team’s business operations, Marshall mandated that Mavericks dancers wear less-revealing costumes and perform less-suggestive routines.

“We want the focus to be on the dancers as artists and to highlight their skills, not be eye candy or sexualized,” Marshall told The News in July 2018, adding: “If someone brings a 10-year-old to the game, I do not want them having to cover the kid’s eyes during performances.”

Last July, before signing the WOD agreement in October, the Mavericks held tryouts for prospective game-night entertainment teams and individuals. Former Mavericks dance team members were among those who tried out.

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