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A new dance team photo and individual bios have been posted on the San Jose Sabercats website. Click here to learn all about the Saberkittens!

By JoAnne Killeen
Holmen Onalaska Courier-Life
5/19/2012

ONALASKA — Alayna Halverson was just 6 years old, but she already knew what she wanted to be when she grew up: a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader.

Now 18 and a senior at Onalaska High School, Halverson chased her dream all the way to the Big D last month and tried out for the storied squad.

No, she didn’t make the team. But the experience, she said, taught her some lessons she’ll remember the rest of her life, namely to never let self-doubt get in the way of a dream.

“I would have regretted not doing it when I had the chance,” Halverson said.

Halverson has been dancing since she was 2 years old. She watched the show “Making the Team” on the CMT network — a program that chronicles the drama of the tryout process — and pictured herself among the hundreds of girls trying out.

With her mother and grandmother’s support and efforts to build her confidence, Halverson overcame the thought of not being good enough.

“Mom sat me down and said it would be the coolest thing she had ever known anyone to do and that she had never done anything that cool,” said Halverson, an all-state dancer.

The tryouts were nothing like she imagined, and she found out the “reality” show “Making the Team” isn’t very real. She and her fellow applicants had to redo several scenes, such as entering the room several times before the camera people approved it all. “The cameras dictated what went on,” Halverson said.

Sixteen years of practicing for the moment evaporated in one single minute of tryout time. Halverson and other applicants had one minute to do a freestyle dance to a musical piece randomly picked by the judges.

She was No. 15 out of 513 girls trying out that day, so there wasn’t much time to worry. There were girls from all over the world, including Japan and North Korea. There were also two grandmothers among those trying out.

Unfortunately, the former Miss Onalaska contestant wasn’t “cute” enough for the Dallas Cowboys. Turns out appearance counted a lot more than performance, Halverson said. “How cute you looked when you were dancing counted for so much more than I thought it would. Here, it’s much more about technique as well as performance.”

Also, she said, it seemed contestants scored bonus points for each glittering rhinestone.

“I was trying to hold back my tears while I left,” she said. “I hardly made it out of the gate. It was very overwhelming and emotional and exhausting.”

For consolation, she remembered a coach once telling her that even if you are the prettiest shade of purple, if they are looking for blue, you’re never going to get it.

The Cowboys were looking for blue, it seems.

She saw a camera focused on her as she left. Halverson lifted her head up.

“As disappointing as it was not to make it, I feel better,” she said. “I thought I would feel like a huge failure. It’s just the opposite.”

Anna Marden
The Boston Globe
5/21/2012

Dancers hoping to be selected for a coveted spot on the Celtics dance team attended a workshop May 20 to help them prepare for the tryouts next month.

About 45 girls turned out for the workshop, where current Celtics Dancers taught them a routine and gave tips on how to get ready before the auditions.

Auditions take place at the end of June and will be held in Boston, New York and Los Angeles. Visit the Celtics Dancers’ audition webpage for more information.

[photo gallery]

By Chris Dunker
Beatrice Daily Sun
5/18/2012

“America’s Sweethearts” dance, cheer and help out in the community.

They are the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.

Jillian Utley, who graduated last weekend with the Beatrice High School class of 2012, tried out for the squad a week prior to graduation on a whim.

“We were watching the show (“Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team”) and I thought it looked really cool,” Utley said. “My mom asked if it was something I wanted to do, and I said yes.”

Utley, who has been “dancing since I could walk,” and was a member of the BHS Dance Team, thought it to be a unique opportunity, so she filled out the paperwork, signed the waivers and TV release forms and paid the $25 fee to try out.

“We went down to practices first — you can practice before the actual tryouts — and we have family down there so we were able to stay with them,” Utley said. “Once you get to the actual tryouts, they have a walk-through the night before.”

Each potential cheerleader tells the 16-judge panel their name, age and where they are from, in addition to something unique about themselves, Utley said.

“I said my name is Jill and I’m 18 and from Nebraska,” she said. “And since I was named Jill, I was determined to marry someone named Jack.’

Her comment caught the eye of one of the television producers, Utley said. She hopes the moment may land her on the first episode of “Making the Team.”

After introductions, each woman is given 30 seconds to do a freestyle dance to a random musical selection.

“You don’t want to go in with a particular routine in mind because it might not work with the music,” Utley explained. “You just really want to get their attention.’

A total of 609 women tried out for the team. After the first round of tryouts, the judges narrow the pool to 150 women.

Utley didn’t make the first cut, but that hasn’t dampened the appeal of one day cheering for a professional football team.

“Once college is over with, I think I want to try that again and see how it goes,” she said. Many of the other women who tried out for the squad were 25 and older.

“It’s definitely on my bucket list,” she said.

RESPONSIBILITIES include but are not limited to:

• Schedule and coordinate all performance team auditions and workshops. Includes assisting with marketing efforts, leading recruiting efforts, choreographing audition dance routines and conducting interviews.
• Responsible for executing the Houston Rockets’ creative vision and ensuring the teams adhere to organizational standards.
• Responsible for all performance teams’ paperwork – new hire, payroll, etc.
• Maintain budgets for performance teams.
• Maintain files for revenue-generating performance events (camps and clinics).
• Carry out supervisory responsibilities for assigned staff in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include: training employees; planning, assigning and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing issues and solving problems and regularly communicating with staff.
• Choreograph routines performed at home games throughout the Rockets season as well as special events; teach routines to ensure all team members are prepared to meet performance expectations.
• Schedule, organize, conduct and manage rehearsals; ensure all team members are adequately prepared to perform.
• Provide design, order, organize and maintain uniforms for all performance teams.
• Design photo shoots and print items process for each team.
• Direct performers at all home games, rehearsals and special events.
• Attend all games, clinics, camps, etc. and monitor quality of performances.
• Maintain the professionalism of the performance teams by monitoring hair, make-up, physical fitness and on and off the court behavior.
• Establish all sponsor-able items for performers (i.e. stylists, gym memberships, skin care, teeth whitening, tanning, etc.).
• Coordinate performance teams promotional appearances on a regular basis; communicates team appearance dates, times, etc. to all team members.
• Assist in generating new ideas for performance teams. This includes new music, choreography, theme performances, etc.
• Demonstrates our One Team philosophy of Passion, Accountability, Customer Focus and Teamwork.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum three years of professional dance team experience.
• High School diploma or GED required; college degree preferred
• Skill in the creation and execution of dance routines for public performances.
• Must have a strong knowledge of several dance styles.
• Strong live entertainment background.
• Has to be able to balance a corporate structure and creative entertainment world.
• Needs to be able to work well with others in a team oriented environment.
• Must be able to lead and motivate dancers.
• Needs to be able to quickly assemble performances in any space.
• Must be able to read audiences and adjust performances accordingly.
• Flexibility with an often-evolving schedule of events, appearances, games, etc.
• Detail oriented with excellent organizational skills.
• Excellent administrative and time management skills.
• Able to meet tight deadlines and work effectively in a high pressure environment.
• Familiar with today’s trends in music and fashion.
• Excel at motivating performers and leading by example.
• Must be able to work evenings and weekends as required.

PHYSICAL & MENTAL REQUIREMENTS:

• While performing the duties of the job, the employee is regularly required to stand, sit, walk, use handle or feel, reach, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, talk and hear.
• The vision requirement includes close vision and ability to adjust focus.
• Nature of position requires physical mobility and the ability to lift a minimum of 20 pounds.
• Must have ability to adjust to changing work hours and locations as needed.

Note: When you apply for this job online, you will be required to answer the following questions:

1. Can you provide us with a demo reel?

[Apply for this position]

Click here to check out a photo gallery from Saturday’s Cincinnati Bengals Cheerleaders final audition at Newport Syndicate in Newport, Kentucky.

By Vickie Jurkowski
Naperville Patch
May 17, 2012

Mekial Singleton learned at a young age that if she wanted to accomplish her dreams she had to toughen up and work hard.

In fourth grade, she attended her older brother John’s meet-the-football-players event at Downers Grove South High School.

“I saw the Phillies on stage and I was star struck,” Singleton said of the school dance team and the moment she knew what she wanted to pursue. “I was very determined and diligent.”

Singleton, who was born and raised in Bolingbrook and moved with her family to Plainfield in 2008, made the Phillies varsity team as a freshman and served as captain junior and senior years.

After graduation in 2004, she heard a radio commercial that would change her life.

She had started summer drills with the Cardettes dance team at North Central College in Naperville, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and master’s in leadership studies with a focus on futuristic terrorism.

“I was listening to B96 on a Friday and heard about Chicago Rush Adrenaline Rush Dancers auditions that Saturday,” Singleton, 26, said. “I told my mom about it, printed the application at the library and the next day at 7 a.m. went in to auditions in a basic black sports bra and dance pants and there was a line of 200 decked-out women in glitter and makeup and all.”

After morning routines and lunch, Singleton said she was so intimidated she wanted to go home. But her mom Edna encouraged her to return. “And she was driving,” she said with a laugh.

After an afternoon of more routines, cuts and callbacks, Singleton was one of two 18-year-olds who made the team.

“It wound up being the best experience and best choice I’ve made in my life and I owe it to my mom for telling me to believe in myself,” Singleton said.

“We were taking a chance as that was the first year we lowered our age limit from 21 to 18,” dance coach Gloria Esposito said. “We knew right away that Mekial was a great person inside and out. To this day she has never swayed that decision for me. She continues to be extremely dedicated to the Rush, her fellow teammates and me.”

Singleton served three years as a co-captain of the dance team before being promoted to captain this season, which finds the Chicago Rush leading the Arena Football League national conference central division with a record of 6-2. Remaining home games at Allstate Arena in Rosemont are June 3, 16 and 30 and July 8.

As dance captain, Mekial is responsible for contributing choreography for auditions and the feature dances, which are performed after the third quarter. A different feature is performed at each of the nine home games.

“She is my right-hand girl when I am not around,” Esposito said. “I know that I can count on her to help me no matter what is needed. Every year she comes back eager as ever to get the new team under way.”

Being an Adrenaline Rush dancer and captain involves more than showing off hip-hop moves for diehard fans.

“It teaches you how to work with other people and be patient when learning new things, how to approach team members with friendly, constructive criticism and respect,” said Singleton, especially when mastering new choreography, which can be frustrating. “It teaches you how to take things one at a time and apply that to life to pace yourself.”

In addition to home games and practice two nights a week, the dancers appear at corporate, community and charity events throughout the season.

“We visit sick patients at hospitals, go to nursing homes and go to local cheer competitions and junior football games all over Illinois, from Huntley to Dixon to Bloomington,” she said. “It’s nice to step into a child’s shoes and see girls whose dreams are to dance and boys who want to play football. It opens you up to a lot of people and experiences.”

Dancers often tailgate with fans and sign autographs after games. Fans treat the dancers, who are only paid for home games, to food and drink at restaurants to watch away games, and host various events, such as a recent sold-out fan night at Brunswick Zone in Woodridge.

“We do it because we love it, love to dance, for the love of football and love of our fans,” Singleton said. “We get paid through friendships and that’s the best compensation.”

Dancers are expected to juggle the demands of the Chicago Rush season around college and careers.

For Singleton, that means interning in a secretarial position at the Dirksen Federal Building in Chicago in hopes of one day working in national security, and helping at John’s Rib House in Lisle. Her parents Edna and John opened the restaurant after retiring from, respectively, teaching and Chicago Carbon. Co. and Unocal oil refinery in Lemont.

“I love to cook with my mom,” Singleton said. “She always pulled me into the kitchen at a young age and I’d have flour on my face and dough in my hair.”

Her mom also enrolled her in gymnastics at a young age and then in ballet, jazz and hip-hop classes at the YMCA. Singleton cheered and danced with the Downers Grove Panther Youth Football and Cheer organization in fourth through eighth grades.

“I definitely credit my dad and my mom because they have been there with me through everything to teach me life lessons and to stand my ground,” Singleton said.

She also credits her brother John for being a role model. He earned a track scholarship from Lewis University in Romeoville and was ranked 13th in the nation for hurdles.

Singleton, who is single, said she hopes her internship will eventually lead into a career with the CIA or FBI. For now, she’s content to cook ribs and bake peach cobbler, travel the state meeting fans, do choreography and dance.

“I have no intentions of stopping. As long as the good Lord lets me keep dancing, I will,” she said. “I love dancing with my girls and I love the fans, who are some of the most diehard fans in Chicago. I thank Gloria for bringing me back every year.”