Video: Power Dancer Auditions

KHOU posted this video of the Houston Rockets dance team open call over the weekend. Even though it looks like the video was shot by someone who rappelled down from the roof and poked his camera through the curtains of a second story window, it does capture the vibe of the audition experience. Anyone who has auditioned for a team can relate to that intensely uncomfortable moment when you finish dancing, the music goes off, and the room is dead silent. And you’re standing there paralyzed because you can’t figure out if the judges want you to stay where you are, or get out of the way for the next group. AWKWARD.

Video: some gratuitous bragging on the ChivaGirls

Over the weekend, two rookie members of the ChivaGirls were chosen for the 2012-13 Laker Girls. It got me thinking how proud I am of this team, how talented all the girls are, and how great it is that they’ve allowed me to be part of their family. So I thought I’d share a couple of videos of the ChivaGirls in action.

The first routine was choreographed by Tim Stevenson. Not only did Tim choreograph it, but he did the music mix, and personalized it for the team. This routine was created for one specific halftime performance, but it was such a hit, the team has tailored it to their pre-game stage performances. The second routine is also a hip hop number, and believe me when I say this routine doesn’t suck either. (I don’t know who choreographed it, so that’s pretty much all I’m going to say about that.)

I hope you’ll enjoy them as much as I do!

Side note: Congratulations Melissa and Andi! Chivas USA’s loss is the Lakers’ gain.

2012 P-R-O Convention All Star: Washington Wizard Girl Joanna

The Washington Wizard Girls have been a squad that has impressed me ever since I started covering the P-R-O convention.  They have cute girls and sexy uniforms, which is to say they are a squad that is eye-catching.  This year, the Wizard Girls got new uniforms from The Line Up and I must say the girls looked quite attractive in them.  And one Wizard Girl that made a lasting impression was Joanna, who looked amazing in her new Wizard Girl uniform.  See why she is a 2012 P-R-O Convention All Star.

What makes a good dance team a great one?  Attention to details.  Sweating the small stuff.  And here we see Dance Team Manager Derric Whitfield attending to the little details that make all the difference in our photos.

There’s not much down time between sessions at P-R-O, so I didn’t get to photograph as many as the Wizard Girls as I would have liked.  And this is truly a shame because they have so many gorgeous girls to photograph.  But I did get to snap a team photo and wanted to share that with our readers.

Well, that’s all for now.  There were many amazing cheerleaders in attendance at P-R-O and I only got to feature a handful of them.  There was so much dance instruction and so little time in between sessions that it was a challenge to be able to snag a few girls to pose for photographs.  Perhaps next year, I will be able to feature a few more and highlight their talents.

I hope you have enjoyed my coverage of the 2012 P-R-O Convention, the premier professional cheerleading and dance convention.  See you next year, where we will be certain to feature more P-R-O Convention All Star cheerleaders.

Grad student Nicole fills in the margins by dancing for the Boston Cannons Dance Team

Line captain Nicole is in her second year with the Boston Cannons Dance Team

Like New England itself, which is filled with an extensive list of important academic institutions, and lacrosse, which is emerging as high energy pro sport that emphasizes fan experience, the Boston Cannons Dance Team embodies each of these concepts themselves. In their tenth season supporting Boston’s pro team in Major League Lacrosse, the Cannons Dance Team features young women from a wide variety of colleges with a broad range of majors. But the BCDT share a common conviction to enthusiastically add dance to the sidelines entertainment at Harvard Stadium, and love every minute of it!

For example, take Nicole, in her second season with the Boston Cannons Dance Team, and her first as a line captain. Now a graduate student, Nicole double-majored during undergrad in both Anthropology and English. In addition, Nicole a totally devoted to dance, both as a performer and instructor. Nicole shared with UltimateCheerleaders why she feels like she has her dream job already, what dance adds to her life, her favorite books, and why she is bound to prefer traditional books over e-books.

Nicole began dance at a very young age, along with gymnastics, and Nicole’s mom was a big influence on putting fitness first in Nicole’s life. Her mom herself was long-time gymnast and is now an award-winning bodybuilder. Also, Nicole’s mom importantly did not allow Nicole to quit dance during her rebellious teenage years. About her mom, Nicole says, “She’s always worked her butt off, so I know no other way, really.” Asked what she thinks is the biggest misconception about women like her mom in bodybuilding, Nicole responds, “I think the biggest misconception about women in any sport is that they’re somehow inferior. My mom could bench nearly double her bodyweight. That’s obviously an extreme example. But female dancers are athletes too, and will probably never get enough recognition for it.”

From her early dance days loving to make music with her feet in tap, to contemporary and original choreography as a Dance minor in college, to entertaining on the sidelines with upbeat jazz and smile-filled cheer routines, dance and Nicole have been inter-twined throughout her life. But over the last couple of years, Nicole has really focused on making dance a centerpiece of her life, including increasing the role of dance instructor. Nicole loves how dance adds so much to her life, describing, “Making (dance) my LIFE opened up so many more opportunities almost immediately. Everything happened at the same time. I started teaching dance again. That gave way to additional dance teaching jobs. Once I auditioned and made one dance team, that gave way to another professional dance job, et cetera. It feels great to only spend my time (and get paid!) doing what I believe in and enjoy most. Think Russell in Almost Famous, ‘From here on out, I’m only interested in what is REAL! Real people. Real feelings. That’s it! That’s all I’m interested in from here on out!’”

And part of Nicole’s reality is her academic pursuits. “I’m currently working toward my MA in English at UMass-Boston,” Nicole explains. “As an undergrad, I double-majored in English and (cultural) Anthropology. I had taken just a few Anthro classes as electives, but found it interesting enough to pursue all the way. I’m personally interested in modern American fiction and women writers but have decided to turn my focus to the teaching of composition. It’s more rewarding, like teaching dance.”

So what is on Nicole’s “Top Five Book” list? “My top five are,” Nicole says, “The Age of Innocence and The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton, Song of Solomon and A Mercy by Toni Morrison, and The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway.” And Nicole’s preference, e-books or printed books? “Even though I’ve never tried an e-book,” Nicole explains, “DEFINITELY printed books! I mark up the margins and underline phrases while I read, so e-books would ruin the whole experience for me.”

Continue reading “Grad student Nicole fills in the margins by dancing for the Boston Cannons Dance Team”

Double Dose of Soulmates

The Philadelphia Soul start their Arena Bowl run tonight hosting a first round playoff game against the New Orleans VooDoo. Here are the lovely Soulmates from their tow regular season appearances for the month of July.

Brianna

Natasha and Melanie

The Soul Squad in the 1st Quarter

Soulmate Morgan wears Donovan Morgan’s jersey while striking the Captain Morgan pose.


Soulmate Captain and Dream Teamer AJ with Choreographer Cassie Russo

Nicole

[Soulmates July 8th Gallery]

[Soulmates July 22nd Gallery]