Palm Springs graduate part of dance team for L.A. Kings

Bill Byron
The Desert Sun
Jun. 23, 2012

There isn’t a whole lot of opportunity to become a great ice skater here in the desert.

Jasmine Roy, 19, of Palm Springs, is a member of the “Ice Girls,” the dance team for the Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings.
You know, not exactly a hockey or figure skating Mecca. No high school hockey teams, no Olympic skating trials — there is one ice rink in Cathedral City, but it just opened recently.

But that didn’t stop 2010 Palm Springs High School grad Jasmine Roy from becoming an Ice Girl for the L.A. Kings. And as luck would have it, she joined them in their first, and only, Stanley Cup season.

The 19-year old UC Riverside junior tried out for the Kings version of cheerleaders last summer and made the cut, despite stiff competition. But she’ll still be trying out again this weekend in an effort to keep her spot.

“I knew how to skate, I just didn’t know how to stop,” Roy says of her technique prior to becoming an Ice Girl. “When I was here (in the Coachella Valley), they didn’t have the ice rink. The first time I skated was in Riverside when I was about 10.”

She was in the minority of this season’s 15 Ice Girls, of which she says only she and two others needed some serious coaching in skates.

“You have to be very fast,” she says about the nine or 10 times a night that she ventures out onto the ice for two- to three-minutes cleaning up the snow created by Zambonis and entertaining fans.

“Sometimes the players say stuff to you and they don’t get out of your way, so that can be hard sometimes,” she said about the difficulties of the job. “But for the most part they’re great.”

Though Roy is still unsure if she’ll be getting a championship ring, the experience — with or without the jewelry — was well worth it, she says.

“I feel blessed to be a part of it — I’m like, ‘Wow, I was a part of them winning the Stanley Cup,’ to say I was part of the Ice Crew that year — I love it,” she said. “I got to stand with (the Cup) on the ice after the game and it was so much fun — we were shaking, people were crying.”

But despite having a year of experience under her belt, it’s no guarantee that she’ll get to be an Ice Girl again next season.

She has to try out just like everyone else this weekend.

“That’s what makes it so nerve-wracking, but at the same time, it’s fun,” the political science major says.

The current record for time on the Ice Crew is five seasons, according to Roy, but she’ll be happy if she can make it to two.

“I hope to make it, I plan to make it, I will be so happy if I do,” she said.

Baltimore Blast Cheerleader Auditions Are Next Month

Auditions for the 2012-13 Baltimore Blast season will be help Saturday, July 21 at Du Burns Arena (in the Canton neighborhood of Baltimore City – 1301 South Ellwood Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21224).

Du Burns Arena
1301 South Ellwood Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21224

Registration begins at 8:45 a.m.
(registration fee is $20 if applicant did not attend The Making of a Blast Cheerleader or any prep class)

More information on The Making of a Blast Cheerleader

The Making of a Blast Cheerleader will be held on Sunday, July 7 at Brick Bodies Perry Hall from 3-6 p.m. for $30.
Candidates interested in auditioning for the Baltimore Blast Cheerleaders will receive valuable tips from professionals on the upcoming audition for the squad including:

• Technical skills required for auditions
• Choreography
• Diet/Nutrition/Fitness information
• Hair Styles
• Makeup Application
• Audition Attire
• 1 week membership at Brick Bodies
• Q & A with the Director of the Blast Cheerleaders

Baltimore Blast Cheerleaders Prep Class #1
July 11
7 – 9 p.m.
$15
Du Burns Arena
1301 South Ellwood Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21224

Baltimore Blast Cheerleaders Prep Class #2

July 18
7 – 9 p.m.
$15
Du Burns Arena
1301 South Ellwood Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21224

Candidates attending either Prep Class #1 or Prep Class #2 will be exposed to our style of dancing, fitness tips, the ins and outs of auditioning and a Q&A with the Baltimore Blast Cheerleaders.

Preregister and SAVE!!!
Any Candidate that attends either The Making of a Blast Cheerleader and/or a Baltimore Blast Cheerleaders Prep Class does NOT have to pay the audition fee.
Attend both Prep classes for $20
Attend both Prep classes and The Making of a Blast Cheerleader for $50

Applicants need:
• To be 18 years old by July 21, 2012
• One non-returnable photo of themselves in a crop top and dance shorts
• Applications will be provided at auditions or can be downloaded below.

[Complete Audition Information]

Lipstick and Lunges: My Day as an NFL Cheerleader

What I learned: These chicks work HARD for their bangin’ bodies!
By Charlotte Andersen
Shape Magazine
June 2012

Giant grins to taut tummies: watching NFL cheerleaders on TV, it’s easy to think they’re naturally that svelte and perky. But as I learned when I got to be a Minnesota Vikings cheerleader (for two hours), those girls work hard to sculpt their bodies, and they work even harder to make it look so effortless!

When the squad first invited me to one of their training sessions, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Was it going to be an hour of splits and kick lines? (I’d have been down for that. I love kicking stuff!) Two hours of boot camp craziness? Or, heaven forbid, a replay of my intensely awkward high school years where I did everything I could to avoid cheerleaders? In the end, it was one of the most fun evenings I’ve ever had! Here’s what I learned:

Lesson 1: Look the part. I didn’t realize until my (short) stint as a cheerleader that I’ve been taking hair ties for granted. Do you know how hard it is to get down and sweaty with your hair in your face? Not only do the girls have to keep their hair loose, they’re also required to wear dance tights and Viking Red lipstick to every single workout. The goal is to get them used to working out “in uniform” so that when they add the pressure of game day, they’ll still be comfortable.

The strangest part: By the end of the workout, I was a sweaty mess with my hair glued to my forehead and mascara smudged across my face, but they all looked pristine. Steve Rosga, head trainer and program manager, explains that they train hard so that the girls can do it all and make it look easy. “They can’t show [the crowd] that they’re tired or that they’re working hard.”

Lesson 2: Pro cheerleaders are high-performance athletes. Kaylee, a four-year veteran and team captain, says, “A lot of people hear ‘cheerleader’ and think pageant girl or bimbo, but we are so different than that! This is the hardest workout I’ve ever done in my life. On game days we’re moving for three hours straight, dancing every break and trying to get the crowd involved.”

Lesson 3: Fit is strong, not skinny. “We want our girls to look like women,” says Tami Krause, head coach and coordinator. “For us, fitness is not about being skinny but about being strong, having stamina, staying injury free, and being energetic. You need muscles for that! People think cheerleaders don’t eat, but these girls can eat a horse! They just choose to eat the right things most of the time.”

Lesson 4: “A tight butt is a tight gut.” This is one of trainer Ryan Svenby’s favorite sayings. It emphasizes the underlying theory of the workouts: to build proper motion patterns, ingrain good form, and correct any muscular imbalances, in addition to getting stronger and faster. The core (which involves your whole trunk, not just the abs you can see in the mirror) is the center of every movement. “You have to stabilize before you can mobilize,” Rosga adds.

Ready to try their full workout? The Vikings cheerleaders gave me an inside look at the training plan they do two to three times a week, followed by one to two hours of dance rehearsals. Even if you don’t need to prep for the sidelines, Rosga and Svenby recommend a similar schedule of two or three days of strength training with an additional two or three cardio workouts.

Click here to give the MVC workout a shot.

Hornets Take Honeybee Auditions on the Road

The first will take place in Biloxi, Miss., at Beau Rivage on Thursday, July 12.

The second day of auditions will be on Saturday, July 14 at the Alario Center in Westwego, followed by the final session at Tari’s School of Dance in Baton Rouge on Sunday, July 15.

Interested candidates can audition at one of the three locations.

Application forms, details on the process and audition tips are available at www.hornets.com.

Finalists selected during the preliminary rounds will compete in the Finals on Sunday, July 22, at Generations Hall in New Orleans at 5:00 p.m.

Preliminary auditions are closed to the public, but fans are encouraged to show support for their favorite finalists at the Finals event.

“Adding two additional locations for Honeybees tryouts is something we’ve never done before, but we couldn’t be more excited about having the opportunity to work with girls from across the Gulf South,” said Honeybee manager and choreographer Ashley Deaton.

“We’re looking for girls who will bring energy, showmanship, personality and maturity to the squad, as they will have the opportunity to perform in front of thousands of fans and participate in community events locally, nationally and internationally.”

The Hornets are looking for girls at least 18 years of age who have previous dance experience and are committed to representing the Hornets organization on and off the court.

The Honeybees perform professionally-choreographed dance routines to a variety of music during home games, and make appearances at community and professional events throughout the year.

In past seasons, the Honeybees have traveled to Spain, Germany, China and the Balkans to perform and represent New Orleans and the Hornets on an international stage.

Honeybee applicants should be in top physical condition and wear appropriate dance attire for the audition, which includes a half-top that shows midriff, hot shorts or trunks (no pants), dance or athletic shoes, flesh colored tights, and performance-ready hair and make-up (no ponytails).

At registration, dancers must provide a resume that depicts any professional and dance experience, a recent 5×7 headshot, a copy of their high school diploma, valid photo identification, and a completed application form.

[Complete Audition Information]

[Honeybees on Facebook]

Former Tech cheerleaders vault to the NFL

Alex Koma
Collegiate Times
June 19, 2012

The NFL may be full of new sights and sounds for former Hokies that make the jump to the league, but one aspect is becoming increasingly familiar: the cheerleaders.

In fact, five Virginia Tech alumni are currently on the cheerleading squad for the Baltimore Ravens after cheering for the Hokies. Jane B., Amanda D., Abby E., Dana F., who asked to have their last names withheld for privacy purposes, and Jim Schwille all have spent the past several seasons with the team.

Jane, Amanda, Abby, and Dana

“It’s such a huge rush to run out on the field for a game, and it’s really similar to big games at Tech,” Jane said. “It’s great to all be together and share the same alma mater.”

The Ravens represent a particularly unique situation, as they are the only co-ed squad in the league, and Schwille welcomes the opportunity to continue his cheerleading career.

Jim Schwille
“I get to watch whole games on the field, five feet from the guys making the plays,” Schwille said. “It’s a really incredible experience.”

Schwille has worked with the Ravens for four years now, in addition to his slightly less glamorous position as a lumber salesman for United Forest Products. He began his cheerleading career during his years at Virginia Tech, and even served with Virginia’s National Guard in Afghanistan after graduating.

“At Tech, I had a couple friends who were cheerleaders, but I was a cadet at the time,” he said. “Eventually, it came down to whether I wanted to sit in the stands for every game or be on the field with the girls.”

His career with the Ravens began in 2008, but he hardly planned this move to the NFL.

“Jane was going to try out for the Ravens and asked me to come along and help her,” Schwille said. “Once we got there, I realized that I had the ability to make the team, and we ended up both making the squad.”

Jane agrees that their tryout was indeed serendipitous.

“We were cheering partners at school, so I asked Jim for help practicing, and we both made the team on our first try,” she said. “It was amazing, considering that it takes most people three or four attempts to make it.”

Schwille does hail from Maryland, but the transition to supporting the team was still an unusual one.

“Most of my family was from Pittsburgh, so I wasn’t exactly attached to the team,” he said. “But the fans are so passionate, it’s hard not be invested, especially when, if the team goes to the Super Bowl, I get to go with them.”

The presence of men like Schwille on the team has made the squad especially distinctive in its style.

“The guys are really the muscle behind it all,” Jane said. “They really allow us to be so much more acrobatic.”

The men are also an important part of the team’s camaraderie.

“They certainly help bring down the estrogen level a bit,” Amanda said. “They all bring a fun attitude to it that stops things from getting too insanely competitive.”

All of the team members believe that their time at Tech was essential for preparing them for the rigors of the Ravens.

“My time on the team at school really prepared me to interact with fans at a high level,” Abby said. “We did a lot of promotional events, which helped me learn how to be an ambassador for the community.”

Squad members also stressed the impact of the Hokies’ coaching staff on their development.

“Rickey Hill (Tech’s head cheerleading coach) taught us what it means to be a professional,” Amanda said. “He made the whole experience feel very real, and showed us that it was a lot more intense than you might think.”

While cheering for the Ravens may be quite the commitment, all of the Hokies on the team have day jobs as well, and credit Tech for helping to prepare them for the challenge of juggling their responsibilities.

“I’m also working on my master’s at Johns Hopkins and teaching kids with disabilities right now, but the experience of being a college athlete really prepared me for all this,” Abby said. “I’m used to this lifestyle of being busy, and since I might not be able to cheer a couple years down the road, I want to do it all while I can.”

Schwille’s job is also demanding, as it requires him to drive roughly 5,000 miles each month to meet with clients, but he’s found a way to balance his commitments.

“It’s been pretty simple to schedule my sales calls around practice,” he said. “I get to talk to people and help them solve problems all day, so I really love everything I do.”

No matter their obligations off the field, the allure of the NFL stage keeps them all coming back for more.

“It’s just incredible, I get goose bumps running out of the tunnel every time,” Amanda said. “It’s just so great being out there and helping everyone get psyched up for the game.”

Former Mavs Dancer Takes Her Chance at Finding Love in the Wild

By Kelly Stroda
Dallas News

For Jenna Gillund, it’s a jungle out there.

Literally.

Gillund, 23, of Dallas made her debut on NBC’s “Love in the Wild” last night. Gillund was one of six girls who were introduced on the show last night to spice things up.

“Love in the Wild” is a reality TV show that puts men and women together on teams to compete in adventure competitions. It sounds fun and it looks fun, but the goal isn’t fun – it’s to find love.

This is the show’s second season, which is airing this summer at 8 p.m. on Tuesdays, is hosted by Jenny McCarthy.

According to her bio on “Love in the Wild’s” website, Gillund went on the show partially because she’s tired of the Dallas dating scene.

“Dallas is a beautiful place and there are beautiful people,” she said.

But it might be too beautiful.

“Everybody is a Cowboys cheerleader or a Mavs cheerleader or this beautiful girl who goes to SMU,” she said. “Everybody feels like they’re somebody here.”

And she would know – Gillund was a dancer for the Dallas Mavericks for several years. She left the team to pursue other goals after the Mavs beat the Miami Heat in the NBA Championship.

“I figured I’d go out on top, you know?” she said.

Gillund grew up in Chicago and has lived in nine states over the years. The tropical jungles and sandy beaches of the Dominican Republic were quite the change from the bright lights of Dallas.

“Down there, the stars are your lights at night,” she said.

Gillund said her family and friends have been supportive of her fledging reality TV career, but at first, they didn’t believe her that she’d be on the show.

“I’ve done a lot of random things,” she said. “But once I actually got my ticket and was like, ‘Hey, can you come get my dog for two months?’ I think that’s when it set in.”


[Jenna’s Profile on the Mavs Site]