Art, Design, and Dance Drive TopCat Captain Myra

Even cheerleaders need cheerleaders. For Myra of the TopCats, the dance squad that cheers on the Carolina Panthers, her parents are her own personal cheerleaders. Not only have they been amazingly supportive, but Myra’s parents have a wide variety of interests, including ballroom dancing. Not only does Myra dance, but she is a lifelong artist and currently a graphic designer. Myra is one of the TopCat Captains this season, but she also was a four-year member of the NBA’s Washington Wizards dance team prior to her move to Charlotte. UltimateCheerleaders learned Myra’s path in art, dance, and design, and how her parents, culture, and ice skating brought her to NFL and NBA sidelines, even performing for the most “VI” VIP in the USA.

Being part of pro cheer and dance for two pro leagues started innocuously enough for Myra, during a conversation catching up with friends. “I was actually sitting around two girls I danced with in high school,” explains Myra. “We had all graduated from college were just catching up, and my friend said, ‘I heard on the radio they were having auditions for the Wizards; do it.’ My response was ‘CHA, right. No, I won’t make that. That’s not gonna happen.’ A week later, I went to a prep class and fell in love. I walked in thinking, ‘I have no idea why I’m here,’ to, ‘I belong nowhere else BUT here.’”

Of her time dancing for the Wizards, Myra recalls, “My favorite memories would have to be the awesome friends I made there, from my fellow dancers, to the people I was able to meet, and…dancing for Obama! That was the game of a lifetime.”

Myra lived in Arlington with her best girlfriends until 2010, but a change was in store, as Myra explains, “Then I moved to Charlotte with my wonderful boyfriend.”

Myra’s days with the Wizards ended, but not her love of dance. “I knew that even after the NBA, I did not want to stop dancing,” Myra says. “Whether it was find a company to perform for (which I had made one in DC, then sadly had to decline because of the move), or try out for the NFL somewhere, I knew the poms weren’t hung up yet.”

Plus, finding a new dance outlet also filled in other pieces of life when Myra moved to a new city. “Moving to a new town was different and a bit of an adjustment, to say the least,” recalls Myra. “Being part of a professional dance team adds so much to my life. Being new, it gave me an instant family, which was incredibly important. I loved and still love having pride in my city and being able to say that I help bring something big or small to a big organization such as the Panthers. The opportunities and people you get to meet have no limit.”

In her NFL career, what are Myra’s most memorable moments? Myra replies, “My favorite memories are all encompassing! From auditions my rookie year, to the TopCat Retreat, which is where I think a lot of our bonding begins. There is no feeling like the first time your boot hits that field though. It is like no other rush hearing the roar of the fans and feeling the energy ricocheting in the stadium. One of my favorite memories is performing our TopCat intros (both this and last year). Getting to hear your name over the speakers in the Bank of America Stadium is a little unreal. As a TopCat legend, Laura Ruble, told me ‘There is no feeling like standing in the end zone, heart racing, knuckles white from gripping your poms, and then the music comes on.’ The entire experience is like nothing else.”

“This season has been incredibly exciting!” describes Myra about the buzz of new QB Cam Newton. “I think you hold your rookie year close to your heart, and there is no one and nothing that can replace that, but this year has been awesome as well! The excitement on the field has been so high-charged, it’s amazing. I was just telling my best friend who came in to town to watch her first Panthers game, you sort of forget how big of a deal things can be when you are down there, because you are so focused on getting all the moves right. But if you think about looking down onto the field, it’s a little astounding. This season Cam has brought an energy to the stadium that has made our jobs more exciting!”

In addition to the excitement being generated by the Panthers, Myra also stepped into the role of TopCat Captain. “Being asked to be a Captain was beyond thrilling, and an honor I did not think was in the realm of my TopCat career.”

“Just this past weekend we were able to help grant a wish for the ‘Make A Wish Foundation’ to Isabella Santos,” Myra described after the November 13th home game. “Her wish was to be a TopCat, and it was just amazing seeing her smile in our locker room and on the field. It’s amazing to think, I am just a regular girl who was lucky enough to do this, and times like that you remember how many little girls look up to you and the impact you can have on the community.”

Myra’s own little girl life was full of dance, skating, art, and a close knit family. “I was born in Arlington, Virginia, and raised in Burke, Virginia,” says Myra, whose parents still reside in northern Virginia and her older brother lives in New York. “My parents are incredibly active with their yoga, ballroom dancing, swimming, you name it.”

“My love of dance developed at an early age,” describes Myra. “However, I started ‘late’ in comparison to most other little girls. I actually took up figure skating first. In order to get better at that, I took ballet and found that I liked it MUCH MORE, and was slightly better at dance than skating. I begged and begged my mom to let me take both, and I did for a little bit, but had to choose one. Clearly, I chose dance. I think I made the right choice.”

Certainly she did, as Myra’s dance developed her in many ways. “As a little girl, I was painfully shy at times, but I think dance helped me come out of my shell,” notes Myra. “I do believe there is footage somewhere of me dancing and singing by myself to Jem or Paula Abdul or something of that nature in our living room. Any shyness seemed to go away when I danced. I remember the first time I ever performed in front of a ‘large’ group of people, I was in middle school. We had this pep rally and it felt like everyone on planet earth was there; I’m sure in reality that wasn’t the case.”

“However, I did my best, in a crushed velvet leotard and bell bottom pants, no big deal,” smiles Myra. “I had never felt a rush of nerves, fear, excitement, like that. From that second on, I knew I had to be in some capacity, a performer.”

“My parents were my biggest supporters when it came to my dance,” explains Myra. “They always pushed me to excel in school AND dance. School came first however, and dance was my reward for that. Growing up balancing school, high school dance, and studio dance was a challenge but it definitely helps me manage my time today. So yes, my parents were my biggest cheerleaders and everything I have and am today is due to them. I know I didn’t tell them that enough growing up, but one more time: THANKS MOM AND DAD!”

After high school, Myra furthered both her academic and dance careers. “I went to Virginia Tech after high school,” as Myra throws in a “GO HOKIES!” “There, I danced on the Dance Company of Virginia Tech and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts. Post college, I moved to in Arlington, Virginia.”

Today, Myra is a graphic designer, so was Myra an artist from early on? “I guess, yes, I was aspiring to be an artist from a young age,” replies Myra. “I can recall just trying to mimic drawings of Disney princesses or sketching Clifford the Big Red Dog. I would always be doodling and sketching. My bedroom growing up I painted a blue sky with clouds in it. Looking back, not my finest work, but an aspiring artist nonetheless.”

“My favorite medium would be acrylic or oil paint,” answers Myra when asked about her favorite artistic pursuits. “I absolutely LOVE painting and am always trying to find time to get back into it. I have this great easel that my boyfriend got me for my birthday once; I just have to find the time to use it more!”

Of her path to graphic design, Myra explains, “I feel like being a designer just sort of happened naturally. I am proud to say that that I love what I do and my job. I know lot of people cannot say that, but I definitely can without reservation.”

So, Myra now lives in a city named for Queen Charlotte, who supported craftsmen and artists like cabinetmaker William Vile, silversmith Thomas Heming (bet he did things the Heming-way; sorry), the landscape designer Capability Brown, and the German painter Johann Zoffany. So, if Myra was bestowed royal powers and could have the works of any artist on display in her house, who would she favor? “Oh, wow, okay,” responds Myra to this most regal question. “I would choose paintings by Caravaggio or Vermeer, because they are my absolute favorites. I love the way they can capture the human form and their dramatic use of light in their compositions. I would like a painting by Gustav Klimt, because I find his work incredibly romantic and dynamic. I’d love a Van Gogh or Picasso painting of course! If I could add sculptures by Bernini, anything from the Baroque or Renaissance period, wouldn’t exactly fit in my décor, but I’d make it work. Maybe I would add more pieces from the Smithsonian Museum of Art in DC, one of my favorite places ever! Can I keep naming more art? Just kidding!”

Myra’s parents were born in the Philippines, and in addition to their personal influence on her, has their culture also influenced Myra’s art and dance? “Artistic expression has always been a thread in Filipino culture,” replies Myra. “Whether it is singing, dancing, or painting it remains an integral part of our lifestyle. I visited the Philippines a few years ago, and I was astounded by the level of poverty in certain areas. However, throughout all these hardships, children were still singing and dancing. That is what I love about my people. They are able to find joy in every situation, and I hope I am able to incorporate that in my dance and everyday life.”

“It was incredible to meet my father’s side (most of my father’s side lives there) and see where my parents both grew up,” Myra continues. “I found out more about myself going on that trip. My mom is from the islands and my dad is from the city, so it was cool to see that juxtaposition. I would have to say the beaches were my favorite, but the country itself is beautiful. I got to see the famous Chocolate Hills my parents had told me about growing up and the sun is NO JOKE in the Philippines, to this day it is the only place I have ever gotten a sunburn. Filipino food is in itself, another art form. My favorite dishes are Lumpia Shanghai (eggrolls) and Adobo Chicken, Siapao, Turon and Ensaymada.”

So, is Myra a fan of Filipino icon, boxer Manny Pacquaio? “Of COURSE I root for Manny Pacquaio,” responds Myra. It makes sense Myra knows boxing, she is a “knockout” who knows her way around a “canvas,” and “floats like a butterfly” on the Panthers sidelines for the TopCats.

Probably Myra’s parents had no idea when that someday their daughter would be performing on a dance team for the US President, and that Myra herself had no inkling when her friend first mentioned the idea of pro dance that she would be someday on both NBA and NFL squads. Myra appreciates the opportunity she has had to dance in both the NBA and NFL, saying, “I think I am one of the VERY lucky few that have been able to experience both. I myself, wouldn’t be the same having experienced just one.” Myra’s TopCat peers are also very happy that Myra’s path took her to Charlotte for the next steps in her dance and design journey.

Thanks so much to Myra for sharing her experiences with us. We also are indebted to Richelle Grant and Tina Becker of the TopCats organization for providing the opportunity for this interview.

Here are some additional photos of Myra from the Panthers October 30th home game. Left click on each photo once to see the entire photo, then left click on that image to see full size photos: