2011-12 Dallas Mavericks Dancers roster is announced

By JAY BETSILL
Special to DFW.com
Jul. 30, 2011

With the temperatures in North Texas at a sweltering record pace, the heat was on inside Elevation Fitness for the Dallas Mavericks Dancers Training Camp that was held July 25-28. The gathering was all about who would be a part of the ‘Hottest Dance Team in the NBA’ in its second season under Mavs Dancers Director Mallory Mills.

The Mavs Dancers auditions began Saturday at the Hilton Anatole with over 200 girls arriving to the Coronado Ballroom with dreams of joining the world champions. Sunday brought the final auditions that featured the returning veterans from last season’s amazing squad and the survivors from Saturday’s preliminary tryout. Many of the girls had actually been going full force for the past few weeks as the Mavs Dancers offered prep classes leading up to the big weekend.

The 30 girls who remained from the weekend event simply advanced to the training camp portion of the auditions that took place from Monday through Thursday evening from 7:00 to 9:00. In Mills’ first campaign, there were only five returning veterans which translated to a wide-open competition for a spot on the team. On the heels of the franchise’s first NBA championship and with most of the squad returning to the audition process, the job of selecting the upcoming season’s team was much more difficult. In addition to the solid two hours of practice each evening, the girls went through interviews with Mills and other Mavs front office personnel on why they wanted to be a Dallas Mavericks Dancer and how they would handle the responsibility that comes with the honor.

The 2011-12 Dallas Mavericks Dancers are:
1. Lauren Castillo (veteran)
2. Whitney Foster (veteran)
3. Paige Jones (veteran)
4. Helen McDaniel (veteran)
5. Lauren Gibler (veteran)
6. Rachael Harpe (veteran)
7. Meghan Hodge
8. Chantel Jones
9. Natsuki Kaito (veteran)
10. Shameika Kirklin
11. Savannah McElveen
12. Kenley Menchew (veteran)
13. Sequel Molina (veteran)
14. Emily Morales (veteran)
15. Bonnie Ohlig (veteran)
16. Paige Phillips (veteran)
17. Grace Sells
18. Ashley Wade (veteran)
19. Jenna Zmolik (veteran)
20. Paula Tabares (veteran)

Pigskin princesses prepped, peppy

By Renee Nadeau Algarin
The Boston Herald
July 30, 2011

Three cheers for Patriots fans?

Try 31.

The Patriots’ cheering squad, which upped its ranks from 24 to 31 cheerleaders at its February auditions, has been in full swing for months, director Tracy Sormanti said.

“We have a bigger squad and we have a great goal and commitment to have a bigger impact in the community,” she said.

Sormanti said the pompom tossers, who all either attend school or have jobs outside of their Patriots duties, have met with fans at 200 individual appearances since this year’s squad was formed.

“Through all those appearances during the lockout, the fans were anxious but really patient,” she said. “The fans came back wholeheartedly and we just want to say thank you for that because we have the best fans in the NFL.”

[photo gallery]

Road to Timberwolves Dancer Auditions (Part 3)

Lauren Lang
Minnesota Timberwolves
July 29, 2011

Timberwolves Dancer hopefuls have been waiting all summer for Monday August 1. For many it’s an opportunity to perform their incredible talent and for others it’s a chance to be one step closer to fulfilling a dream of being a dancer for a professional sports team.

The Timberwolves hosted six Dancer Audition Prep Classes for potential new talent and returning veterans to come in and experience head coach Natalie Alvarado’s style of dance and brush up on their skills. Alvarado couldn’t have been more thrilled with the classes’ turnout, “With our last two classes last weekend we had over 150 prep class participants! This is a new record for the organization and there will be a lot of talent at auditions on the 1st of August.”

Girls showed up to the last two prep classes ready to work and Alvarado put them to the test with a grueling, fast paced hip-hop routine set to M.I.A.’s “Bamboo Banga.” “The girls and I were already sweating within just the second eight-count!” laughed Alvarado. “The routine was hard, fast and called for a lot of hard hitting moves! It was also the longest combo the girls learned so far and I told them that this specific routine was probably the closest in style to the audition routine.”

Throughout the prep classes many fresh new faces walked through the doors and some of the veteran Timberwolves Dancers couldn’t have been more impressed by the mass turnout of new talent. “I am so impressed by how many girls are here consistently,” said Shannon Mlsna, who just finished her rookie year as a Dancer. “As far as I’ve seen there are a lot of awesome girls, a ton of new faces, people from all over the place, which is awesome and everybody seems really excited to be here.”

Mlsna went on to add the importance of attending the offered prep classes, because she attended them last year before making the squad. “It’s really great that there were six classes, because it showed the different variety and styles – it’s not always going to be just one style.”

With the Dancer hopefuls having a better understanding of their potential head coach’s style it was easier for them to come into the last prep class both physically and mentally prepared. “Sunday was our last class and the dance was choreographed to a custom mash up of Rihanna’s “S&M” vocals over LMFAO’s “Party Rock Anthem” beat,” explained Alvarado. “I wanted the girls to dance to a song they were more familiar with, have some fun and release any audition anxiety!”

The participants may have been familiar with the songs the choreography was set to, but some of the dance styles were foreign to them and Alvarado decided to have some fun with it. “We did a little housing footwork and this took the girls out of their comfort zones. It was very fun to watch them release and just go for it!”

[ ] Mlsna along with many of her teammates pushed themselves during prep classes knowing they will have to re-audition and fight for their spot on the team. Recent Orlando, Florida transplant Jessica Blanton made her way to the final four classes. “I missed the first two because I was driving here from Orlando, Florida, just now two weeks ago, so I’ve been to every class that I could go to and they’re so much fun.” Blanton, a former cheerleader for the USL Orlando City Soccer noted that not all leagues are the same. “Every kind of pro team is different. I’ve never danced for an NBA team, so I know that there is a higher demand and there’s always a ton of girls.”

Sunday’s class finished with even more energy than it started with. After the dancers wrapped up the final steps of choreography Alvarado led groups through each of the routines that had been taught throughout the six classes. At the conclusion of each prep class more and more dancers that didn’t initially plan on attending auditions left with a different plan. “It is great to know that majority of the girls who attended prep classes will be auditioning for the 2011-12 Timberwolves Dancers!” exclaimed Alvarado. “They learned everything I could possibly squeeze into these classes: some of the do’s and don’ts of auditioning, how to perform, and most of all, the importance of just going out there and giving it their best!”

Take it from the head coach who has been there first hand after being a member of the Houston Rockets Power Dancers for seven years. Alvarado understands the pressure of heading into auditions, seeing as she had to re-audition each year in Houston. “Bottom line is, they have to remain confident and let their personality shine. Potential goes such a long way! They have to remind themselves how bad they want this and really understand why they want this.”

Prep class attendees hope that all of their hard work and dedication pay off as they head to Timberwolves Dancer Open Auditions on Monday August 1 at the Graves | 601 Hotel. Alvarado dished some last minute advice to those auditioning, “Remember to always smile and when all else fails, ‘freestyle!'”

Timberwolves Dancer Auditions are set to start promptly at 6:00pm. For more information, or if you’re interested in auditioning to be a member of the 2011-12 Timberwolves Dancers check out the Dancer Audition page.

Road to Timberwolves Dancer Auditions (Part 2)

Timberwolves Dancers Director, Choreographer and head coach Natalie Alvarado weighed in on the third and fourth Timberwolves Dancer Audition Prep Classes that were held on Friday July 15 and Sunday July 17 at Target Center Life Time Fitness.
Natalie Alvarado
Timberwolves Dancers Director
Minnesota Timberwolves
July 20, 2011

Wow, the audition prep classes are just flying by! We’re having so much fun and I know that the girls are gaining more than they even expected in these classes. This past weekend we held our third and fourth prep classes and again, it felt great to see the returning participants who have been to every class thus far, as well as a few fresh new faces!

Friday: The third class focused on an across the floor, short combo, to Beck’s “Milk & Honey” – this combination called for more of a technical style of dance. The technique was very sexy and advanced, but it also contained a lot of the NBA style of traveling across the floor (the “Beyonce confident power walk) – that’s what I like to call that kind of traveling. This particular short combo gave me a chance to see the dancers who are more comfortable with this type of dance style shine, but it also gave the girls who weren’t very comfortable with it an opportunity to try something new, as well as be challenged a little bit!

Sunday: The fourth class was unique, as I asked our former Timberwolves Dancers captain Gina to come in and teach a sideline routine set to Chemical Brothers “Galaxy Bounce.” Sideline routines are short routines performed with pom poms during the 4th quarter of a game, hot time outs and on the sidelines during 20 second and regular game time outs. These sidelines are quick choreographed routines, which are versatile enough to be performed to any piece of music whether it’s an up-tempo song, an oldie or even NBA basketball classics such as “Mony Mony” and “Shout!” It is very important for me to see the girls who are already strong dancers and performers do the cute, sassy, easy and energetic movements with a set of pom poms! So, it was fun to see some of the girls dance with poms poms for the very first time, and have to be bubbly, where as the previous prep class routines called for more attitude and aggression. In this class I decided to split the girls up into groups of five to perform the sideline routine in front of one another. This definitely turned the pressure on and helped them realize just how quickly the auditions are approaching! They were also all made aware that they’ll be auditioning in groups of four to six at opening day of Timberwolves Dancer Auditions on August 1.

Overall, the participants are keeping up with the choreography and more importantly, getting what they came here for – the “one-up” on the audition competition! As I explain to them at the end of every class, I’m really here for them and these prep classes are 100% THEIRS! Whatever it is they need, want to know, want to ask…I’m all theirs. They’re doing great and I’m happy to see the talent and potential of these young and talented women!

There are only two classes left and they’re by far the two most important ones! I’m going to go above and beyond everything that we’ve done in the first four classes and gear more towards the new hip-hop, aggressive, sexy dance style of the latest Timberwolves Dancers. We’re going to make magic happen and I want and am looking for the best of the best, and hey, I’ve even seen some of the best in these Timberwolves Dancer Audition Prep Classes!

The final two Timberwolves Dancer Audition Prep Classes are Friday July 22 and Sunday July 24 from 6:30-8:30pm at Target Center Life Time Fitness. Click here for more information on Timberwolves Dancer Auditions and we hope to see you there!

2011-12 New England Patriots Cheerleaders

Individual profiles and headshots of the Pats Cheerleaders have been posted on Patriots.com. If you just want to see the headshots, click here. If you want to see the profiles, plus super-sized headshots, click here to go the to the roster page. Don’t be fooled by the roster page. They haven’t gotten around to updating the headshots there, but if you click on the box for each cheerleader, it will take you to her individual page where you can see a large version of her photo.

Road to Timberwolves Dancer Auditions (Part 1)

Lauren Lang
Minnesota Timberwolves
July 15, 2011

With the 2010-11 NBA season in the review mirror, Timberwolves Dancer hopefuls have marked and circled August 1 on their calendars in preparation for the 2011-12 Dance Team auditions at Graves/601 Hotel. Leading up to the big day, Dancer head coach Natalie Alvarado created a six-class dance workshop for young ladies who are interested in becoming an NBA Dancer.

“For any dancer out there that wants to audition to be a Timberwolves Dancer for the 2011-12 season we recommend it,” explained Alvarado. “It’s not mandatory, but strongly suggested that you come out and get our official workouts, our official dance style and so much more that you will only receive in these prep classes.”

Over 30 prospective dance team members participated in both classes on Friday and Sunday night at Target Center Life Time Fitness, with many of the current dance team members returning to brush up on their skills. During the intense two hour workouts the style of dance was and will continue to be different for each of the six classes, with Alvarado at the helm creating one unique routine after another. During Friday night’s class the girls were taught a sassy and sexy routine set to Adele’s “Rumor Has It” followed by a stylized hip-hop routine on Sunday to a custom remix of Katy Perry’s “E.T.”

“As the new coach, I was anxious to see the talent and the potential from the girls,” exclaimed Alvarado. “I was just blown away by how fast they learned and how eager they were to get my style down, and It felt great to see how much fun they were having with both routines!”

Alvarado just wrapped up her first season as the Timberwolves Dancers director and choreographer and was very pleased to see some returning members who are still hungry for their spot on the team, seeing as they do have to re-audition. “They were working, sweating and showing “Coach” they still want to be here!”

The featured choreography has been anything but easy two classes into the workshop.

“As far as the dance goes, what they’re also learning in these classes is that each routine needs a character…an alter ego…a performer,” described a passionate Alvarado. The girls worked hard all the way to the end of each class and had the sweat and bruises to prove it. After nailing the steps the dancers were able to perform the routine for their potential new teammates, as their possible head coach cheered them on. “I’m definitely having fun working them out of their shells and comfort zones, and I love to see them become a different person once that music starts!”

Alvarado, a former NBA dancer with the Houston Rockets, was beaming after wrapping up the first two prep classes, “I’m here to push them, motivate them, inspire them, and although I don’t know them personally, I want them to know and realize I believe in them and they are one step closer to possibly becoming a Minnesota Timberwolves Dancer!”

There are still four remaining Timberwolves Dancer Audition Prep Classes: July 15, 17, 22 and 24 from 6:30-8:30pm at Target Center Life Time Fitness. If you’re interested in attending a prep class or auditioning to be a 2011-12 Timberwolves Dancer click here, for more information.

Boston Cannons Dance Team at the MLL All Star Game

Earlier this month Major League Lacrosse held it’s annual All Star Game at Harvard Stadium, home of the Boston Cannons. As they do at all Cannons home games, the Boston Cannons Dance Team provided entertainment on the sideline and stunning performances on the field.

2011 Boston Cannons Dance Team
2011 Boston Cannons Dance Team
Deanna and Katrina before the game mingling with the fans
Deanna and Katrina before the game mingling with the fans

Director/Choreographer Ashley
Director/Choreographer Ashley

Continue reading “Boston Cannons Dance Team at the MLL All Star Game”