El Paso welcomes pro dance team

By Steve Escajeda
What’s Up , El Paso, TX
August 21, 2013

Los Angeles has its Laker Girls and Dallas has its Cowboys Cheerleaders. It won’t be long before El Paso unveils its new professional dance team, the Sun City Girls.

Richard Rivera Jr., CEO of CBE An Artist Management Company, is the founder of the professional dance team, which he says will represent physical fitness, strength, coordination, vitality and excitement — all qualities associated with the idea of the “All-American girl.”

“This is a high-caliber project that will promote El Paso and the surrounding area,” Rivera said. “This business model is the same one the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and Los Angeles Laker Girls use.”

The Sun City Girls will start their professional careers performing for the El Paso Rhinos hockey squad beginning in October.

But that’s not all.

“The dance team will not just represent professional sports teams in El Paso, but citywide events, galas and corporate events,” Rivera said. “Anything that has to do with big things happening in El Paso, the Sun City Girls will be there.

“They are going to be a staple, more importantly, a household name in the area.”

When asked if the dance team is trying to affiliate itself with the new El Paso Triple-A baseball team, Rivera was cautious.

“All I can say is that we are exercising other professional sports teams that are going to make a difference in El Paso.”

Official tryouts for the team were held Aug. 17 at UTEP’s Memorial Gym. A team of 16 girls will perform at any time with 16 more on hand as alternates.

“This is such a great opportunity and hopefully a great stepping stone onto bigger and better things,” said NMSU junior and dance team member Jacklyn Parra, 22. “If you’re a dancer in this part of the Southwest, usually after high school and college your career is pretty much done.

“I’m so lucky, all the girls are very excited that this opportunity has come our way.”

Like most professional dance groups, the girls will have to conduct themselves in a certain manner.

“The dance members will be required to conduct themselves professionally on the field and off the field,” Rivera said. “The girls will be role models and must maintain a wholesome image. We’re promoting that All-American girl look and vibe.”

Of course a professional dance team has to maintain its look and talent. That shouldn’t be a problem for the Sun City Girls.

“The girls on the team enjoy perks like free hairstyling and makeup, supplied by The Ivy Hair Salon,” Rivera said. “They’ll also receive free fitness training at GYM G.

“Anywhere the Sun City Girls perform, they’re getting paid for it. But it’s so much more than that; it’s pairing the girls with other brands for endorsement deals, which could possibly launch their career as individuals.

“These girls will have the whole package. They have the look, they have the attitude and they’ll have a great talent for dancing.”

Rivera, who lives in Los Angeles, was candid about why he decided to start the dance team in El Paso.

“I was born in El Paso and still have ties here,” he said. “I saw another dance team try to make a go of it here a year ago and to be honest, it was done very poorly.

“The girls were performing for free and making their own uniforms. That motivated me to do it the right way here and it’s quickly gone from an idea to a reality.

“We intend to make this team so widely known that they perform at big events outside of El Paso. We want them to be in demand.”