After a promising pre-season, the San Francisco 49ers’ playoff hopes took a hit with a terrible loss in their first regular season game. Which meant that Monday’s opening night match against the visiting Super Bowl Champions New Orleans Saints was a must-win game for the team. Exciting? Yes. A down to the wire thriller? Yes. A win for the Niners? Unfortunately, no. After a competitive, hard fought match, the Saints managed to squeak by the home team with a last minute field goal to win the game. But it was a big improvement for the Niners as their offense showed a glimpse of their full potential.

Fortunately for the Niners fans, one team in The Stick was at their usual best – the 49ers Gold Rush. These ladies braved the freezing winds and the cold weather just to help the fans cheer on the Niners.

Full album here.

Here’s hoping the Niners improve in the coming weeks so that everyone will have something to cheer about.

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.

Continue reading 2010 Ben-Gals Earn Their Stripes at Audition Finals

The San Antonio Spurs Silver Dancers are featured this week. Go to SportsIllustrated.com to check it out.

This week, the New Orleans Hornets dance team, the Honeybees, are featured on Sports Illustrated. Go see the photos.

The Phoenix Suns Dancers make their first appearance in the Sports Illustrated NBA Dance Team gallery this week. Go check it out!

Patriots.com: Patriots Cheerleaders Preliminary Auditions were held Saturday, February 28 at the Dana Farber Field House, Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, Mass. Approximately 300 hopefuls turned out, vying for a coveted spot on the 2009 squad. After two rounds of competition to include choreographed dance routines, a freestyle segment and an optional tumbling pass, the pool of candidates was narrowed down to 67. Final Auditions will be held Saturday, March 7 at Gillette Stadium. In addition to performing choreographed routines, a freestyle dance and tumbling passes, high kicks, a question and answer segment with the panel of judges and a swimsuit modeling competition will be added. By late afternoon, approximately 45 candidates will be chosen to participate in a two-week intensive training session. The final squad for 2009 will be announced on March 21. Be sure to check back frequently on March 7, as photos from Final Auditions will be posted throughout the day!

The Dallas Stars Ice Girls are back for a repeat appearance in this week’s Sports Illustrated gallery. Click here to see what they’re up to now!

By Adva Saldinger
GateHouse News Service
Mar 02, 2009

Photo Gallery

FOXBORO — More than 200 women jumped, clapped and body-rolled to Britney Spears’ song “Circus”’ Saturday in hopes of winning a spot as a New England Patriots cheerleader.

“I’ve always wanted to be a Patriots cheerleader,” said Alana Hicks, 19, of Weymouth. “Every dance teacher I’ve ever had has been one, so it’s just something I’ve always looked up to and wanted to do since I was just a little kid.”

The judges, said Julie Warner, a Patriots cheerleader captain, were looking for confidence.

Warner, 28, who works full time in addition to being a Patriots cheerleader, will have to try out again herself in the final rounds to keep her position. On Saturday, her role was to help the women learn the routine.

Sara Caldeira, 19, of Taunton said the cheerleaders “are very friendly. They teach you one by one; if you need help, they’re free to help you. It’s an awesome experience.”

Some women failed to make the cut after the first round. Those who remained performed a dance, choreographed to “Circus,” that Patriots cheerleading director Tracy Sormanti taught them at break-neck speed.

The routine was easier to pick up for Danielle Bailey, 20, of Easton, than she thought it would be. She wants to join the squad because she loves to entertain and perform but also because she has always done community service.

“I just want to do something for other people while I’m having fun doing my job,” said Bailey.

Meghan Bossa, 20, of Braintree said the cheerleaders are role models and get to represent the team abroad.

“I think it’s amazing they have that kind of influence,” she said.

Rebecca Kennedy of Bridgewater, who made it to the finals several years ago, said she wants the stature that comes with the job.

“People don’t just come to the games to watch the players; they come to watch the cheerleaders, and you can tell from all the apparel and calendars they buy that they are a huge icon in New England sports,” she said.

Near the end of the day, the judges made another cut and the remaining group of approximately 60 women stayed to learn another routine for another round of auditioning next weekend.

The ones who get through that will be interviewed and go through a two-week trial period, after which the team of up to 24 will be selected.

Once the team is picked, it’s straight to work gearing up for next season on the sidelines.