Here’s your chance to see the making of the AVP Dancers’ 2010 swimsuit calendar. In early July, six members of the team traveled to the Dreams Resort and Spa in Los Cabos, Mexico for their very first calendar shoot. Over the course of a week, photographer Bruce Herman captured the beautiful images that now appear in the brand new calendar. After watching the video, you might want to check out the calendar for yourself. Click here to buy one.

The Los Angeles Lakers inaugural 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament was a big success last weekend. They had basketball, celebrities, game booths, giveaways, and lots of other fun for Laker Fans to enjoy. There was a variety of entertainment for the event, including the AVP Dancers, who were on hand all weekend to perform, sign autographs, and talk with Laker fans. Whitney, chief chick-in-charge of the AVP Dancers gave me a heads-up that they would be there, so I stopped by the tournament on Saturday to catch up with the girls. I’d not seen them perform before, so I was excited to go.

**I took a bunch of photos as usual. As always, you can view them in my Flickr gallery. (Click here.)**

Half of the team was there: Whitney of course, as well as Monica, Leigh Ann, Analuz, and Cachita. Cachita’s parents were there, fresh off the plane from Lincoln, Nebraska. The two of them couldn’t have been prouder. While her dad manned the video camera, her mom was beaming and pointing Cachita out to everyone in the vicinity. Cachita was lucky to have her fan club with her, snapping photos and telling everyone how proud they were! Their excitement was infectious. Honestly, they were two of the sweetest people I’ve met.


Leigh Ann

Cachita

Analuz

Monica

Whitney

The Lakers organization really kept the AVP Dancers busy! I was there for half of the day, and during that time, they performed twice (once on center court, once on stage), did two autograph sessions, and participated in a dance exercise demonstration with the crowd. It was a lot to do. Cachita even managed to her her Mom in on the act a couple of times.


The girls with Cachita’s mom and dad

The AVP tour is on the road right now, so you won’t get to see the girls perform at a game, but you never know where they will turn up next. This is the team’s first season and they have been a big success. Even now, Whitney is working on plans for next season. This year, she hand picked a terrific group of talented dancers. Next year, they will probably have auditions, so keep that in the back of your mind, So-cal girls!


Monica, Analuz, and Whitney

Performing at center court

I bullied these two into this photo. It was wrong. I’m sorry.
(If looks could kill, I’d be toast by now.)

Signing autographs

Analuz, Leigh Ann, and Monica

Cachita and Monica onstage

Life’s a beach for these talented ladies! The AVP Dancers are the first ever official dance team of the AVP Beach Volleyball Tour, which hits dozens of cities throughout the United States each year. The team was founded by Whitney Frink, a former Atlanta Falcons Cheerleader, who was inspired at the Beijing Olympics by the volleyball dancers.

Currently a producer for NBC’s “Access Hollywood” in Los Angeles, Whitney longed to perform again, but could not devote countless days to a demanding NBA or NFL practice and performance schedule. So she approached the AVP with a proposal, and the rest is sun-kissed history.

Check out the AVP Dancers on Facebook
Click here for the AVP Dancers YouTube Channel

All 11 talented beauties come from a variety of backgrounds and have a plethora of experience. Count the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders, the Laker Girls, the San Diego Charger Girls, the Denver Broncos Cheerleaders, the Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders, and the Carolina Panthers Cheerleaders among the long list of professional pasts on this team.

And they’ve already got a swimsuit calendar! Order your 2010 AVP Dancers swimsuit calendar, shot in Los Cabos, Mexico, at: VBsuperstore.com

Former Eagles Cheerleader Maria (seen here with her friend Derek) has landed a job dancing for Celebrity Cruises. She starts next month. Her ship will be traveling the Mediterranean and the Caribbean.

The San Francisco 49ers Gold Rush have completely redesigned their website with tons of new photos and video. Check it out here.

Former Eagles Cheerleader Alaina (left, seen here with former Eagles Cheerleader Kristie) is due to give birth on September 2nd. Congrats, Alaina!

Miami Dolphins Cheerleader and Florida Panthers Ice Dancer Brittany Freeman is Miss Miami Gardens and competes in the Miss Florida USA pageant this weekend.

New (at least to us) on Twitter:

Milwaukee Bucks Energee!

Atlanta Hawks A-Town Dancers

Phoenix Suns Dancers

Orlando Magic Dancers

Houston Rockets Power Dancers

Video:

Preview of the new AVP Dancers

Owing to the success of the 2004 Athens Olympics beach volleyball cheerleaders, the AVP has added a professional dance team to their beach volleyball tour.  Featuring a former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader, a former San Diego Charger Girl and a former Laker Girl, the AVP Dancers will premiere at the 2009 AVP Crocs Slam Bud Light Manhattan Beach Open this week.

Coincidentially, I have had the good fortune to photograph three of the AVP Dancers over the course of my photographic travels.

So, if you are in Southern California this weekend, head on over to Manhattan Beach and check out the AVP Dancers.