Imagine the life of an NFL cheerleader uniform. Starting out as a designer’s idea and an assorted collection of fabric and embellishments, the garment comes together to have a sense of flash while still even on the hanger. Still, it needs to be worn, to glitter and shine in performance on the sidelines, so it can really come to life when worn by an elite NFL cheerleader. When dancer and uniform unite, heads turn, eyes are captured, and Ultimate Cheerleaders are created.

Vikings Cheerleader Pam gets to see all of the stages of the life of cheer/dance apparel up close, and in a very personal way. By day, she works at The Line Up, the Minnesota-based company that designs and produces custom dance costumes, custom dancewear, and creative performance apparel, including the uniforms for the Vikings Cheerleaders. Then during Vikings home games, she brings the uniforms to life, giving them the chance to shine on Mall of America Field, as a captain for the MVC. Pam shared with UltimateCheerleaders her life’s journey, including dancing for a renowned college team that she now serves as assistant coach, and her home life, which illustrates a contradiction to the Leo Durocher quote “Nice guys finish last,” and also is injected with humor courtesy of her two English Bulldogs. If you have seen the Volkswagen commercial in which a bulldog swallows the keyless remote, I have a feeling Pam can relate, as one of her puppies deprived her MVC teammates because of his own need to consume first and ask questions later.

A Minnesotan by birth, oldest child Pam was dressing people in dancewear from the early on, even though her brother may not have appreciated her interest. “I was born in Edina, Minnesota and grew up my whole life in Eden Prairie,” Pam recounts. “I was the first, and only, girl in my family, with two younger brothers: Brandt who is four years younger and Jason who is nine years younger. I was an active and spunky little kid. Brandt and I were two peas in a pod. I would go to dance class and come home to teach him all my dances I learned. We would put on plays and recitals for my parents just about every night after school. Let’s just say Brandt has worn his fair share of tutus.”

Pam’s early life focused on dance, as she explains, “I started dance when I was three years old and have been dancing ever since. I was involved in ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, pointe, and lyrical on my studio’s competition teams. In high school, I was on varsity kick and jazz all four years, and captain both my junior and senior year.”

Dance continued for Pam in college, as she attended the Minneapolis’ respected University of St. Thomas. Were there days in the winter that Pam wished the campus was instead in the St. Thomas located in the Caribbean? “Oh man, in the winter when there was two feet of snow I most DEFINITELY wished the campus was in the Caribbean!” Pam responds. “But, it was nice when we would get a snow day and class would be canceled. I went to school for four years at UST, graduating with a degree in advertising and a minor in psychology. I absolutely loved it! It is a private school so the class sizes were small and we were able to get to know our professors and classmates.”

But Pam did get to spend some time away from Minnesota. “I was able to study and live in a small surf town in Australia for six months,” Pam recalls. “I was able to study advertising and work on a couple campaigns with Australian students. Their culture is amazing! Everyone was so laid back and easy going; such a change from our country.”

So what would be on Pam’s recommended “to do” list for someone visiting Australia? “A ‘must do’ is to stray away from the tourist traps and get out to Nobby’s Beach, or further down the Gold Coast, to experience the ‘small towns,’” Pam responds. “Sunday nights, they would have bongo nights in the park. Everyone would sit in a circle and keep a steady beat, adding their own spice and style. Anyone was welcome to participate or just watch. It was so fun!”

But when back in Minneapolis, Pam kept the beat as part on the dance team for her college’s championship caliber dance team. “I danced for the University of St. Thomas dance team in college and was also captain there my junior and senior year,” Pam, who was awarded both “Rookie of the Year” and “Most Valuable” during her tenure, recalls. “We won the national championship my junior year, which is one of my proudest moments.” Not only was the dance team successful, participation kept Pam’s calendar full, just how she likes it. “I was very busy, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way,” Pam says. “We danced at football games, pep-fests, basketball games, and parades for the school; lots of Tommie pride!”

Pam’s not only received an education at St. Thomas, but the gift of friends to last a lifetime. And to you guys out there, a lesson that a nice guy can finish first. “I met so many wonderful people at St. Thomas, some of which are my best friends today,” Pam relates. “On the first day of school, a nice guy offered to help move my stuff into my dorm room. We ended up talking, hanging out, and I fell for him. Seven years later we are now married with two bulldogs!”

(more…)

Dateline Indianapolis: Local officials report the unusual occurrence of throngs of young men, literally in the thousands, patiently sitting under apple trees throughout central Indiana for no apparent reason. Investigators are perplexed, with the only common thread among these men being that they were present for the halftime performance at the most recent Colts home game at Lucas Oil Stadium. This behavior, clinically known as the “Isaac Newton Phenomenon,” has not been observed in Indiana since World War II.

In recent seasons, during the Colts home game near Veterans Day, the Colts Cheerleaders participate throughout the game in a salute to the troops. The squad dons four sets of really cute, and truly unique, uniforms that represent the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines branches of the military. Throughout the game day schedule of the November 4th Colts-Miami game, recognition of those that serve in the military was the theme of the afternoon. For instance, as the Colts Cheerleaders lined up for pre-game introductions, each of the Colts ran onto the field with a member of the military, with their families cheering.

Through the years, the Colts Cheerleaders have travelled the world to visit military bases and participate in USO shows, but on this day, the Colts Cheerleaders brought a World War II era USO show home, to the 50 yard line of Lucas Oil Stadium. Active military personnel circled the stage as three of the Cheerleaders grabbed microphones to sing. Allie J, Megan M, and Stefanie B performed of “Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree (With Anyone Else but Me).” Truthfully, based on the faithfulness to the original and getting the sound right in the big stadium, I assumed they were lip synching until I learned later, nope, they were belting out the Andrews Sisters hit themselves, live! The Andrews Sisters, who were kind of the Spice Girls, but without the spice, of their day, would have been proud of the Colts Sisters version.

After the singing, the Colts Cheerleaders began a swing dance routine, with the participation of some active military personnel. The Cheerleaders and Cheerleader Coordinator Theresa Pottratz really enjoyed seeing the dance partners take their parts so seriously, some without much notice that they would be on center stage. I guess that is the sign of military preparedness that we benefit from every day. The Cheerleaders donned WWII era inspired costumes, and the Colts Junior Cheerleaders joined in as well.

UltimateCheerleaders thanks Theresa and the Colts Cheerleaders for all of their help, and throughout the year for all of their work to support the military! Also, thanks to the Colts Pam Humphrey for her wonderful assistance.

There are more photos of the game below and also an extensive gallery at this link.

(more…)

Singer/songwriter Heidi has always had a passion for performing onstage ever since she was a wee tot preparing for a talent show. Heidi recalls, “I remember I was in first grade, and my dad helped me paint some little red shoes with red sparkles, and I practiced for weeks for ‘Somewhere over the Rainbow.’ First grade, and it was the only thing I could think about. Since as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to perform.”

So starting with her homemade ruby slippers, Heidi’s performance passion began. And after years of cheer, dance, and performing in her home state of California, Heidi decided to take a chance on the other side of the musical rainbow, and she is traveling down her own yellow brick road this year to pursue her dreams in the Nashville music scene. Last season, Heidi was a rookie with the 49ers Gold Rush, and that season helped her gain the wherewithal to journey to Nashville, where this season she is a rookie, again, with the Tennessee Titans Cheerleaders. It is like the legendary winds of Candlestick picked her up from her home state and sailed Heidi over the rainbow to the Oz-like bright lights of Nashville. And like Dorothy, Heidi’s trip included some perilous adventures, with helpful people along the way, but without the systematic character flaws of Dorothy’s companions. Heidi shared with UltimateCheereaders what she loves about Nashville and the Titans entire organization, what, and whom, she misses from California, and some “Toto, we are not in California anymore” type moments from her new life in Nashville.

Heidi was born and raised in California, growing up mainly in the Bay Area. The dance portion of Heidi’s performing began with school cheer/dance groups. “I actually started dancing through cheer,” Heidi explains, “I made the cheer team on my high school when I was a freshman. We were more of a pom squad, so we did a lot of actual dance, along with just cheer. So that was probably my biggest first dance experience, it was cheerleading through high school and college.”

For college, Heidi moved south to attend the University of San Diego, where she received a degree in Communications Studies, and was part of their Spirit dance team. After college, Heidi remained in San Diego, until eventually moving back up north near home. That move connected Heidi to both her high school dance past and her NFL cheer future. “Before I tried out for an NFL team, I hadn’t really thought about it,” Heidi explains. “When I moved back home to the San Jose/San Francisco area, I was coaching my old high school team. I just kept thinking, ‘Gosh, I miss being on the field so much!’, because it had been a few years since I had performed or done anything with dance. And I kept thinking, ‘Man, I hope one of the girls gets sick so I can take her spot, and run out and perform with them!’ (laughs) I started thinking about, someone at my age and career level, what the dance opportunities really are. And what I came to was, really, the only thing is a pro dance or a pro cheerleader.”

And through Heidi’s high school coaching duties, she was able to learn more about NFL cheer. Heidi recalls, “I happened to meet some of the 49ers Gold Rush at one of our fund raising events for my high school cheer team, the one that I was coaching, and they started telling me about the team, and what is was like, what try-outs were like. And I just thought, ‘What do I have to lose? I really want this, why not? Just give it a shot.’ So I did and I just put it all out there, and I ended up making it. It’s been amazing. And that was really a stepping stone I think for me to come here. Things worked out in just the right way where I ended up in the city (Nashville) where I really feel like I am supposed to be.”

So the process was that Heidi tried out for the Titans Cheerleaders before she moved to Nashville. “I wanted to move to Nashville for a while, and it just seemed like the right time and the right opportunity,” Heidi says. “So I saw that the Titans were having auditions and it just worked out for me, it was amazing.” And being on the squad provided a foundation for Heidi’s new life in Nashville as Heidi explains, “It was great knowing that when I moved here I had an activity to do and I had friends, so it is a great way to transition.”

(more…)

The border that divides Indiana and Ohio splits the Midwest into two sporting jurisdictions. On the Indiana side, life revolves around hoops: Larry Bird, Gene Hackman in Hoosiers, Bobby Knight, Oscar Robertson, Bobby Plump’s last shot, John Wooden; basketball icons, all. On the Ohio side, the gridiron rules, with Woody Hayes, Paul Brown, “Go Bucks!,” pro football’s birthplace in Canton, “Hang on Snoopy,” Archie Griffin’s two Heismans. Football is much more than a sport throughout Ohio, from Cleveland to Cincy, and all points in-state.

So it makes sense that Ohio born and raised Colts Cheerleader Allie brings a lot more than her wealth of dance talents to the sidelines. A LOT more! Allie brings a deep-seeded love of football to her spot on the goal line at Lucas Oil Stadium. In fact, if you are sitting in the back rows when the Colts Cheerleaders are throwing souvenirs to fans, you might to give a yell to Allie to “go deep,” as she can throw a spiral with the best of them. Allie shared with UltimateCheerleaders her love of football, her award winning history of cheer/dance, her chance to sing at events surrounding the biggest of big games, and, as a post-college newcomer to Indianapolis herself, where she would take Andrew Luck on her ultimate “Get to Know Indy Tour.”

Though Allie is a dedicated native Ohioan, some of her favorite memories whilst growing up involve seeing the rest of the country, and the world. “I was born and raised in Centerville, Ohio, which is located about fifteen minutes south of Dayton; I lived in the same house for nineteen years until I moved to Columbus to attend The Ohio State University,” Allie, who has a younger brother and two older half-sisters, shares. “Traveling was always a priority for my parents and those trips are among my favorite memories! I’m lucky to have traveled all over the United States and have even visited Hawaii and Australia!”

Sure, you can take Allie out of Ohio, but you cannot take the Ohio football fanatic out of the girl. When asked her favorite things, of course, Allie has to mention some pigskin. “I love to sing, dance, workout, boat, fish, eat, and watch football,” Allie says. “I’m also partial to cats; not that fond of dogs.”

But pet lovers of all kinds create football mania throughout Ohio, centered in the capital with OSU. “The NFL currently has three players from my hometown of Centerville and two of them played for Ohio State!” Allie exclaims. “Kirk Herbstreit, college game day commentator, also hails from Centerville! We’re proud of our home-town boys! My parents love football, both college and NFL. They fly the Ohio State flag on Saturday’s, and the Colts flag on Sunday’s, and they are season ticket holders!”

But Allie took her parents love of football, summed it together, plus magnified it to a whole new level, and now is sharing her fanaticism with her Colts Cheer teammates. “My dad is pretty good in his football pool (currently second) but I’d have to say I am THE football fanatic!” Allie explains. “I love to play football and can throw a pretty spiral about 35 yards. For me, one of the greatest highlights of being a Colts Cheerleader is the front row view of every snap. SportsCenter is an everyday priority of mine and the NFL fantasy football app eats up my iPhone battery on a daily basis. This year, I initiated a fantasy league within the Colts Cheerleading squad which has become quite competitive! My team, Weggie Rayne, yes, Weggie Rayne, is currently pulling a winning record and with any luck I’ll have a winning season.”

Did you say “Luck”; we will get to the new Colts QB in a second. (more…)

If one reads the on-line bio’s of the Vikings Cheerleaders, immediately you get the sense that they embrace all of the meteorological variability that Minnesota has to offer, from summer to winter. So it should not have been a surprise that the cheer team that performs in climate controlled Mall of America Field would have no qualms to go out in the cool-ish temps prior last Sunday’s Vikings game against Arizona, and perform at the “Party on the Plaza.”

Vikings Cheerleaders Elizabeth, Karen, Richelle, Danielle, Whitney, and Brooke joined the party to dance on the red brick road to the live band, and also pose with fans for their photo opportunities and sign some calendars. In addition, the MVC Alumni were also part of the festivities! In the Fall morning, when the trees’ coloring was on the verge of the gold of the Cheerleaders’ poms, the crowds of fans converged to see the Vikings Cheerleaders as they readied themselves for kickoff.

Some more photos are below, and you can follow the red brick road to this link to see more photos.

Soon it was time for the Vikings Cheerleaders to go inside the MetroDome and get ready for game time. And so will we, thanks to the wonderful MVC Director Tami Krause, so look for more photos from the game and Vikings Cheerleaders interviews coming soon!

I wanted to give a shout out to two cheer teams that have been affected by recent changes in the Arena Football League. The Atlanta-area based Georgia Force is folding and the Milwaukee Mustangs are taking a year off. Both teams have outstanding dance teams, on and off the field. Former NBA and NFL dancer Joie Ashworth headed up the Georgia Force Cheerleaders, a squad that was definitely major league. In fact, the Force legacy includes alumni Kiley and Emily, who are now on the Falcons Cheerleaders. Not only were the GFC an amazing set of performers, they also were accomplished women in their own right, seemingly a squad a Science Cheerleaders just within their ranks.

Also, we hope the Fillies Dance Team will only be on hiatus for a single season, and that the Mustangs are back in 2014. Fillies Dance Team Coordinator and Choreographer Danielle DuFour and dance team captain Carlie created the top pro football dance team in the state. The Fillies hit the stage with abundant talent and force, and also served as community ambassadors throughout the region.

Every time teams cease, like the Kansas City Command of the AFL which also folded, and the recent closing of the UFL season and postponement of the USFL, certainly there are dancers who will miss out on a chance to perform and support their communities and teams.

Both the Georgia and Milwaukee squads have been so helpful and hospitable to me in the past, and I appreciate their support of UltimateCheerleaders! The GFC and the Fillies both hit the field in pre-game on the backs of roaring motorcycles, and I hope this news does not mean that they will be riding off into the sunset, but on their way back to dance their hearts out, somewhere, somehow. Thanks ladies for all of your work and all of the cheer you provided!

Anyone who attended downtown Nashville’s pre-season Code Blue Pep Rally would have naturally assumed that brand new rookie Titans Cheerleaders Evony was a lifelong dancer, exemplified by sky high kicks that seemed to reach halfway to a beaming sun. But au contraire, Evony actually is strictly from the realm of all-star and college cheerleading, without the expected years and years of dance class training. Evony’s journey to prepare and succeed with the Titans Cheerleaders included finding the best people to help her, her own hard work ethic, and a devotion to some healthy food choices. And it all paid off, as Evony not only made it onto the elite Titans Cheerleaders, she also was a featured tumbler in her first regular season game’s first routine!

Born in California, Evony lived in the Fort Ord vicinity until a move during second grade to Tennessee. Evony is a junior at Nashville’s Tennessee State University, studying Health Science with a concentration in Speech Pathology, and also with a Spanish minor. “I am going to help English and Spanish patients,” Evony explains.

Although Evony’s boyfriend knew Vandy student TTC’s Jessica and Amber from his Vanderbilt days, Evony did not know any of the Titans Cheerleaders. But the esteem for the squad throughout Teneessee drew Evony to consider trying out for the squad. “I know that the Titans Cheerleaders help out a lot in the community, and they look beautiful. And I want to be around people like that who help out the community.”

But being an NFL cheerleader required that Evony prepare for a new set of challenges. “I’ve just been a straight up cheerleader,” says Evony, whose long time All-Star cheerleading eventually led to being a cheerleader at Tennessee State. “When you cheer, they dance, but it is more of a motion thing.”

And although Evony did not start dance classes as a wee pre-schooler, her childhood activities did help lead her to being a feature tumbler during her first regular season game. “When I was growing up, I did tennis and gymnastics,” Evony explains. “So I didn’t even start cheerleading until I was in sixth grade. My tumbling is really pretty because of gymnastics.”

So Evony, how did you prepare for trying out for the Titans Cheerleaders? “Oh my goodness, I ate oatmeal, yogurt, spinach,” Evony recalls. “I worked out SO much. I had to work on my physique. “

Try-outs, as expected, featured an abundance of talented women looking for a spot on the sidelines in the entertainment capital of Nashville. “It is super competitive, I tried out for the first time and made it, so that was another shocker,” laughs Evony. But Evony, were you really shocked? “Oh yeah, I mean, everybody was beautiful, thin. I couldn’t even believe it. (I thought) ‘Are you serious, ME?!’ But it was a tough competition.”

And after all that preparation, Evony had to wait a teeny smidgen longer than anyone else at try-outs to hear the good news. “They call your number, and I was the last number,” Evony recalls. “I was number 48, and (Stacie Kinder, the Titans Director of Cheerleading) gave out this speech before she gave out my number. So I thought I didn’t make it. I was walking up the stairs, and people called out, ‘Evony, come back, you made it!’ I was like, ahhhh!”

(more…)

An UltimateCheerleaders favorite, and recent coach of the AFL Dream Team, Gloria Esposito informs us that Chicago’s AFL try-outs are around the corner!

The Chicago Rush Adrenaline Dancers have announced that they will be holding auditions for the 2013 team starting in November.

Led by Team Coordinator Gloria Esposito, the Adrenaline Rush Dancers have annually been regarded as one of the top dance troupes in the Arena Football League. Open auditions will give all Chicagoland dancers an opportunity to take their passion to a new level. Esposito noted the ideal girl they’re seeking out. “We’re looking for the overall package. A girl who is beautiful inside and out, with a great personality, and dance or cheer background,” said Esposito. “They don’t have to be technically trained, but anything they can add to the team is always a plus.”

The process will open up with a pair of prep classes that will give attendees a chance to polish their skills before the official auditions begin.

While the prep classes are not mandatory, Esposito made it known that they will go a long way in preparing attendees for auditions. “Our prep classes are geared towards giving the girls a chance to see what a practice will be like. We go over all the necessary items that they will need to know for auditions as well as the season.” said Esposito. All other audition dates are mandatory.

From November 25th to December 1st, the field will be narrowed down from the initial pool of applicants to the final 18. Three days of auditions and mini camps will be followed by the finals, which will feature the last cuts and showcase the official 2013 squad. All rounds of auditions (with the exception of the finals) will be held at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, and are closed to the public.

In addition to their duties performing before, during, and after Chicago Rush home games, the dancers make their presence known at a variety of special appearances and team events. Just this past summer, they were featured at a few area concerts. “We were lucky enough to be asked to perform with Big Kenny and Cowboy Troy of Big and Rich at Country Thunder this year,” Esposito explained. “It was a huge opportunity for us and a great experience for the girls. You always dream of being a backup dancer when you are younger and to actually get to do it makes you realize if you work hard enough you will get noticed.”

You can download the application at the bottom of this page. If you have any questions or if you’re having problems downloading the application, email Gloria Esposito at dancers@arenarush.com or call the Rush front office at 855-787-4946.

Prep Class 1: Jazz/Pom Tuesday, November 6 from 7:30-9:30 pm. (Check-in starts at 7:00)
Prep Class 2: Hip Hop Tuesday, November 20 from 7:30-9:30 pm. (Check-in starts at 7:00)

First Round of Auditions: Sunday, November 25 from 9am-5pm. (Check-in starts at 8:00)
Mini Camp Day 1: Tuesday, November 27 from 7-10 pm. (Check-in starts at 6:45)
Mini Camp Day 2: Thursday, November 29 from 7-10pm. (Check-in starts at 6:45)

The fee to audition is only $40 if registered in advance; it goes up to $50 if you register the day of. Prep classes are $20 per session, however if you register for auditions and prep classes in advance, the cost is reduced to $70 for everything

Now don’t panic when you read this, because after the November elections are over, we can move on to the really important issues and start petitions, take out full page ads, and call Congressmen. But some of our favorite Tennessee Titans Cheerleaders are claiming that this will be the final season on the LP Field sidelines! For instance, Brooke, the only Pro Bowl representative of the franchise last season, be it player or cheerleader, is planning to have one last season in which to soak it all in. In her seventh season with the TTC, soaking it in one more time will be an amazing way to close out her career, as long as it does not include getting soaked during a downpour, like a couple memorable games over her Titans career. Prior to the Titans Cheerleader’s calendar release party on September 6th, Brooke shared with UltimateCheerleaders her past, present, and future, coming off an amazing season in which she not only was Pro Bowl representative, but calendar cover girl during the same season, and participated in a USO tour of Guam.

Seven years of cheer demonstrates Brooke’s extreme level of dedication to the Titans Cheerleaders. But add on the fact that during the much of that period, Brooke has been living in Kentucky, resulting in commutes of nearly ninety minutes to and from her Titans responsibilities at least four days a week. Brooke says, “I love Titans football; love it, love it!”

But how does Brooke spend all that time on the road? “I listen to music, sing to myself,” laughs Brooke. “I sound really good in the car; in the car only!”

Brooke is a Kentucky native and current resident, and dance has been part of her life since the beginning. “My mom owned a dance studio when I was born,” Brooke explains. “I have been dancing probably since I was two, since I could walk. I just came out dancing!”

Brooke’s dance upbringing was augmented with diverse training that prepared her for a completely unplanned NFL cheer career. “I cheered because my high school did not have a dance team, and I was actually a competitive gymnast growing up, so I had all kinds of background,” Brooke recalls “I did gymnastics, I did cheerleading, I did competitive cheerleading on a team, and I also did competitive dance in a studio.”

But Brooke’s varied experiences were not planned with a seven-season NFL (plus one NHL season) goal in mind. “I know a lot of people say, ‘I’ve dreamed of being an NFL cheerleader,’” Brooke says. “Honestly, I love to dance and perform, and when I went to college, I didn’t even think anything about it. I just knew I loved it, and liked teach (dance). I joined a dance company in college, and then it was not enough because I had never been to the point of my life where I wasn’t performing, and I was not doing those things that I love to do.”

“I actually was looking for dance auditions just because I have danced my whole life, and I wanted to continue that,” Brooke recalls. “So I was looking at auditions all over the country, and then ended up just finding the (Titans) auditions on-line, and thinking, ‘Oh, Nashville is close, I’ll go try out for that and see if I make it.’ It was spur of the moment, the month before.”

“I really didn’t know what I was getting myself into, at all!” Brooke laughs. “My first audition, I thought, ‘What in the world is this?’ It is totally different than other dance auditions. So it just happened that I made it my first year, and here I am, seven years later.”

Brooke’s answer on why she spent seven years on the squad, “I love it, that’s why I do it.”

And not only is Brooke a TTC member, she says, “I have been a captain for the past four seasons. I love being a captain, it is fun.” So captain Brooke, what advice have you given the rookies on this year’s edition of the Titans Cheerleaders? “It is a live and learn thing,” explains Brooke. “We give them a lot of pointers, but you don’t know what it’s like until you experience it. So I always tell them, the first time for everything is a huge deal, because you just don’t know what you are getting yourself into. And then when you run onto the field and there is 70,000 people, you think, ‘Oh my gosh! I am really in front of 70,000 people!’ It is one of those moments you can’t get back. So every time, I say, ‘This is the first pre-season game, this is the first real game, this is your first calendar shoot.’ So I just try to make sure that they realize, that later in life, they are going to think, ‘Oh my gosh, that first time is the best time, ever!’”

Brooke continues, “The first time for NFL cheerleading, in general, when you make the team, that is the first thing that happens, and it is SO amazing. And then you get all of the perks that go along with that. So there is a first time for everything. And I just keep telling them, to live in that moment because you do not get that moment back.”

And living in the moment is part of the joy of dance anyway. “I dance when I am happy, I dance when I am sad, I dance when I am mad,” Brooke says. “I think that is something that brings us all together, if you love the art of dance, then you can use that in life in general.”

(more…)

(Between this and the MLive coverage below, I think I am unofficially going to call this “Tennessee Titans Cheerleader Angie day” on UltimateCheerleaders!)

This weekend, worlds will collide, literally, on LP Field for Tennessee Titans Cheerleader Angie. Bay City, Michigan native Angie will be on the sidelines for a match between her home state Lions and her current home town Nashville’s Titans. As we learned last year during an interview during her rookie season with the TTC, Angie came to Nashville to pursue singing while also working in sales and marketing. This season, not only did Angie make the Titans Cheerleaders for season two, but she is also one of four Cheerleaders gracing the annual swimsuit calendar’s cover! So with the Lions on the schedule for Sunday, look for a family hitting the highways from Michigan to visit Nashville to see their own Angie on the sidelines, while the Titans and Lions battle on the field.

On the big night of the calendar release party, back on September 6th, as everyone was getting ready to hit the stage, Angie took time out to discuss this season’s cheer chapter with UltimateCheerleaders. It was a big week, with the calendar release party on Thursday night and the first game of the season against the Patriots the subsequent Sunday.

So does the transplanted Michigander enjoy her Nashville life? “Very much so!” Angie replies. “Actually, my parents are in from Michigan today. We have been just been talking at lunch about how it’s a different world in Nashville compared to Michigan. So it’s great to be here, and it’s great to go home. Nashville is a wonderful city. I love the people, I love the atmosphere. It’s awesome! It’s very family oriented, great for single people. So it’s the best of both worlds.”

So does her family notice any Nashville local phrases being added to Angie’s Midwestern vocabulary? “Oh yeah, I notice too,” replies Angie. “I throw out y’all’s all of the time, whereas up north, we say, ‘You’s guys.’ And that’s definitely been dropped since I’ve been here.”

So was trying out for a second TTC season an easy decision for Angie? “Oh, definitely!” Angie replies. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I feel very blessed to have the opportunity to do it twice. It was a ‘no-brainer,’ I really wanted to come back.”

But second try-outs do tend to be more stressful than rookie season. “I will tell anybody that your audition is maybe ten seconds, and it is the worst ten seconds of your life,” Angie says. “Because growing up as a singer, I am used to being in front of thousands of people, and I have no problem. Hand me a microphone and I am okay. But to be on stage with a couple of eight counts, and I am scared to death! It is literally the scariest ten seconds of your life! And you are so thankful when it is over.”

So why is trying out the second time in some ways even more stressful than the first time. “You know how awesome the experience is, and you want to be part of it again,” Angie explains. “So you essentially hype yourself up because you just want to be a part of it, and that is what makes it a little more nerve-wracking.”

Therefore, the feeling when Angie’s number was called that she made the team, “It is like a weight has been lifted off of your shoulders, honestly. It is like you are holding your breath, and this year they went numerically, last year, my rookie year, it was sporadic numbers, but you are just waiting for your number to be called. And when it is, you can’t help but scream in excitement. You feel absolutely overjoyed.”

(more…)