Twelve talented women visiting the troops in Kyrgyzstan were excited to be the recipients of some entertainment Jan. 27, 2010, when they went with Transit Center at Manas Airmen to a local music school.
Washington Redskins Cheerleaders, along with Airmen from the Transit Center at Manas, pose for a group photo with a sign that reads “Bishkek” during a cultural tour of the city in Kyrgyzstan.
While on an Armed Forces Entertainment tour here, the Washington Redskins cheerleaders visited the Abdraev Musical Boarding School in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, where the students enthralled their captive audience for 30 minutes.
“It’s humbling to see such gifted children put all the time and effort into sharing their talent with us and be so interested in [our] culture,” said Abigail Dymond, one of the cheerleaders. “I would never see this kind of thing if it weren’t for the Redskins and AFE.”
As the only musical school in the whole country, the Abdraev Musical Boarding School has drawn 450 1st- through 12th-grade students from all around the country.
“I am very glad to see Americans here,” said Zarema Kiyizbaeva, Deputy Director of the Abdraev Musical Boarding School and a pianist of more than 30 years. “We’ve always been glad to welcome you as guests and interact with you.”
Many of the students are not from full families, or are in difficult financial situations, but the performance they presented was breathtaking.
“It’s absolutely amazing to see such talent at such a young age,” said Master Sgt. Linda Mezza-Romero, the 376th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron community service flight chief who was responsible for the cheerleaders’ tour once they arrived at the Transit Center.
The school is more than 40 years old, and produces world-renown musicians who finish their musical educations at a conservatory in Moscow before moving on to work as professional musicians in other countries including the United States and all over Europe, Ms. Kiyizbaeva said.
The Washington Redskins Cheerleaders pass out candy to students from the Abdraev Musical Boarding School in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
All of the young musicians have rigorous academic programs that accompany their musical training, and many were able to interact with Airmen and the cheerleaders in a bit of English. Those who weren’t able to connect verbally or through a translator still had profound interactions with their American visitors.
“Art as a form transcends all language barriers,” said Talmesha Richards, a Redskins cheerleader. “Ours is dance, theirs is music; but it’s all the same, and we get to share it.”
Asanbekova Rano, a 17-year-old 10th grade student, amazed the crowd with her proficiency on the violin.
“I am very pleased you enjoyed my performance,” she said humbly. “I think the Americans are a very good and positive influence on the students here. Being able to perform for you motivates us to play better.”
But the honor of enjoying each others’ music goes both ways for the U.S. Air Force and the Abdraev Musical Boarding School. Just a few weeks ago, one of the U.S. Air Forces Central bands that was touring the area of responsibility performed for the students, creating quite the buzz.
“After the last Air Force band came through to play for the students, they were talking about it for two weeks,” Ms. Kiyizbaeva said.
The Washington Redskins Cheerleaders pose for a photograph in front of the guards during a history and cultural tour of downtown Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Similar to the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington, Va., guards stand to protect the Kygryz flag 24 hours a day.
“It’s hard to come in to work every day and call it a job when it’s this much fun,” said Sergeant Mezza-Romero, who is deployed from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. In her time here, she’s arranged for many tour groups and visitors from the United States to perform at the Transit Center and for the Kyrgyz people. “Not every place in the AOR can take (visitors) downtown, so it’s a good chance for them to see how the military interacts with the local community.”
It also shows the local community that military servicemembers and civilian Americans care very much about the country of Kyrgyzstan, said Staff Sgt. Tina McCloskey, the noncommissioned officer in charge of Shooters, a 376th EFSS recreation facility on the Transit Center.
“It meant the world to me to be able to interact with the kids and further establish community relations in our own small way,” said Megan Bressler, whose full time occupation outside of being a Redskins cheerleader is teaching an outreach dance program to children ages three through the 12th grade. “It’s cool to see them light up on stage when they look up and see me smiling at them.”
Although they were here in Kyrgyzstan to raise troop morale for transiting Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines, the Redskins agreed it was a nice bonus to see the city of Bishkek and the gifted students of the Abdraev Musical Boarding School.
“I know we give back to the troops, but who else gets to do this?” Ms. Dymond said. “It was just absolutely incredible.”
On January 16, 2010, the Honorable Bob McDonnell will be inaugurated as the 71st governor of Virginia. Bob’s wife Maureen was a Washington Redskinette for 3 seasons (1974, 75, 76), and has been an active member of the Washington Redskins Cheerleaders Alumni Association (WRCAA) for the past 25 years. The WRCAA and the Redskins band have been invited to participate in the Inaugural parade and several alumni will be attending the Inaugural ball. The Washington Redskins Cheerleaders are not only the “First Ladies of Football”, but now will have a First Lady of the Great State of Virginia.
Group picture taken with WRC alumni and Bob and Maureen on Election Night: left to right: Redskins Cheerleader Alumna Tyra Norwood, Governor-elect Bob McDonnell, First Lady-elect Maureen McDonnell, WRCAA President Terri Lamb, and Redskins Cheerleader Alumna Sherri Paugh.
Update: A list of politically connected Cheerleaders:
Debra Brady, the wife of Pennsylvania Congressman Bob Brady cheered for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Jeanette Dousdebes Rubio, the wife of former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives and current US Senate Candidate Marco Rubio, cheered for the Miami Dolphins.
Dr. Jennifer Horrell, the wife of three-term Missouri State Representative and 2008 Democratic nominee for Lt. Governor Dr. Sam Page, cheered for the Kansas City Chiefs.
After San Diego’s 11th straight win — this time with backups! — second-year Charger Girl Tonya believes even Vegas is underestimating her team’s Super Bowl heat. Even if it does have to face the Patriots.
On a Sunday when seemingly every AFC game had potential playoff implications, one Week 17 matchup truly didn’t. The Chargers, already locked in as that conference’s No. 2 seed, rested several stars, and the Redskins, playing for pride (again), stuck with their starters. In a season so smiled-upon you could call them the Charmers, was it any surprise that second-string QB Billy Volek’s last-minute TD pass delivered a 23-20 San Diego victory?
Yet Coach Norv Turner, fired by Washington ten years ago, wasn’t the only ex-Redskin smiling. Thanks to a couple of cross-country moves, Charger Girls captain Tonya has also cheered for the Cardinals and ‘Skins. “I’ve been called a free agent,” she jokes. She has another team, too. A Navy surviving spouse, Tonya co-founded Sweethearts for Soldiers, a nonprofit group of former NFL Cheerleaders and NBA Dancers that performs morale-boosting shows all over the globe. “We go from the sidelines to the front lines to support our true heroes, the troops,” she explains. Now working on an MBA, this go-getting Web development company owner has equally ambitious goals for the 13-3 Bolts.
ESQUIRE: When San Diego lost at home to Denver to fall to 2-3 way back in October, did you have any notion the team would finish the season winning 11 straight?
TONYA: Wow. We try to be as optimistic as possible, but a winning season and playoffs were what we hoped for. Getting the offense to gel and getting the defense back up were the main things on our minds. The cheerleaders are really excited. That game against the Bengals a couple weeks ago was so loud it was incredible. I told the rookies on my line, “This is how a playoff game is.”
ESQ: With playoff position secured, you don’t want guys getting rusty, but you also don’t want them getting hurt — like the Pats losing Wes Welker to a knee injury. How’d you feel about Turner keeping stars like Shawne Merriman and Vincent Jackson off the field today?
T: Well, they actually have injuries that need to heal. Philip Rivers and LT played early, but we didn’t want them getting hurt either. So that was a great call. For team morale and momentum, this win really put us over the top. It’s nice to end on a high note, and go into the playoffs with the second seed and a bye.
ESQ: LT had his first sub-thousand-yard season. Merriman had just four sacks. What’s been the key to piling up wins with two of the team’s most visible stars struggling a bit?
T: Consistency on both sides of the ball. We are always there. Rivers and Jackson connect week after week. LT maybe held back a couple of times, but he’s healthy and he’ll be there for the playoffs. Norv Turner has made all the right calls this year, and the stars have aligned in our favor.
ESQ: Besides Pro Bowl snub Jackson, who else doesn’t get enough credit for one of the best seasons in Chargers history?
T: On defense, we’ve been incredible, from Stephen Cooper to Eric Weddle to Kevin Burnett. It’s hard to pick out one player because so many have contributed. Look at the game today — our second string steps up and we still pull off a win. That just shows how much heart and passion and drive and talent we’ve got. And that makes 18 straight wins in December for Rivers.
ESQ: Speaking of Rivers — great, or really, really great?
T: I would have to say amazing. Over-the-top fantastic MVP. Each year he gets better and better. This will be our fourth consecutive AFC West championship. And beating the Redskins, I guess you can give us an NFC East title as well — we beat all their teams this season. Just a great team leader who gets the job done above and beyond — knowing where he is, what call he needs to make, being patient in the pocket. He hit his career high in passing yards this year.
ESQ: Which playoff team keeps you up at night?
T: You don’t want to overlook the Colts, but for this team, I would have to say the Pats, just because of our history with them. They’ve knocked us out twice in the last three years. If we face them again, with Welker out, hopefully we can take advantage. We’ve had LT out in other years. Maybe it’s our turn.
ESQ: Vegas currently has the Chargers at 4-to-1 to win the Super Bowl, behind only the Colts and the Saints. Are the oddsmakers getting it right?
T: Four-to-1?! I believe this year is our year. We’ve got everyone healthy — LT, Jackson, Antonio Gates, Merriman. I feel really optimistic, and I hope that doesn’t jinx us. Look at the Saints, going in with three straight losses, and the Colts going in with two straight losses. We’re going in with an 11-game winning streak. As long as we keep our heads in the game and our emotions streamlined, we can go all the way.
ESQ: Last but not least, both you and fellow Charger Girl Casie have fantastic abs. What’s your secret?
T: It’s having to have a beach body all year round! With 365 days of sunshine, you can’t afford to put on winter weight. I was on the beach on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. They did a poll, and 10 percent of NFL players picked the Chargers as the team they’d want to play for. Of course it’s a great organization, but I think our geographical area factored in as well. We also have the hottest dance team in the NFL. And now we have the hottest team in the NFL. Both are living up to our weather.
The latest NFL Cheerleader gallery on SportsIllustrated.com features squads from the Bengals, Colts, Dolphins, Falcons, and Redskins. Click here to go there now.
This week’s collection of photos from week 16 includes the Redskins Cheerleaders, Charger Girls, 49ers Gold Rush, Dolphins Cheerleaders, Falcons Cheerleaders, Ben-Gals, Saintsations, and Cardinals Cheerleaders. Click here to go there now.
Washington Redskins Cheerleader Heather has been a good friend of the blog for as long as we’ve been around, so we’re really excited to announce that was she was voted by her fellow teammates to represent the Redskins Cheerleaders at the 2010 Pro Bowl in Miami.
2006 Auditions
Heather at FedEx Field in 2008
Heather is a 6-year veteran and second-year captain on the team. After graduating from George Mason University with a degree in Environmental Science and a minor in Dance, she went on to cheer for the NBA’s Washington Wizards for two seasons.
Heather at FedEx Field in 2009
She works as a consultant and engineer for the Department of Defense.
NFL.com has posted a new collection of cheerleader photos for week #13. This week, they showcase cheerleaders from the Bills, Dolphins, Chiefs, Redskins, Jaguars, Colts, Panthers, Falcons, and the Bengals. The Ben-Gals, by the by, are the first team to bust out the snow bunny gear for the holidays. Click here to go to the gallery.
