2008 CHS Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee: Gymnast Alicia Mazepa

By Jordan Schwartz

Alicia Mazepa won’t be able to attend the Clifton High School Athletic Hall of Fame Luncheon on Oct. 19, but she has a good reason — she’ll be in Dubai. The gymnastics and track inductee works as a freelance choreographer and dancer traveling the world putting together shows for conventions held by large companies such as Reebok, Subway and Panasonic.

Back in the States, the 1997 grad has danced on tour for Jay-Z, on television and on film.

Mazepa, 29, was born in Glen Ridge, but grew up in Clifton, attending St. Clare School on Allwood Rd. until switching to CHS in ninth grade.

There, she became a star performer on both the gymnastics and track squads. As an all-around gymnast, Mazepa was named All-League and All-County, advancing all the way to States in the floor exercise.

She was also named to the winter track All-League and All-County teams on two occasions, breaking a number of indoor track records and becoming ranked among the best pentathlon athletes in the country.

In the spring, she was a three-time All-League and All-County track star, and was named runner-up for the All-County Scholar Athlete of the Year Award.

Outdoors, Mazepa broke nine school records and finished third in the long jump at the state Meet of Champions. She also competed in the triple jump, high jump and hurdles.

After graduation, Mazepa earned a spot on the Towson University dance team, leading the squad to the top of the rankings for the three years she was there.

The Cliftonite broke into the entertainment business when she auditioned to be a dancer at the 2002 NBA All-Star Game. She not only got the gig, but also found an agent who booked her in her first commercial.

Since then, she’s danced and choreographed for Beyonce, the New York Knicks, the Victoria Secret Fashion Show, the MTV Video Music Awards and SNL.

Mazepa recently bought a home on Graham Pl. near WWMS where she lives with her Boston terrier, Roxy. The CHS alum says she’d like to open a dance school in the Basking Ridge area by next year.

“I’d probably teach there at first because I’d want it done my way but eventually I’d like someone to take it over,” she said. “My goal now is to just keep working because it’s not an easy industry to be in.”