2015 LA KISS Girls Final Auditions
The final dance audition for the LA KISS Girls went down last Saturday at the Equinox Sports Club in Irvine, CA. It was the culmination of two long weeks of dancing, interviews, workouts, evaluations, and cuts. These talented ladies gave it all they had, and when all was said and done, 20 were selected for this year’s team. With a new Director/Choreographer, and a 50% bigger squad, this season promises to be bigger and better in every possible way.
[Photo Gallery: 2015 LA KISS Girls Final Audition]
As always, the waiting is the hardest part. The call time was at 3pm, but just about everyone was there by 2:30. The dancers cooled their heels in the lobby until it was time to head upstairs to the basketball gym.
Ivanna
Abby gets in a few last minute crunches.
Priscila was ready to rock
Tori
Jessica
Taylor
One last photo of the 2014 vets: Alexis, Jules, Julianne, Niaps, Xandi, and Sheldon
Upstairs in the gym, I found the team’s Director/Choreographer Lindsay Rodolico, and this young lady. Taylor was an LA KISS Jr. Dancer last year.
I also spotted the sparkly roses Lindsay had prepared for the team announcement.
Black, of course. And presented in a rather appropriate skull-embellished vase.
When it was time, everyone headed up to the gym to check in. A few girls were assigned GINORMOUS new numbers, and they all got in line to have their photo taken by the team photographer.
Each dancer did a couple of poses, including a pretend “I made the team!!” fun pose with the “congrats” flyer the would be handed out later to the ladies selected to the squad. Better to take these photos beforehand (while everyone’s hair and makeup was still on point) than wait until the team was announced. (I believe the photos of the chosen ones will be posted on the LAK website/facebook/instagram at some point)
When the judges were assembled and it was time to begin, Lindsay started off by thanking everyone for investing their time and energy in this process. She also asked everyone to take a moment to acknowledge the hard work they’d done to get to finals.
Then she introduced the judges and announced that unfortunately there had been a last minute change of plans. Paul Stanley (member of the rock band KISS and one of the LA KISS owners) would not be present to judge the audition. Paul has always had a marked interest in the dance team, and has taken a significant role in shaping the KISS Girls image, from designing their costumes to directing their photo shoots. It was a little sad that he couldn’t be there, but Lindsay explained that he would still be part of the judging process. Cody Jones, the team’s social media guru would be in contact with Paul throughout the performances, sending him photos and information, and Paul would participate in the judges deliberations via telephone. Sort of like Charlie screening Angel candidates from afar. Not physically present, but still a big part of the decision-making.
Once all the intros were taken care of, it was time to dance! The actual audition itself went by very quickly. The ladies lined up in numerical order and performed for the judges in groups of three.
Dani, Ivanna, and Taylor
Julianne and Jules
Mina, Tori, and Jean
Isabella, Alexis, and Andi
Priscila, Christina and Naomi
Abby
When everyone had had a turn, the dancers lined up again and each group performed a second time. This gave everyone a much needed breather between turns. This was a pretty long dance, as far as these kinds of auditions go. I clocked it at about 90 seconds.
Jacqueline gets my vote for best outfit. Those are fabulous. They should seriously consider making shorts like these for the whole team.
Alexis
Ellie
Emily
Jean
Jules
Julianne
Naomi
Priscila
Tara
Tara, Marrissa and Ellie
Veterans Sheldon and Niaps turned their audition into a little duet of sorts.
After performing in groups, the judges called the dancers out randomly to perform a third time. Some danced pairs, others in groups of three or four.
Mina and Alexis both had to dance alone. No pressure!
Alexis
Mina
Once the judges agreed that they had seen everything they needed to see, Lindsay called all of the finalists out onto the floor for one last dance, just for the heck of it.
After that, the judges took off for about an hour to discuss the candidates. When they returned, Lindsay announced the numbers of the ladies who had been selected:
88: Christina (rookie)
98: Ivanna (rookie)
99: Taylor (rookie)
32: Tori (rookie)
185: Julianne (veteran)
189: Xandi (veteran)
30: Mina (rookie)
92: Dani (rookie)
80: Ellie (rookie)
186: Jules (veteran)
10: Abby (rookie)
76: Tara (rookie)
36: Jean (rookie)
188: Niaps (veteran)
42: Isabella (rookie)
100: Jessica (rookie)
86: Alexis (veteran)
85: Michelle (rookie)
4: Suzie (rookie)
87: Priscila (rookie)
Both Ellie and Dani auditioned last year, and didn’t make it. They came back strong this year, and really impressed the judges. You gotta love a well-earned comeback.
As the numbers were called, Cody handed each dancer the congrats flyer and LA KISS Defensive Back Romeo Pellum offered her a sparkling rose. It was a moment right out of “The Bachelor” although thankfully he did NOT ask each of them “Will you accept this rose?”
And when Lindsay was finished announcing the team, he offered her a rose too. Awwww…that was just sweet.
Then the 2015 LA KISS Girls danced together as a team for the very first time.
Followed by lots of photos, lots of hugs, and lots of WOO-HOOing! Congratulations ladies!
[Photo Gallery: 2015 LA KISS Girls Final Audition]
(From left to right)
Top row: Alexis*, Priscila, Jessica, Abby, Ivanna, Dani, Jean, Tori, Ellie, Christina, Julianne*
Bottom row: Michelle, Isabella, Mina, Suzie, Taylor, Tara, Niaps*, Jules*, Xandi*
*veteran
