The Dark Angels Dance Team is proud to introduce  Courtney G. Holland as their new choreographer.

Courtney is a native of Miami, FL and a senior accounting major at Howard University. Courtney’s love and passion for dance is innate: her parents are both dance teachers (certified by Florida Dance Masters) and have owned a dance studio in Miami for the past 23 years. Beginning at the age of two, she progressively trained in ballet, tap, jazz, modern, and pointe. As her technique developed, Courtney began entering in state competitions. Her first introduction to the competition circuit was through Florida Dance Masters, at the age of 13, in the Rising Stars division. From there, she moved on to compete in the Jr. Miss Dance and Miss Dance divisions as well as competing in the Royal Festival group division. In 2004 and 2005, Courtney was a regional winner in NAACP’s ACT-SO competition — this triumph in the dance division allowed her participate in a showcase with fellow Floridian winners and compete at the national level in Philadelphia (2004) and Milwaukee (2005). In late 2005, Courtney was offered a partial scholarship with the Dance Theatre of Harlem’s Summer Intensive program, at the pre-professional level.

Upon entering college, Courtney joined the Howard University Bisonette Dance Ensemble in 2007 and was named captain for the 2009-2010 season. During her tenure as captain, the team performed at various venues throughout the District — some of which include Gallaudet University, several performances for Howard University’s homecoming week, and the YMCA in Bowie, MD. During the same year, Courtney choreographed their jazz routine for UDA’s Collegiate National Championships; Howard University was the only Historically Black College/University in attendance. With the help of other members of the team, Courtney helped construct the Howard University Junior Bisonette Mentorship Program — a weekly program dedicated to educating underprivileged girls, in the Howard community, about dance.
Courtney is excited to be a part of the Dark Angels team, and is looking forward to an amazing season!

The Dark Angels cheer for the  Maryland Reapers, who are  new members of the American Indoor Football league.

If you think about the two most renowned cheerleading squads in professional sports, you probably would think the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and the Lakers Girls.  Why?  They represent two of the most successful teams in their respective sports and as such garner the most notoriety.   And they are the only two squads that have had movies made about them…at least to my knowledge.

They are the best of the best.  And in the NBA, the gold standard is the Laker Girls.

Continue reading The Gold Standard – The Laker Girls

Are you a current, former or prospective professional dancer or cheerleader? Does your team need fresh choreography? Would you like to meet others in the industry or hear about audition opportunities?

Then get ready for the DC Pro Dance Workshop on Saturday, February 11, 2012,  the Ohio Pro Dance Workshop in Cincinnati, OH on Saturday, February 18, 2012, and the Miami Pro Dance Workshop in Miami, FL on Sunday, February 19, 2012!

** Learn choreography from elite alumni and directors
** Representing the NFL, NBA, AFL, MLS, and MLB
** Get tips from the pros on fitness, nutrition, makeup, attire and more
** Network with other performers from the east coast (and beyond!)
** Receive giveaways from sponsors including attire and cosmetics

Click to link to learn more about the choreographers and presenters.

[DC Pro Dance Workshop]

[Ohio Pro Dance Workshop]

[Miami Pro Dance Workshop]

Check out the 2011-12 Orlando Magic Dancers in action and vote on which routine you enjoyed watching the most.

This edition features five sizzling sections that were performed at Magic games in January.

The routine with the most votes will advance to the final round later in the season.

[See the routines and cast your vote here]

The Suns Dancers is updated with new photos and video of the 2011-12 squad.

[Phoenix Suns Dancers]

American Ninja Warrior 4 is looking for male and female fitness buffs, hikers, gymnasts, rock climbers, coaches, moms & dads, college students, park-tour runners, extreme athletes and whoever thinks they can beat the course! Why would anyone do this? YOU COULD WIN $500,000.00!!

[Complete Audition Information]

By Ed Yevelev
Lodi News

After fulfilling a personal dream by joining the Oakland Raiderettes, Harmony Rebeiro has made a career of molding future professional dancers.

Her newest launching pad will be right here in Lodi.

It was 10 years ago that Rebeiro opened up her first dance performance studio in French Camp, a tiny two-room space in a warehouse that drew around 40 students. She would add another, larger Dance and Cheer Stars in her native Manteca that took in over 150 pupils.

And tomorrow at 11 a.m., a musicand food-filled celebration will mark the grand opening of her newest location, over on 167 Commerce Street. Classes officially kick off on Feb. 6, with the studio providing youth classes in tap, ballet, jazz, hip-hop and lyrical dance, as well as cheerleading.

For Harmony and her husband and co-owner, Paul, it was a fast, wild ride to this new spot — and it all came together during a New Year’s trip to Philadelphia.

“We had been talking about franchising. I got a phone call saying there was a studio that was going to be going out of business, and if we were interested,” said Rebeiro, who now lives in Lathrop.

“We had a meeting on the Tuesday that we came back, and we decided Thursday we’re gonna go. We’ve had the keys for two weeks, and everyone’s really excited, and our staff has really come through.”

Indeed, ace instructors are what Dance and Cheer Stars carries in bunches, and what Rebeiro thinks set her brand of dance studios apart. Not only has every teacher gone on to dance with NBA or NFL teams — including fellow Raiderettes — but each one has done so after coming through Rebeiro’s studio.

In other words, those who want to eventually compete at the highest level can find an avenue through Rebeiro.

“What makes us unique is that I have shown I can turn the kids into professionals,” she says. “We have kids that don’t want to be professional, they just want to come and dance. And we have that. But if they want to take the next step, get jobs and work in the industry, we’ve had a huge turn-around and I think that makes us different.”

With her little son, Bryce, in her arms, Rebeiro walks into her newest studio on Wednesday afternoon, fresh from teaching classes back in Manteca. As she gives a grand tour of the spacious location — featuring two sizable dance practice rooms, with the office walls painted in a bold scheme of pink, black and white — Rebeiro is undeniably amicable, but above all else, exudes knowledge and passion about her craft. She talks about trying out three different times before becoming a Raiderette for the 2005 and 2006 seasons; about the importance of teaching kids ballet, despite its unpopularity, because it truly contains “the fundamentals of dance”; and her love for the challenge of tap dancing, which she reverently calls a “big puzzle” that “messes with your mind and your feet.”

“Kids will come in and be like, ‘It’s so hard, dance is so hard,’” Rebeiro said. “I always tell them, if dance was easy, I wouldn’t have a job. You need someone who can teach it.”

Our good friend Phil was at Buffalo Bandits home opener a couple of weeks ago.

Check out Phil’s blog and photos of the Bandettes here.

[Buffalo Bandettes]