Casey once told her family that she was going to see the world one beach at a time. Dancing for Royal Caribbean cruises allowed Casey to see quite a few, but being the Pro Bowl selection for the Houston Texans Cheerleaders allows her to cross a few Hawaiian sandy locales off of her list. Today is Pro Bowl Sunday, when the NFL showcases its top talent, including Casey. UltimateCheerleaders is honored to learn about Casey’s journey, including being one of the legendary Kilgore Rangerettes. To summarize her Texans Cheerleaders experience briefly is basically impossible for Casey, as she says, “It has been so inspiring and all-encompassing.” And it should be even more so after today, Casey’s chance to shine in the Pro Bowl!

With the support of her family and inspirational dance teachers, Casey’s first solo performance exemplified her future success in dance. “I remember my first solo at the age of nine,” Casey recalls. “I danced to ‘Ease on Down the Road’ from the musical, The Wiz. I dressed as a scarecrow and my dad even built a scarecrow stand for me. I pretended to awaken and move for the first time, then I fell off the stand and began to dance! I had so much character that at the end of the competition, I actually received a special award from the judges that they named the ‘Cool Rags Award.’ I’ve come a long way from being a scarecrow and I couldn’t have done it without the guidance and knowledge I received from so many caring educators. I’ve been blessed with talented and giving dance teachers that all played a part in helping me chase my dreams.”

Casey participated in dance for as long as she can remember. “My parents enrolled me in dance at the age of three and I was immediately in love,” Casey recalls. “It wasn’t until high school that I realized that this was not just something I enjoyed, but that I excelled in the art. My high school dance team director encouraged me to continue dancing in college and led me towards the Kilgore College Rangerettes. That was my first audition and the process lasted a week but I made it! While on this team I served as Lieutenant and Head Swingster of the specialty group (note: the Rangerette Swingsters are a specialty jazz dance group, and being a Swingster is considered an honor as they are considered an elite performance group within the Rangerettes). Being a Rangerette taught me so much more than just dance, it made me into the lady I am today.”

“After Kilgore, I transferred to The University of Texas at Austin and completed my Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre and Dance,” continues Casey, “and was a member of the Roustabouts Dance Company, which is a hip-hop based performance group.”

After UT, Casey was sailing off to new horizons. “After graduation, I was employed by Royal Caribbean Productions and I informed my family that I would be seeing the world one beach at a time!” shares Casey. “Once this contract finished, I wanted to return to my roots in Houston and become an NFL cheerleader for my hometown team, the Houston Texans. I’m one of the lucky ones; I’ve followed my heart my entire life and it’s lead me right where I’m supposed to be and doing what I love. Not many people can say they are that fortunate but I love dance for all of the opportunities it’s opened up for me; be it the amazing people I’ve met and incredible places I’ve been.”

Cheerleading and football are staples of Texas’s identity. “Football is definitely the favorite pastime in Texas,” Casey says. “We’ve got our weekends planned from fall to winter with Fridays at high school football games, Saturday watching college games, and Sundays, I’ll be at the Texans game.”

So what was Casey’s first Texans Cheerleader tryout like? “Looking back, I would say that I experienced my first audition for the Houston Texans Cheerleaders with bittersweet cluelessness,” responds Casey. “I didn’t quite know what I was getting into and hadn’t done much planning beforehand. All I did was borrow an outfit from a friend and had to pin it to make it fit. I wanted to make the team but at that point the odds seemed slim since there were over 1,000 beautiful ladies. I was honored to be selected to join the team at my first tryout and to my amazement, my rookie year was so much more than I could have ever imagined.”

This season, Casey is in her second season with the HTC, but try-out number two was not a piece of cake. “Returning to audition for the next year meant the stakes were upped because I knew exactly everything that I had to lose,” Casey reflects. “Walking into tryouts with my fingers crossed hoping to become a veteran was much more nerve-wracking than the first time through.”

Well, seems like things have worked out during Casey’s sophomore season with the HTC, including being awarded the Pro Bowl selection. “Our coach Alto Gary, made the Pro Bowl announcement after practice one night,” Casey remembers. “We had voted a couple weeks before, so it had slipped my mind and I assumed the cheerleader that was going already knew it was her, and this announcement was for the rest of our team. To hear her say my name was a complete shock! I’ve never been so honored as to have my peers choose me to represent them at the Pro Bowl. I give this team all of my passion and joy and for my friends to recognize that and reward me so dearly is nothing less than a blessing.”

Not only a blessing, but her trip will be a great new adventure for the former cruise line performer. “I never have been to Hawaii so what a treat this trip will be,” Casey says. “I can’t wait to get to know all of the other cheerleaders and perform with them. The Pro Bowl is going to be such a special experience and I get to share it with a team full of new friends.”

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This Sunday’s Pro Bowl will feature six-year Tennessee Titans Cheerleader veteran Tandra, also a TTC line captain

This Sunday’s Pro Bowl will feature four-year Miami Dolphins Cheerleader veteran Natalie, a two year MDC captain. Photo courtesy of our Florida Correspondent Jackson.

This Sunday’s Pro Bowl will feature Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleader Ashlee, a four year TBBC veteran, with two as captain. Photo courtesy of our Florida Correspondent Jackson, and Jackson has more photos of Ashlee at this link

Today, we feature photos of wonderful Raiderette Tracy, along with a few fun facts meant to illuminate the mind and dazzle the senses:

• Tracy is a Raiderette rookie, but also danced next door to O.co Coliseum at Oracle Arena as a Warrior Girl
• The Raiders had another Tracy on their roster, cornerback Tracy Porter
• names.whitepages.com reports that 462,496 Americans are named Tracy, and 82% are women
• MC Hammer currently lives in the city of Tracy, California
• During the early 1970’s, young Hammer would sell stray baseballs and dance accompanied by a beatboxer in the Oakland Coliseum parking lot. A’s team owner Charlie Finley saw the eleven-year-old doing splits and hired him as a clubhouse assistant as a result of his energy and flair
• When she isn’t dancing at the Coliseum with energy and flair, Tracy is a devoted stay-at-home mom
• Written as a book “for children and those who love children,” Heidi is a novel about the events in the life of a young girl in her grandfather’s care, in the Swiss Alps. Heidi was written in 1880 by Swiss author Johanna Spyri and is one of the best-selling books ever written and is among the best-known works of Swiss literature
• The “Heidi Game” was played on November 17, 1968, and the Raiders defeated the Jets, 43–32. The game is remembered for its exciting finish, as Oakland scored two touchdowns in the final minute to overcome a 32–29 New York lead. It came to be known as the Heidi Game because NBC controversially broke away from the game, with the Jets still winning, to air the television film of Heidi
• Weeks later, the Jets hosted the Raiders on December 29th to determine who would play in Super Bowl III. The Jets defeated the Raiders, 27–23, and two weeks later, Joe Namath and the Jets defeated the Colts in the big Super Bowl upset
• The Heidi movie starred actress Jennifer Edwards in the title role, and she is stepdaughter of singing star Julie Andrews
• Raiderette Tracy’s first music purchase was singer Toni Braxton’s “Unbreak My Heart” when Tracy was eight years old
• Regarding broken hearts, Bess Myerson once wrote that “to fall in love is awfully simple, but to fall out of love is simply awful”
• US News’s “8 Steps to Mend a Broken Heart” include “#3. Turn up the radio. Science suggests that music has a therapeutic effect. Blare some of your favorite, feel-good tunes: Listening to them can trigger the release of endorphins, lifting your spirits and combating stress”
• “Turn Up the Radio” is a song by Madonna from her twelfth studio album MDNA (2012), and also a different song by American glam metal band Autograph and the lead single from their 1984 debut album, Sign in Please
• The hobby of collecting autographs is known as philography
• Six-time Grammy Award-winner Toni Braxton and her sisters, Traci, Towanda, Trina and Tamar appeared on Dr. Phil
• Toni Braxton was discovered by William E. Pettaway Jr., who heard her singing to herself while pumping gas
• That would not have happened in Oregon and New Jersey; attendants are required to pump gas because customers are barred by statutes in both states from pumping their own gas
• In the Simpson’s episode “Scenes from the Class Struggle in Springfield,” Mr. Burns pulls into a gas station in his Ford Quadricycle, and says to Marge, “You there! Fill it up with petroleum distillate, and re-vulcanize my tires, post haste!”
• Mr. Burns’ heart is shrunken to the size of a cherry
• Beyonce’s I am…Sasha Fierce album contains the song “Broken-Hearted Girl” which was co-written by Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds
• Raiderette Tracy would LOVE to be a dancer for Beyonce, although I think it should be vice versa
• Word on the street is that Beyonce is scheduled to perform tonight at the First Lady’s 50th birthday party at the White House
• President Obama memorably spent his 48th birthday using the ten-pin lane at Camp David, where he reportedly bowled a 144 with three strikes and a nine in the last four throws
• Tracy’s favorite moment as a new Raiderette was their mini-camp when they all went bowling and spent time together. Tracy liked bonding with the her new teammates, laughing, being silly, and forming friendships
• We hope those friendships and fun influence Tracy to be back for season two in the Raiderette sisterhood!

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The Tennessee Titans Cheerleaders, in conjunction with Image Calendar, Inc., have released their 2014 swimsuit calendar app, joining only two other NFL teams to offer their cheerleader calendar in a digital format.

“This is a cutting edge product that works in conjunction with the calendar on your IPhone or IPod,” said Titans Cheerleaders Director Stacie Kinder. “I am excited that our fans can take advantage of this latest technology to incorporate Titans cheerleaders onto their Apple devices all year long!”

The app offers 48 images, many of which are different from what is seen in the printed version. The digital calendar interfaces with the user’s personal calendar, allowing all the data and appointments to transfer to the Titans Cheerleaders calendar.

The app is currently available for Apple devices in the ITunes store.

Yes, I call them “America’s Cheerleaders” because they usually have members spanning from coast to coast, north to south. It is time to start thinking about Tennessee Titans Auditions for 2014! Director of Cheerleading Stacie Kinder let’s us know that it is time to start to prepare for a workshop on April 6th and audition on April 27th. Full details at this link and information below, and mark the dates in your TTC Swimsuit Calendar app (see above):

2014 TENNESSEE TITANS CHEERLEADERS AUDITIONS
presented by Sun Tan City

If you are looking to be a part of the hottest, most exciting group of women in Tennessee, then you need to audition for the 2014 Titans Cheerleaders! We are searching nation-wide for young women age 18 and over who love their Titans, who have inner and outer beauty, and who love to perform!

The experience of being a Tennessee Titans Cheerleader is unmatched by anything else. Aside from having the best seats in the house at every Titans home game, these ladies have been seen on The Oprah Show and on Dr. Oz. They’ve had their own reality show on MTV, and their photos have been featured in numerous national publications. They’ve danced in music videos and worked on the hit TV series, “Nashville,” and more! The entertainment opportunities as a TTC are endless!

Each year, the Titans Cheerleaders travel all over the world for corporate appearances and to entertain our United States Military. They have been as far as Korea, Kuwait, Singapore, and Africa and danced in the Caribbean Islands, Hawaii, Guam, and Alaska. They’ve spent a full week in Mexico City and worked at events in Las Vegas, Seattle, and Arizona, among others. As a Titans Cheerleader, you will have the opportunity to see the world!

Requirements:

• Candidates must be at least 18 years of age AND a high school graduate.

• Candidates must be available to travel to Florida for one week in late May/early June for annual swimsuit calendar photo shoot.

• Candidates must be available for all Titans home games.

• Dance experience is beneficial, but not a requirement.

IMPORTANT DATES:

Preliminary/Semi-Final Audition
Sunday, April 27, 2014; Registration begins at 12 noon
Saint Thomas Sports Park Practice Bubble
460 Great Circle Rd.
Nashville, TN 37228

Wardrobe: Dance attire, Tennis shoes or Dance shoes, surface is artificial turf

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD REGISTRATION FORM |
$20 administration fee (in advance); $25 at the door, walk-ins welcome.
(all fees are non-refundable)

Final Audition
TBA

TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES:

Pre-Audition Workshop
This short prep class will inform the candidates of what to expect during the audition process and introduce them to the audition choreography.

Choose ONE time option only, please.
Sunday, April 6, 2014
3:00-4:30pm OR 5:00-6:30pm
Nashville Athletic Club
5035 Harding Place
Nashville, TN 37211

Wardrobe: Practice wear, but bring a cover up for Q/A session.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD REGISTRATION FORM
$55 (pre-registration recommended, but walk-ins are accepted if space is available; each class is limited to 50 participants).
(all fees are non-refundable)

Registration for the Pre-Audition Workshop automatically registers you for the audition.

Today, we feature photos of superstar Raiderette Natalie, along with fun facts meant to illuminate the mind and dazzle the senses:

• Natalie is in her sixth season with the Raiderettes
• Art Shell was the last Raiders head coach to be serve six or more seasons, and Art coached in both LA and Oakland
• Lisa O’Day was a Raiderette during every season that the Raiderettes were based in LA, from 1983-1996, and Lisa’s sister was also an NFL cheerleader
• Natalie’s sister Jenna was not only a Raiderette too, but a Warrior Girl, Laker Girl, Clippers dancer, and a Saber Kitten; wow!
• Natalie is originally from Walnut Creek, California
• Walnut Creek is the headquarters of the Pac-12 Conference
• Demand for California walnuts in markets around the world has elevated walnuts to the fourth-leading export from the state, valued at $970 million
• Natalie cheered for another California NFL team in the past, the Chargers
• “Natalie” is a song by American singer-songwriter Bruno Mars from his second studio album, Unorthodox Jukebox
• Bruno Mars will perform at halftime of the first “cold weather” Super Bowl this year, although Mars was born and raised in Honolulu
• The planet Mars’s surface temperatures vary from lows of about −143 °C (at the winter polar caps) to highs of up to 35 °C (in equatorial summer). The wide range in temperatures is due to the thin atmosphere which cannot store much solar heat, the low atmospheric pressure, and the low thermal inertia of Martian soil
• At age four, Bruno Mars began performing with his family’s band, in which he became known for his impersonation of Elvis Presley, and went on to have a cameo in the film Honeymoon in Vegas in 1992 at age seven (click here to see adorable video of Lil Bruno)
• Raiderette Natalie began dance at the age of three (and she was even more adorable)
• Natalie has a degree in economics with a minor in Italian
• According to Google Translate, in Italian, Football’s Fabulous Females is “femmine favolose del calcio”
• Natalie is a Pro Bowl veteran, performing in Honolulu, also a city well known to Bruno Mars and Elvis Presley

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The X-League is a professional American football league in Japan and, of course, cheerleaders are part of the entertainment. Here are photos of the Elecom Kobe Finies Cheerleaders from this link.

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Today, photos of a true UltimateCheerleader, Noriko of the Oakland Raiderettes, with a few fun facts, designed to delight and amaze:

• Noriko is in her rookie season with the Raiderettes
• In fact, Noriko was named 2013 Raiderette Rookie of the Year!
• Only two Raiders have won the AP NFL Rookie of the Year Award: Marcus Allen (offense, 1982) and Charles Woodson (defense, 1998)
• The Oxford English Dictionary states that the origins of the term rookie are uncertain, but that perhaps it is a corruption of the word recruit. The earliest example from the OED is from Rudyard Kipling’s Barrack-Room Ballads (published 1892)
• Kipling is best known for his works of fiction, including The Jungle Book
• Kipling travelled all over the world, including Japan
• Noriko is from Japan and has lived in the US for six years
• The end of December and the beginning of January are the busiest times for the Japan’s post offices, due to the Japanese custom of sending New Year’s Day postcards to their friends and relatives
• At midnight on December 31, Buddhist temples all over Japan ring their bells a total of 108 times to symbolize the 108 human sins in Buddhist belief, and to get rid of the 108 worldly desires
• AC/DC’s “Hell’s Bells” is prominently played at Raiders games
• Raiderette Noriko’s first job was scooping ice cream at age 17
• Ice cream is a popular dessert in Japan, with almost two in five adults eating some at least once a week, according to a 2007 survey. The top four flavors are vanilla, chocolate, matcha (powdered green tea), and strawberry
• Japan is also known for unique ice cream flavors, including octopus, chicken wing, wasabi, shrimp, squid ink, and garlic
• The X-League is a professional American football league in Japan. Americans are often recruited to play for X-league teams, with a strict rule of 4 per team. No more than 2 non-Japanese players are allowed on the field of play per team
• According to their website, the cheerleaders for the X-league team, the Tokyo Gas Creators, were named 2013 cheerleaders of the year
• Noriko runs her own importing business, importing from the US to Japan
• Art Vandelay, the product of the fertile imagination of Seinfeld’s George Costanza , was an importer/exporter, who considered giving up exporting in the episode that George wanted to meet Marisa Tomei
• Marisa Tomei won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for My Cousin Vinny
• Rated as perhaps the best Asian-produced film ever, Tokyo Story is a 1953 Japanese film directed by Yasujirō Ozu. It is the story of an aging couple who visit their children, and contrasts the behavior of their children, who are too busy to pay them much attention, and their widowed daughter-in-law, who treats them with kindness. It is often regarded as Ozu’s masterpiece, and has appeared several times in the British Film Institute lists of the greatest films ever made.
• According to Google Translate, Football’s Fabulous Females in Japanese is サッカーの素晴らしい女性で (Sakkā no subarashī josei de)
• Congratulations Noriko on being the most Fabulous rookie!

More photos of Noriko below at the Continue link, and some more at this link

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