Game Day with the LA KISS Girls

Sasha | Apr 13, 2014

LA KISS is the new Arena Football League team here in Southern California. I was privileged to cover the newly minted KISS Girls at their home game last night. It was only their second game ever, so it was all very exciting.

LA KISS plays their home games at the Honda Center in Anaheim, which is a little bit south of Disneyland.

I picked up my credentials and I was legit! Time to head inside.

This is where it all happens

I caught up with the dancers as they were rehearsing on the field.

The dancers rehearsed all three numbers they’d perform during the game.

Caroline

Jules

Lizzy

Xandi

After rehearsal, we all headed to the dressing room to get ready for game time.

Niaps hanging out in the dressing room. Niaps’ name is “Spain” backwards. No really. She has a brother named London Paris. (Or maybe it’s Paris London…?)

Sheldon showed me their uniforms. I was particularly interested in this top, since I’d seen a photo of it from last week’s game. Epaulettes? Really?

A closer look. Leather, crystals, spikes, and fringe!

The pants lace all the way down to the ankle, with these shoelace things that are so long, they have to wrap them around their ankles a few times. The belt is pretty badasss, but it’s noisy. Vanessa said it sounds like reindeer.

She’s SO right. When the whole team is walking down the hall. wearing those belts, it sounds like Santa is coming to town.

Several of the girls had to get ready early to go out and greet fans on the concourse.

Caroline

Alexis

Jules

Lynhthy (pronounced “Linty”)

Off we went, upstairs, to hand out this photo of the dance team:

The ladies split up to go to the various gates

Back row: Jenna, Sheldon, Niaps, Xandi, Julianne, Alexis, and Caroline
Front row: Vanessa and Jules

Julies and Julianne

Jenna and Xandi

Vanessa, Alexis, and Caroline

Niaps and Sheldon with team president Schuyler Hoversten

When they opened the doors, the fans were excited to see the dancers.

Heck, the employees were glad to see the dancers too

After handing out posters, it was time to go back downstairs and meet up with the rest of the dancers.

Lizzy heads to the tunnel

Lynhthy, Lizzy, and Natllely rehearsing before pregame
(FYI: Natllely’s name is pronounced Nazhelly)

Blowing off some steam

Aha! Found the cage dancers!

I’m so jealous. I want to go up in the cage.

Cage dancer gets ready to launch.

Pregame!

Lizzy and Natllelly at the coin toss.

This was the one time I managed to catch LeighAnn when she wasn’t moving around. LeighAnn is the team’s choreographer and performs with them on occasion. She’s also part captain/part director and it’s her responsibility to make sure the dancers are where they need to be, when they need to be there. She did a lot of running around.

Back: Jenna, Natllely, Jules, Xandi, Caroline, Niaps, Sheldon
Front: Lynhthy, Lizzy, LeighAnn, and Vanessa