By Mark Shanahan & Merdith Goldstein Boston.com
July 24, 2009
NESN’s Heidi Watney, Shayna Seymour of “Chronicle,’’ Miss Connecticut Monica Pietrzak, Miss Massachusetts Alison Cronin, and JAM’N 94.5 morning DJs Ramiro and Melissa were just a few of the notables on the guest list last night for the Celtics Dancers final auditions at the House of Blues. The competition – which had 44 women competing for 17 spots – was emceed by Kiss 108’s Billy Costa and was to include, not surprisingly, a swimsuit competition. [Click here for photos from finals]
Congrats to the 16 dancers selected to the 2009-10 Indiana Pacers Pacemates dance team. This year’s group includes 10 returning veterans and 6 newbies.
Orlando Magic Dancer Captain Megan Clementi, who entered the pageant as Miss Volusia County USA, beat out 49 other contestants to take the crown Saturday evening.
No stranger to Central Florida, Megan was a former Miss University of Central Florida, crowned in 2006. She was the first runner-up for Miss Florida that same year.
A five-year veteran of the Magic’s dance team, Megan was on the sidelines as the Blue and White made their run to the NBA Finals.
As Miss Florida USA, Megan will go on to compete in the Miss USA 2010 pageant, with a chance to compete for Miss Universe from there.
Former New Orleans Saintsation Lynn O’Brien runs her own Cheer and Dance Camps. But the most important thing Lynn wishes the girls would take away from the camps is not cheer and dance technique. She wants each girl to walk away from her clinics and classes with a smile, pride, and knowledge that they can use in the future. Lynn says, “It is a rough world out there, especially for girls.”
Lynn with a dance camp class
Before we get back to the camps, here’s a little about Lynn. She danced on her high school dance team, the Goldenettes at Turner High School in Kansas City, Kansas. She was also a UDA All-Star Dancer. Lynn had always wanted to cheer for the NFL growing up. After high school she met her then boyfriend (now husband) David and moved to New Orleans after dating long distance for two years.
She started college at the University of New Orleans and worked as a waitress. One of the girls she met waitressing was on a dance team, the “Dominators of Dance”, that performed at Mardi Gras Parades. Lynn tried out and made that team. Unfortunately her friend that had introduced her to was kicked off the team for not perfecting a signature move. Lynn consoled her friend by saying, “Don’t worry, we’ll try out for the Saints”. Two months later they both tried out and made the team.
Since she had always loved pro football, Lynn says have that one of the most exciting parts of being a NFL Cheerleader was being so close to action. During one of the very first games she cheered at two players tackled with terrific force and impact just two feet from her. Lynn says that most of her teammates moved away, but she was too busy watching to see if the Saints still had the ball.
Her proudest moments as a Saintsation would come while visiting small towns outside of New Orleans. The people, the kids and the entire town were so grateful for the Sainsations appearances. Lynn says she felt such a great sense of pride when she stood under the hotel’s marquee that read “Welcome Saints Cheerleaders”. She says, “I know it’s a small thing, but you can’t take small things for granted.
Lynn on the set of Kansas City LIVE
Today Lynn runs Lynn O’Brien Cheer and Dance Camps. There are five-to-eight week long camps over the summer, as well as two day clinics and weekly classes. Lynn decided to start the camps just after she had her fist child, David. She was not ready to leave him for a long period of time and really wanted to dance again. She had an idea to hold a cheer camp where she would utilize her talents both as a dancer and as a teacher.
During the first camps the girls seem to really open up to her and talk about pretty important things. Lynn had 5 year-olds telling her they think they need to go on a diet! She realized the impact she could have on their lives. These girls really looked up to her, really listened to her and she had to take advantage of that.
A typical class begins with stretches, dance and cheer technique. Then they move on to free dance, where Lynn talks to the girls about moving to the music, if the music goes fast, dance fast, if the music moves slow, dance slow. Most importantly, Lynn tells them dance in a way that makes you feel good. She encourages the girls to use dance as a release of feelings. She advises, if you are happy, sad, mad, scared, just put on music in their room and dance and soon you will feel better.
Then they have “girl talk”. Lynn explains to the girls that now that they are on a dance team (cheer team) together they are best friends. They can rely on each other to learn and lean on. She brings up a topic and let the girls comment on their experiences and their thoughts. Some “girl talk” topics include: body image, giving to our community and those in need, standing up for yourself, healthy eating, smoking prevention, taking care of yourself, a positive body image and role models and much more.
Lynn gives all the girls her e-mail address and phone number in case they want to talk or just let her know how school is. She says she gets great e-mail updates and questions about issues the girls are facing at school.
Lynn says she is especially pleased when parents tell her stories of how their daughters came home and taught the family a lesson that Lynn taught them. One example Lynn cites is a mom who told her 6 year-old daughter had another girl that was being mean to her and mom asked her how she dealt with it. The girl said “I put on my best cheerleader smile and said, I am sorry you are having a bad day, but I care about you.” Her mom said, “You sound just like Ms. Lynn.”
Lynn says that each girl at each camp, class, and clinic holds a special place in her heart. She has had over 350 girls participate in her camps in the past five years and she can tell you something about each of those girls.
Lynn’s three-year old daughter Maddie is now participating in the camps and classes, and they have a great time making up the dances and learning from each other.
Lynn also has a clinic for the winter that is held one week before Christmas. The girls learn a fun Christmas dance, rockin’ around the Christmas tree, two cheers and we will talk about the importance of giving. And there are more clinics coming during Spring Break. And between camp, classes, teaching pre-school and raising her own children Lynn spends an astounding amount of time with kids, so how do she do it all and keep her sanity? Lynn says she adores children, her own and others. “Kids are amazing and have nothing but love to give. I have never loved a job so much. I love how excited the girls are, the way they look up to me, the impact I have on them. I also appreciate the parents. I think I would go insane without kids. I have a very goofy personality. I need to be crazy and silly and I just don’t think adults would get that.”
Lynn speaking about her Cheer and Dance Camp from Kansas City LIVE! Learn more about Lynn’s camps at LynnObrienCheer.com.
Auditions are underway for the 2009 Houston Rockets Power Dancers. Finals are coming up on July 21. Between now and then, you have a chance to vote for the 3 women you’d like to see on the team. Click here to cast your votes!
Date: August 1st 2009 Time: Registration – 9:00am, Audition – 10:00am
$10 registration fee at audition – Cash Only Location: Shops at Houston Center
Shops at Houston Center
Houston Aeros
Attn: Aero Dynamic Auditions
1221 Lamar St. Suite 1100
Houston, TX 77010
Applications must be received by July 20
REQUIREMENTS
Must have a full/part time Job or attend college full/part time
18 Years of Age by August 1st 2009 (NO EXCEPTIONS)
Reliable Transportation
Must attend all practices (Tuesdays & Thursdays), games, community and charitable appearances
WILL I NEED TO CHOREOGRAPH MY OWN DANCE?
Yes. You will be required to make up your own dance with your own 1 minute song choice (Please have edited music).
WHAT DO I WEAR?
Dance shorts to show your legs (required for uniforms)
Midriff-baring top (Dance or Athletic Bra-Top)
Dance or Athletic Shoes
Select attire that is eye catching and unique
HOW SHOULD I WEAR MY HAIR AND MAKE-UP?
Have your hair and make-up performance ready; please make sure to have your make-up to accent your natural beauty. Your hair should be fixed to the style it is currently in and not to hide your face.
HOW WILL THE AUDITION PROCESS GO?
Registration will start at 9am in the Park Shops Mall and you will be given a number when you register. You will then proceed to the photography area where you will be photographed with our photographer.
At 10am the auditions will begin and we will start to call out numbers randomly for each individual to perform their own 1 minute choreographed dance.
After every participant performs we will have a 30 minute lunch break.
You will then learn a 1 minute dance routine choreographed by a dance instructor and perform in groups in front of the judges.
WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING?
Your 1 minute choreographed music on a CD
Valid Drivers License
$10 Registration Fee (Cash Only)
Water
Snacks
IS BEING AN AERO DYNAMIC A FULL-TIME JOB?
No. Being an Aero Dynamic is time consuming and requires commitment to the Aeros for a full season. Aero Dynamic dancers do have full time jobs or attend college and is a volunteer position.
AUDITION LOCATION
Shops at Houston Center
1200 McKinney St., #545
Houston, TX 77010
Parking is available in the Shops at Houston Center garage at the corner of Austin and McKinney or at the parking meters on the streets around the building. Please bring cash for parking, an ATM is located in the Shops.
Charlotte Jacobs said she may have discovered some future Cincinnati Ben-Gals cheerleaders.
Nearly 70 girls between the ages of 5 and 16 spent their summer evenings July 6-10 at Oak Hills High School participating in the first ever dance camp put on by the Cincinnati Ben-Gals cheerleaders.
Jacobs, the director of cheerleading for the Cincinnati Bengals, said campers learned basic techniques, choreography and general fitness from some of the NFL’s best dancers during the week-long camp.
“The camp is all about having fun,” she said.
“We have several cute little girls who really know how to show off.”
Green Township resident and former Ben-Gal Julie Raleigh, coordinator of the camp, said more than half of the camp’s participants are underprivileged girls from around the Tristate.
She said girls from St. John’s outreach program in Over-the-Rhine, Rees E. Price Academy in Price Hill and the Special Olympics were given free scholarships to the camp thanks to sponsorships from the Shayne Graham Foundation, Mercy Hospital Western Hills and Mercy Franciscan at West Park.
“We think this camp is a unique opportunity,” Raleigh said.
“Some of these girls will experience another avenue of life that is not usually open to them. This experience is an opportunity for the girls to learn dance and just have so much fun,” she said.
Jacobs said the camp also helped kick-off this year’s Cincinnati Junior Ben-Gals program, an annual cheerleading program for young girls that culminates with a half-time performance during a Bengals game at Paul Brown Stadium.
“The camp is a way to better prepare these young ladies for when they go into their school seasons, and help the girls in our Junior Ben-Gal program get ready for their season,” Jacobs said.
Raleigh said campers learned two dance routines, which they performed for fans at the Florence Freedom baseball game on Thursday, July 9, to raise money for Special Olympics.
She said the camp featured special guest speakers each night, including a Hamilton County Sheriff’s deputy who talked to the girls about personal safety and the dangers of drugs and alcohol.
Members of the Oak Hills High School Oakettes drill team and cheerleading squads also helped out to make the week possible.
Additional Facts
Be a Junior Ben-Gal
Parents and girls who would like to learn more about the Cincinnati Junior Ben-Gals program can visit www.bengals.com/cheerleaders/junior-cheerleaders
The program runs from August to December and is open to 100 girls between the ages of 5 and 15 from around the Tristate. The Junior Ben-Gals season offers clinics designed to create and promote self-esteem, pride and confidence, and girls in the program learn performance fundamentals from Cincinnati Ben-Gals cheerleaders.
The program’s highlight is an on-field performance in front of 65,000 fans at Paul Brown Stadium during the 2009-2010 season.
The Philadelphia 76ers will hold the final round of auditions for the 2009-10 Sixers Dancers at Chickie’s & Pete’s (1526 Packer Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19145) on Monday, July 13. The 30 semi-finalists that advanced past the first-round of auditions will compete for a spot on the team beginning at 7:00pm
The event is free and open to the public.
All finalists will perform as a group followed by performances in groups of four. The Sixers Jr. Dancers and Alumni Dancers will perform as well throughout the evening.
Sixers public address announcer Matt Cord will emcee the event. Special guest judges include CBS-3 sports reporter Don Bell, NBC-10 anchor Dawn Timmeney, NBC-10 sports reporter John Clark, CSN anchor Marshall Harris, 100.3 the Beat’s radio hosts Charlamagne and Pooch, 610-WIP radio broadcaster Hugh Douglas, one of the East Coast’s top advertising and editorial photographers Michael Spain-Smith, and Pete Ciarrocchi of Chickie’s & Pete’s.
Under the direction of new Coach and former Sixers Dancer Dayna Nadler Hafetz, the Sixers Dancers are entering their 14th season as an integral part of the 76ers game entertainment package. The Sixers Dancers represent the 76ers organization at home games and many of the promotional and community appearances throughout the year.
During her seven years as a Sixers Dancer, Dayna had the opportunity to perform at both the NBA All-Star Game in 2000 and NBA Finals in 2001. Also during that time, she has performed alongside Will Smith, Destiny’s Child, Pink, Ludacris, and appeared on MTV’s Rock and Jock, ESPN Pro Dance Special, as well as various Comcast commercials and television specials.
Under the direction of new Coach and former Sixers Dancer Dayna Nadler Hafetz, the Sixers Dancers are entering their 14th season as an integral part of the 76ers game entertainment package. The Sixers Dancers represent the 76ers organization at home games and many of the promotional and community appearances throughout the year.
