There was a great turnout for yesterday’s Clippers Spirit audition prep class! It was a terrific opportunity for aspiring dance team candidates to meet the Director, Audrea Harris, Assistant Director Cheryl Aure-Azurin, and a few Spirit alumni: Jessie, Brittany, Nicole, Melissa, and Brilane. (Click here for photos.)

Most of the afternoon was spent learning and performing a new combination choreographed by Cheryl. First, The Spirit girls (who had only learned the dance an hour beforehand) performed for the class, and then Cheryl started breaking down the counts. I swear, I hear that “Boom Boom Pow” song every day, and I had no idea the tempo was so fast.

Cheryl taught an 8-ct or two, then the group would do it a few times with the counts, then they’d do it a couple of times with music, and then she’d teach the next 8-ct. The Spirit girls were spread out in the crowd to help demonstrate and answer questions.

After they’d learned the whole combination and done it a few times, Audrea and Cheryl had them perform it in groups of six. Afterward, Audrea said they’d done very well, but she wanted them to try it again and really perform it - smile, attack the moves, keep it sharp, and make it clean. All of the girls took that advice to heart , and the second round of performances was really fun to watch.

Lesson learned: You can’t underestimate the importance of “selling” your performance.

It was a fast couple of hours. After all of the dancing was over, some girls had to leave, but most stayed for a Q&A session. There were lots of questions about everything - the audition process, what to wear, game night, choreographers, professionalism, time commitment, and balancing life as a Spirit Dancer with your life as a student, employee, race car driver, poet, turkey farmer, or whatever else you have going on.

There were lots and lots of questions.

By the end of the day, all of the girls had a MUCH better idea of what to expect and how to prepare for auditions. Tryouts aren’t for another 4 weeks, so the girls have a good amount of time to work on anything that needs to be improved between now and then.

Speaking for myself, I can’t wait to see these girls bring it on audition day. See you July 25th, ladies!

img src=”http://www.procheerleaderblog.com/blog/images/2008/Apr/RealDeal1.jpg” alt=”Real Deal Workshop”br /br /Are you an aspiring professional cheerleader/dancer in the Houston area?br /Need some tips on what to do to make the team? Are you a current professional cheerleader/dancer wanting to know the secrets on keeping your spot when you re-audition?br /br /Real Answers. Real Choreography. Real Directors Choreographers. Realbr /Simple. No fluff. No fakeness. No nonsense.br /br /br /span style=”font-weight:bold;”The Real Deal Workshop Info:/spanbr /br /span style=”font-weight:bold;”Date:/spanbr /br /Sunday, March 22, 2009br /Registration 11:30 AMbr /Event starts 1:00 PMbr /br /span style=”font-weight:bold;”Location:/spanbr /br /Humble Civic Centerbr /8233 Will Clayton Pkwybr /Humble, TX 77338br / br /span style=”font-weight:bold;”2009 Guest Instructors:/spanbr /br /Tammy Norris-Captain, Houston Aeros Aero Dynamics, Derric Whitfield-Director, Houston Energy Cheerleaders Texas Copperheads Dance Team and More!br /br /br /Visit a href=”http://www.allpro3.com/wantToBeAProFlyer.htm” target=”_blank”AllPro3.com/a for more details and registration information.

Recently, WGN Morning News reporter Ana Belaval spent a morning with Tricia Keating of Pro Dancers Edge to learn what it takes to become a professional cheerleader.br /br /img src=”http://www.procheerleaderblog.com/blog/images/2008/Sep/prodancersedge1.jpg” alt=”Pro Dancers Edge”br /br /Throughout the morning broadcast, Ana interviewed Tricia while the team from Pro Dancers Edge showed Ana how to style her hair and make-up for auditions, focused on fitness routines to prepare for the long season, taught Ana basic dance and sidelines routines and addressed the keys to handling the interview process.br /br /The Web site for Pro Dancers Edge has added a collection of behind-the-scenes photos from the morning show, they can be found at a href=”http://www.prodancersedge.com” target=”_blank”ProDancersEdge.com/a.br /br /img src=”http://www.procheerleaderblog.com/blog/images/2008/Sep/prodancersedge2.jpg” alt=”Pro Dancers Edge”br /br /Pro Dancers Edge is based in suburban Chicago and provides consultations for ladies seeking to become professional cheerleaders/dancers. Tricia Keating, President of Pro Dancers Edge, has danced with many professional sports teams, including the Tampa Bay Storm. She also created and directed the Slaughter Girls, the dance team for the Chicago Slaughter indoor football team.br /br /a href=”http://www.prodancersedge.com/” target=”_blank”[Pro Dancers Edge]/a

img src=”http://www.polarbearrepublic.com/images/sasha/Texans/2008HTCatPRO_3sm.jpg”br /Texans.com has posted a few photos from the squad’s recent trip to Atlanta for the P.R.O. workshop. Click a href=”http://www.houstontexans.com/gallery.asp?section_id=491″here/a to see what they were up to.

img src=”http://www.procheerleaderblog.com/blog/images/2008/Apr/RealDeal2.jpg” alt=”Real Deal Workshop”br /br /Last weekend’s 5th Annual Real Deal Workshop put on by a href=”http://www.ALLPro3.com” target=”_blank”AllPro3/a was a huge success.br /br /Nearly 160 girls, the biggest turnout ever, showed up at Houston’s Humble Civic Center to learn what it takes to be a professional cheerleader.br /br /Aspiring Cheerleaders were lined up early to pick the brains of the three guest choreographers: Marilu Harman from the MLS Houston Dynamo Girls, Erica Davis from the WNBA Houston Comets Team NRG, and Alto Gary from the Houston Texans Cheerleaders.br /br /img src=”http://www.procheerleaderblog.com/blog/images/2008/Apr/RealDeal1.jpg” alt=”Real Deal Workshop”br /br /This year’s new format included even more dancing.br /br /br /img src=”http://www.procheerleaderblog.com/blog/images/2008/Apr/RealDeal3.jpg” alt=”Real Deal Workshop”br /br /Our good friends at a href=”http://www.thelineup.net” target=”_blank”The Line Up/a once again sponsored the Workshop and had actual costumes for sale that the girls could purchase for upcoming auditions.br /br /Staff Force was on hand with tons of information to help the girls prepare for the all-important interview, a critical part of pro cheerleading auditions.br /br /There, of course, were the usual ’sneaky sneaky’ tips that were given out about how to make it further in the audition process, how to outshine the girl dancing next to you, and how to land a spot on the team. Sorry, we can’t share any of those with you here on the blog, all the girls from the Workshop are planning in using this ‘Top Secret’ info for themselves!

span style=”font-weight:bold;”Pro Dancers Edge Presents Seminar to Help Professional Cheerleaders and Dancers Make the Final Cut./spanbr /br /Pro Dancers Edge will present a seminar for cheerleaders and dancers preparing to audition with pro sports teams. The seminar, “The Keys to Making the Final Cut” will be held April 13, 2008 at the Holiday Inn Select in Naperville, Illinois, from 9:00 AM – 12:00 Noon. Participants can register and pay on-line at the a href=”http://www.prodancersedge.com” target=”_blank”Pro Dancers Edge Web site/a and the cost is $75 per person when payment is made on-line with a credit card. Seating is limited and pre-registration is required.br /br /“Auditions for professional cheer and dance teams have become highly competitive,” says Tricia Keating, President of Pro Dancers Edge, “and it’s not enough to be attractive and a good dancer. Our seminar will share the information that can improve your chances to make a favorable impression on the judges and make it to the final cut.”br /br /“With 15+ years experience as a professional cheerleader and several more years as the Director of professional dance teams, I know what it takes to succeed at a professional level of cheerleading and dancing.” adds Ms. Keating. “Having organized br /and judged various auditions, it was disappointing to see women make the same mistakes when they were so close to actually earning a spot with professional teams – our seminar will point out strategies and tips to avoid those common mistakes.” br /Among the topics presented during the seminar are: Make an impression with your application, Understand the professional cheer/dance audition process, Prepare for your audition, Hair and make-up tips, Workout/training program, Stand out during the interview, and other related topics.br /br /“Most women focus on dance and choreography when they prepare for an audition,” adds Ms. Keating, “but the truth is, most candidates never make it that far because they haven’t taken the steps necessary to impress the judges and advance to the dance portion of the audition. It’s common to seek out dance instructors to help improve dancing technique – and now candidates can attend our seminar to focus on the other important steps and keys to make the final cut.”br /br /img src=”http://www.procheerleaderblog.com/blog/images/2008/Mar/trish_01pde.jpg” alt=”Pro Dancers Edge”br /br /Tricia Keating, President of Pro Dancers Edge, brings a wealth of information garnered from her experience as a professional cheerleader/dancer with the Tampa Bay Storm, the Chicago Rockers, the Kane County Eagles, the Rockford Lightning and the Chicago Slaughter. In addition, Ms. Keating has been the Director for the Slaughter Girls (Chicago Slaughter – CIFL) and the Lady Eagles (Kane County Eagles – NAFL).

Wanting to become a PRO? Then check out the Real Deal Seminars. Get the inside tips from Cheerleader Directors on auditioning, tryout etiquette, and costume selection. Also learn combinations from the NFL, NBA, AFL, and NHL. br /br /centerimg src=”http://www.procheerleaderblog.com/blog/images/2008/Mar/realdlogo08-1.jpg” alt=”Real Deal”br /br /img src=”http://www.procheerleaderblog.com/blog/images/2008/Mar/RealDeal08.jpg” alt=”Real Deal”/centerbr /br /Date: March 30, 2008br /Location: Humble Civic Center, 8233 Will Clayton Parkwaybr /Humble, Texas 77338br /Registration: 12 noonbr /Program start: 1pm-5pmbr /br /Guest Choreographers and Speakers:br /Brandii McCoy, Charlotte Checkers CheckMates NBA Charlotte Bobcatsbr /Alto Gary, NFL Houston Texans Cheerleadersbr /Erica Davis, WNBA Houston Comets NRGbr /br /To register for the Real Deal Workshop go a href=”http://www.shop.allpro3.com/main.sc” target=”_blank”here/a.