On Sunday, May 16th, an enthusiastic crowd of families, friends, and fans filled The Syndicate in Newport, Kentucky to experience the finals for the 2010 Cincinnati Ben-Gals try-outs. This is the second year that the Ben-Gals have brought their finals out to the public as a special event. Seventy candidates remained for this elite squad, and the final squad was announced this week. The finals was a gala event, co-hosted by local TV weather guy Steve Raleigh and former Ben-Gal Melissa Scalia. This was the end of a long process of workshops and earlier rounds of try-outs. In late March and early April, prior to the start of auditions, four three-hour workshops were held to help prepare the candidates. The first auditions were held in mid-April, and then those who made it through this preliminary round were required to attend five workshops. Semi-finals were held on May 9th which produced the elite group of dancers that participated in the finals.
Harmony at morning practice
Although the public festivities began in the early afternoon, it was an early morning for the Ben-Gal candidates. Candidates arrived at 8 am for a morning of rehearsals and preparation. As coach John Wooden said, “Failing to prepare is preparing to fail,” and the morning practices provided great learning experiences for all of the contestants. During the rehearsals, one of the veterans experienced a “wardrobe malfunction,” but made one of the greatest catches in organization history, surpassing anything Trumpy, Collinsworth, or Ocho Cinco ever did on the field. While holding up her top with one hand, she completed the routine perfectly to the rousing applause of her peers. However, lesson learned to the squad finalists: safety pins, safety pins, safety pins.
Rehearsing the dance routine
A key part of the finals was a dance routine performed in pairs on stage. Although this was an individual event, it was noted for the candidates during the morning that the most successful performances were those in which the dancers kept an eye out for the other for proper spacing and timing. It was amazing to watch the transformation from morning practice to afternoon performances. The little glitches and kinks in the morning seemed to be smoothed over in the afternoon with both practice and the adrenaline from the lights, judges, and fans.
All of the dancers auditioned to the same song, Christina Aguilera’s “Not Myself Tonight.” During the morning rehearsals, that song was played over and over again. For the finalists, they had spent a week practicing to that song. Although this was a competition for precious squad spots, there was a supportive air of camaraderie among the finalists. During Sunny’s morning practice routine, she earned oohs, ahs, and applause for sticking a move with a high degree of difficulty. Rather than cut-throat, the atmosphere was more of finalists bonding, while raising each other up to perform their best.
Sunny's dance moves were too fast to be captured by photos, so here she is in bathing suit finals
Veteran Ben-Gal Teresha was instrumental in providing access to UltimateCheerleaders.com to this event. Teresha works in the hospitality industry and she certainly puts the “hospitable” in “hospitality.” We appreciate the time and effort she put in to getting access for us! During the morning practices, she was dancing, smiling, and laughing like the most relaxed person on the planet. When she said she was “SO nervous”, I told her that she seemed more relaxed than anyone. Teresha said that she might be the goofiest one, not the most relaxed. Either way, she makes everything and everyone around her a bit less nervous when her fun spirit springs forth.
Teresha shines in swimsuit finals
The morning featured practice time for the three main activities in the afternoon: the opening number, dance routines performed by a pair of dancers, and bathing suit modeling. Scores from the interviews and skill set evaluations were compiled the previous week at the semi-finals and added to scores from dancing and modeling at the finals.
Rehearsing the big opening number
Morning practice for the swimsuit modeling
In the morning, Head Captain Tara lead the practice session. Tara is one of our superstar pro dancers for so many reasons: this will be her ninth season on the squad; Pro Bowl squad selection; competitor on the NFL Network’s cheerleader competition; completing her Ph.D. in cancer biology at University of Cincinnati; and co-author of a paper in the prestigious journal Nature Genetics. During a brief respite between morning practice and the start of the show, Tara took time to fill me in on all the things swirling around in this busy time. This is the time of year when fans of the squads find out if some of their favorites are coming back, and Tara said this year’s decision was down to the wire. In her busy life, there is a lot going on but that being part of the Ben-Gals is fun, and keeps her energized and definitely never bored.
April 7th is National Start! Walking Day. Downtown Indianapolis kicked off festivities on Monument Circle, and included amongst mascots, stock cars, and giveaways were celebrity treadmill walkers. The Colts Cheerleaders were on hand to take turns on the treadmill and greet fans.
Last Sunday, the resurgent Tennessee Titans rolled into town to take on the San Francisco 49ers. It looked to be an even match - both teams had newly installed quarterbacks who used to be their starters and both teams had a lot of potential that they weren’t living up to. Both sides went at each other relentlessly for four quarters but an excessive amount of turnovers doomed the 49ers to their fourth straight loss, 34-27.
Sunday was also the 49er’s annual “Youth” day, where kids could come in and be Junior Gold Rush cheerleaders, Junior Niners Noise drum line members or even the Junior Sourdough Sam mascot for the day. It was amazing to see the young girls who had signed up for the program out on the field dancing their hearts out with their proud parents looking on from the sidelines. San Francisco, here are your future Gold Rush cheerleaders.
This week’s Gold Rush girl of the week is 4 year veteran and line captain Deanna, who has always cheered her heart out for the team game after game, year after year, win or lose. She is definitely one of the reasons why the Gold Rush are the best cheerleading squad in the league.
RexLast Sunday looked like it would be a good day for San Francisco football - the weather was just right, conditions in the stadium were good and the crowd was pumped up. Unfortunately, the visiting Atlanta Falcons forgot to follow the script and proceeded to run roughshod over the woeful San Francisco 49ers, with a final score of 45-10. The bye week and subsequent signing of long time holdout Michael Crabtree should do wonders for the team, though, when they get back onto the field on Week 7.
Of course, the Gold Rush girls were at their fabulous best this game, debuting their “cold weather” costume (long sleeved jacket paired with their normal skirt) for the first time this season.
I seriously have to give it up to the team this week; they really did their best to keep the fans’ spirits up even as the team was being beat and just didn’t stop encouraging the team on. One of the most vocal and active ones was Gold Rush girl of the week Cassandra, who just didn’t stop cheering until the final minute. Awesome effort from the team as a whole. Take the bye week off, ladies. You deserve it.
Former New Orleans Saintsation Lynn O’Brien runs her own Cheer and Dance Camps. But the most important thing Lynn wishes the girls would take away from the camps is not cheer and dance technique. She wants each girl to walk away from her clinics and classes with a smile, pride, and knowledge that they can use in the future. Lynn says, “It is a rough world out there, especially for girls.”
Lynn with a dance camp class
Before we get back to the camps, here’s a little about Lynn. She danced on her high school dance team, the Goldenettes at Turner High School in Kansas City, Kansas. She was also a UDA All-Star Dancer. Lynn had always wanted to cheer for the NFL growing up. After high school she met her then boyfriend (now husband) David and moved to New Orleans after dating long distance for two years.
She started college at the University of New Orleans and worked as a waitress. One of the girls she met waitressing was on a dance team, the “Dominators of Dance”, that performed at Mardi Gras Parades. Lynn tried out and made that team. Unfortunately her friend that had introduced her to was kicked off the team for not perfecting a signature move. Lynn consoled her friend by saying, “Don’t worry, we’ll try out for the Saints”. Two months later they both tried out and made the team.
Since she had always loved pro football, Lynn says have that one of the most exciting parts of being a NFL Cheerleader was being so close to action. During one of the very first games she cheered at two players tackled with terrific force and impact just two feet from her. Lynn says that most of her teammates moved away, but she was too busy watching to see if the Saints still had the ball.
Her proudest moments as a Saintsation would come while visiting small towns outside of New Orleans. The people, the kids and the entire town were so grateful for the Sainsations appearances. Lynn says she felt such a great sense of pride when she stood under the hotel’s marquee that read “Welcome Saints Cheerleaders”. She says, “I know it’s a small thing, but you can’t take small things for granted.
Lynn on the set of Kansas City LIVE
Today Lynn runs Lynn O’Brien Cheer and Dance Camps. There are five-to-eight week long camps over the summer, as well as two day clinics and weekly classes. Lynn decided to start the camps just after she had her fist child, David. She was not ready to leave him for a long period of time and really wanted to dance again. She had an idea to hold a cheer camp where she would utilize her talents both as a dancer and as a teacher.
During the first camps the girls seem to really open up to her and talk about pretty important things. Lynn had 5 year-olds telling her they think they need to go on a diet! She realized the impact she could have on their lives. These girls really looked up to her, really listened to her and she had to take advantage of that.
A typical class begins with stretches, dance and cheer technique. Then they move on to free dance, where Lynn talks to the girls about moving to the music, if the music goes fast, dance fast, if the music moves slow, dance slow. Most importantly, Lynn tells them dance in a way that makes you feel good. She encourages the girls to use dance as a release of feelings. She advises, if you are happy, sad, mad, scared, just put on music in their room and dance and soon you will feel better.
Then they have “girl talk”. Lynn explains to the girls that now that they are on a dance team (cheer team) together they are best friends. They can rely on each other to learn and lean on. She brings up a topic and let the girls comment on their experiences and their thoughts. Some “girl talk” topics include: body image, giving to our community and those in need, standing up for yourself, healthy eating, smoking prevention, taking care of yourself, a positive body image and role models and much more.
Lynn gives all the girls her e-mail address and phone number in case they want to talk or just let her know how school is. She says she gets great e-mail updates and questions about issues the girls are facing at school.
Lynn says she is especially pleased when parents tell her stories of how their daughters came home and taught the family a lesson that Lynn taught them. One example Lynn cites is a mom who told her 6 year-old daughter had another girl that was being mean to her and mom asked her how she dealt with it. The girl said “I put on my best cheerleader smile and said, I am sorry you are having a bad day, but I care about you.” Her mom said, “You sound just like Ms. Lynn.”
Lynn says that each girl at each camp, class, and clinic holds a special place in her heart. She has had over 350 girls participate in her camps in the past five years and she can tell you something about each of those girls.
Lynn’s three-year old daughter Maddie is now participating in the camps and classes, and they have a great time making up the dances and learning from each other.
Lynn also has a clinic for the winter that is held one week before Christmas. The girls learn a fun Christmas dance, rockin’ around the Christmas tree, two cheers and we will talk about the importance of giving. And there are more clinics coming during Spring Break. And between camp, classes, teaching pre-school and raising her own children Lynn spends an astounding amount of time with kids, so how do she do it all and keep her sanity? Lynn says she adores children, her own and others. “Kids are amazing and have nothing but love to give. I have never loved a job so much. I love how excited the girls are, the way they look up to me, the impact I have on them. I also appreciate the parents. I think I would go insane without kids. I have a very goofy personality. I need to be crazy and silly and I just don’t think adults would get that.”
Lynn speaking about her Cheer and Dance Camp from Kansas City LIVE! Learn more about Lynn’s camps at LynnObrienCheer.com.
This installment of From the Archives features one of my favorite Raiderettes, Anjanette Ayabari. Like many Raiderettes, her exotic good looks led to a career in the entertainment field, most notably in the Philippines.
The Raiderette uniform has undergone minor changes throughout the years, but this version from the early 1990s is what comes to my mind when I think of the Raiderettes. Like the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders uniform, the Raiderette uniform is a cheerleading classic.
Charlotte Jacobs said she may have discovered some future Cincinnati Ben-Gals cheerleaders.
Nearly 70 girls between the ages of 5 and 16 spent their summer evenings July 6-10 at Oak Hills High School participating in the first ever dance camp put on by the Cincinnati Ben-Gals cheerleaders.
Jacobs, the director of cheerleading for the Cincinnati Bengals, said campers learned basic techniques, choreography and general fitness from some of the NFL’s best dancers during the week-long camp.
“The camp is all about having fun,” she said.
“We have several cute little girls who really know how to show off.”
Green Township resident and former Ben-Gal Julie Raleigh, coordinator of the camp, said more than half of the camp’s participants are underprivileged girls from around the Tristate.
She said girls from St. John’s outreach program in Over-the-Rhine, Rees E. Price Academy in Price Hill and the Special Olympics were given free scholarships to the camp thanks to sponsorships from the Shayne Graham Foundation, Mercy Hospital Western Hills and Mercy Franciscan at West Park.
“We think this camp is a unique opportunity,” Raleigh said.
“Some of these girls will experience another avenue of life that is not usually open to them. This experience is an opportunity for the girls to learn dance and just have so much fun,” she said.
Jacobs said the camp also helped kick-off this year’s Cincinnati Junior Ben-Gals program, an annual cheerleading program for young girls that culminates with a half-time performance during a Bengals game at Paul Brown Stadium.
“The camp is a way to better prepare these young ladies for when they go into their school seasons, and help the girls in our Junior Ben-Gal program get ready for their season,” Jacobs said.
Raleigh said campers learned two dance routines, which they performed for fans at the Florence Freedom baseball game on Thursday, July 9, to raise money for Special Olympics.
She said the camp featured special guest speakers each night, including a Hamilton County Sheriff’s deputy who talked to the girls about personal safety and the dangers of drugs and alcohol.
Members of the Oak Hills High School Oakettes drill team and cheerleading squads also helped out to make the week possible.
Additional Facts
Be a Junior Ben-Gal
Parents and girls who would like to learn more about the Cincinnati Junior Ben-Gals program can visit www.bengals.com/cheerleaders/junior-cheerleaders
The program runs from August to December and is open to 100 girls between the ages of 5 and 15 from around the Tristate. The Junior Ben-Gals season offers clinics designed to create and promote self-esteem, pride and confidence, and girls in the program learn performance fundamentals from Cincinnati Ben-Gals cheerleaders.
The program’s highlight is an on-field performance in front of 65,000 fans at Paul Brown Stadium during the 2009-2010 season.
Join the Patriots Cheerleaders as they unveil their 2010 swimsuit calendar at Ned Devine’s at Faneuil Hall in Quincy Market, Boston, MA on Wednesday, August 5 from 8:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. (Ages 21+ only)
All 29 beautiful cheerleaders will be signing autographs, posing for photos and greeting fans. Copies of the swimsuit calendar will be available for purchase, and the Making of the 2010 Swimsuit Calendar video will be playing as well. Join us for a great night you won’t want to miss!
Join the Patriots Cheerleaders as they unveil their 2010 swimsuit calendar at Ned Devine’s at Faneuil Hall in Quincy Market, Boston, MA on Wednesday, August 5 from 8:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. (Ages 21+ only)
