Danielle during her Orlando Magic game emcee role
If you have tried out for a dance squad and ended up not being selected, you never really know what your future might hold. For instance, the future can still bring a decade of performing on three NBA squads, in addition to becoming a game emcee, plus choreographing routines for squads that cheer for a variety of sports, and traveling to so many places around the world that it is easier to say where you have not been rather than where your NBA trips have taken you.
That is how things worked out for Danielle of the NBA’s Magic Dancers. Danielle is in her tenth NBA season, with a single season in Cleveland, three more in Atlanta, and, is currently in her sixth season with the Orlando Magic. I had the wonderful opportunity to speak with Danielle before the November 10th Magic home game against the Jazz in the brand new, beautiful Amway Center.
Originally from the Youngstown and Cleveland areas, Danielle has been dancing since she was three, and was on her high school cheerleading squad. Danielle says, “In high school, I was a cheerleader, because our cheerleaders were the girls who danced at the basketball games, so I toughed it out for football season.”
Danielle During the First Half Routine
“I auditioned for the Cavs right out of high school and didn’t make it,” Danielle recalls. “I think I was just way too young. I remember my interview, I was this little girl from this small town; I wouldn’t have hired me either. I was so green, I had no idea.” Danielle then danced for three years in college, and then gave the NBA another shot. “In my senior year of college, I thought, I will try it, to see if I can slay the big bad beast,” Danielle explains, “It felt good to accomplish that.”
Danielle left Cleveland after college graduation for warmer climes, stating, “I danced for the Cavs senior year and then got the heck out, because it is way too cold.” See, you can take the girl out of the Midwest, but you can’t take the Midwest out of the girl; but you can take away her ability to deal with slightly cool temperatures. Danielle had been talking to her mom earlier that day, and told me, “I’m such a brat, being from here now, it gets so cold, it was 50 degrees the other morning, and I had the seat warmers on in my car.” Her mom filled her in that it was 26 degrees in Ohio.
Danielle’s NBA experiences have run the spectrum and been completely different. Danielle remembers that ten years ago, in general, dance squads were less than they are today. Now, the dance squads are much more effective branching out as organizational ambassadors in the community. Plus, her Cavs year was pre-LeBron, when they were worst team in the league (“the powder blue and orange era”) and most of the fans came dressed as empty seats. Then, during her Hawks tenure, the team ownership was in transition, and then the owners controlled both the NHL Thrashers and the Hawks. At that time, the Thrashers were winning more than the Hawks, selling more tickets, and receiving most of the organizational emphasis. Being part of the Magic, for Danielle, “This is, I have to say, the best experience.”
Danielle (right) performs with the Magic Dancers
Calling all Dayton, Ohio area dancers! Tonika Heath is the Director of the Dayton Silverbabes, the new dance squad for the Dayton Silverbacks of the Continental Indoor Football League, and auditions are just weeks away. Here is the information:
DATE AND TIME: Sunday December 5th at Noon
PLACE: Howard School of Dance
5533 Far Hills Ave Kettering, OH 45429
The Silverbabes are the official dance team of the Dayton Silverbacks indoor professional football team.
We are looking for beautiful, talented and enthusiastic ladies to fill our roster for the 2011 season. Members are expected to perform at home games, attend appearances throughout the community and charity events.
Must be 18 years of age
Dance or cheer experience is not required
Registration $15
What to wear:
*Crop top or sports bra (midriff must be showing)
*Hot shorts, boyshorts or cheer shorts (no pants or capri length pants)
*Flesh color tights or pantyhose (a MUST)
*Dance sneakers, jazz shoes or tennis shoes with non-marking soles)
*Hair and makeup should be performance ready (Hair must be down)
For more information, contact theath@silverbacksfootball.com
- Pacemates (lower row) Sarrah, Joanna, Jessica P, Melanie, (upper row), Shea, Desiree, Meredith, and Erin
The annual Indiana Pacers FanJam took place last Sunday at downtown’s Conseco Fieldhouse, and fans took the opportunity to enjoy a fun afternoon of, not only free entertainment, but free food!
As usual, the Pacemates were part of the festivities to get us psyched for a new season of NBA action. Two groups of Pacemates posed for photos with fans on the concourses from the start of FanJam until an hour passed and it was time for everyone to head to the court to see the team.
(Lower row) Megan, Jessica R, (top row) Kayla, Tamara, Ashley, Jarin, and Courtney pose with a FanJam fan
Many our favorite Pacemates are back plus some talented rookies, including Desiree, who is a “rookie” Pacemate, but a former Colts Cheerleader. Way to go, doing it two-sport Bo Jackson style, Desiree!
The Pacers didn’t scrimmage on the court but competed in events like “chocolate unicorn” (i.e., stacking ho-ho’s on your forehead). In a “Name That Tune” type of competition, players tried to guess what Danny Granger was “singing” (yes, we admire his, um, bravery to sing in a large, amplified building). The Pacemates also took center court for a performance. Yeah, it is fun to see the Pacers play some birthday party games, but the Pacemates gave the crowd a real performance.
Pacemates perform to help us forget about Danny's singing
Then the Pacers participated in the tradition of the rookies getting to show their dance moves. The Pacemates lined up to give it a Soul Train vibe.
A young fan helps show the Pacers how it is done on the dance floor, and if there are kids around, Tamara (right) will be making it fun for all
So how about next year Pacers, let’s get the Pacemates in the fun. How about a Pacer/Pacemate “Dancing with the Stars” competition? Or a competition between Pacers and Pacemates in some of the fun games? Bet the Pacemates emerge victorious!
Have a great season Pacemates!
Ashley is back for her third season as Pacemate, and her bio says she has Roxette and Def Leppard on her iPod. Well, "She's Got the Look" alright!
Ben-Gal Rookies Jill and Shelly Already Have Three Games Under Their Belts
Soon enough, Jack Frost will be nipping at their nose, but for now, goldfish are nipping at their toes. At least they were on location at their calendar shoot. Ben-Gal rookies Jill and Shelly are starting their NFL cheerleading career with an absolute explosion of activity: being on the first squad to grace the 2010 sidelines at the Hall of Fame Game, followed by their first two home games over the next twelve days! That’s three games in thirteen days, then throw in a performance at a sold-out Sunday Reds game (hours before the first home pre-season game), and you have the busy, exciting life of a 2010 Ben-Gal rookie. Shelly said after the Hall of Fame game, “Even with one game already under my belt I still sometimes can’t believe I’m an NFL cheerleader.” We appreciate that during hectic kick-off of the season, Jill and Shelly shared their experiences with UltimateCheerleaders.com prior to their first home game on August 15th.
Captain Terésha, Jill, linemate Harmony, and Shelly rock out to "Cherry Pie," their first home pre-game routine
Both Jill and Shelly began their journey to the NFL sidelines while balancing try-outs with their college studies. Shelly, originally from Hanson, Kentucky (I wonder if “MMMBop” was big there?) was in her last month finishing up her degree (graduating with honors with a Bachelor’s in Communications) when she started the one-hour drives from the University of Kentucky to Cincinnati. Commuting for boot camps and clinics every weekend (and sometimes during the week) while still in school added to the academic stress, but Shelly notes, “The fact that the veterans and coaches were willing to invest so much of their time in each of the 90 or so hopeful rookies who came to the first audition by giving us personal tips for glamour, fitness and dance style, however, made me realize that there was a bigger picture behind the Ben-Gals organization that I wanted to be a part of.”
Jill during the second quarter of the August 15th Bengals-Broncos game
For Jill, a student at Dayton’s Wright State University, cheerleading has been a huge part of her life. Originally from West Carrollton, Ohio, Jill cheered every year from first grade through high school, then two years for the Raiders of Wright State. This built up to, as Jill says, “The most special cheerleading experience was the pleasure of working for COA (Cheerleaders of America) as a cheerleading instructor, traveling the country and teaching cheerleading camps for three summers in a row!”
The last, important step for Jill and Shelly was the Ben-Gal finals, a big public gala held last May. Years of cheering prepared Jill for the event. When asked if she was nervous about the dance portion, Jill replied, “I never really get nervous when performing in front of a whole room full of people, it is my passion and the reason why I do this. So the dancing part was cake.” But the swimsuit portion and being interviewed by former Ben-Gal Melissa Scalia provided other challenges, as Jill notes, “Walking in five inch heels and getting interviewed were definitely the moments that made me the most nervous.”
Shelly (standing) during pre-game
Notifying those who made the Ben-Gals occurred later through email. For new graduate Shelly, “I felt pretty confident after the final audition. I actually took a gamble and accepted a job offer in Cincinnati that I had to relocate for before knowing if I made the team or not.” When Shelly, who was on the University of Kentucky dance squad and cheered for the Lexington Horsemen AF2 arena football team, received the Ben-Gals congratulations e-mail, she called her mom and dad as soon as she could, but the news spread, “I am from a small town, so word got around fast.”
Ben-Gal Terésha's (lower left) First Home Game as Captain
Almost three months have past, and we are THRILLED that Terésha has shared some of her thoughts about her new role! If you haven’t noticed, this year’s NFL cheerleading squad that broke out of the gates at a blistering pace is Terésha’s Ben-Gals. Not only were they the first squad on the field this season at the Hall of Fame game, but their first two pre-season games are HOME games. That’s three games in thirteen days. Busy enough for you? Terésha replied to one of my emails after 3 am! On a week night! When I mentioned to her that I would feel badly if I saw her curl up on the sidelines and sleep during the August 15th pre-season game against the Broncos, Terésha replied, “By the way, what is this ‘sleep’ thing you speak of?”
Terésha fills us in on some exciting news about being her own designer, the developmental bullet train that the Ben-Gals have been on since May to get ready for this rush of game activity, what the season holds for the Ben-Gals (their new photos and bios are now on-line!), and how her wonderful personality is spreading to her line.
Terésha (lower right) Performs During Pre-Game
UC.com-What was it like was performing at the Hall of Fame game in Canton?
Terésha-The Hall of Fame Game or as we call it, the HOF, was so exciting. The trip there was hilarious. We played some abnormal games on the way up there and also did a little HOF trivia. It was a four hour trip to get there and back so some girls started watching movies, and me, being the humorous person that I am, I started text messaging teammates on the bus to see what they were up to. It made for something fun to do and someone to make fun of on the trip (me, of course). Overall, the game experience was AWESOME! From practice to meeting fans at tailgate parties, we also did some radio interviews and promotions. Some of our sides even got pictures with Jerry Rice!
Terésha Would Bend Over Backwards, Literally, for the Ben-Gals
Terésha-“Fast track” doesn’t even sum it up! Since we learned who made the squad, within a week we were practicing two to four times a week. The month of July usually has three practices (per week) but we added an extra practice each week just to make sure everyone was comfortable and prepared with all of the material being thrown their way. We also have had extra technique training this year which is something new as well.
Terésha's Line During the August 15th Bengals-Broncos Game
Lady Warriors Kirin, coordinator Tasa, Tonika, and Julie after a recent Warriors win
Tasa is originally from Baton Rouge, and spent time in Germany, Japan, and all over the states because her dad was also in the Air Force. When Tasa, a cheerleader during junior high and high school years, first contacted the the semi-pro team from the flier, she soon realized the team wanted cheerleaders, but had no vision to what they should be. Often teams think they just need to put women on the sidelines in t-shirts, and their work is done. Tasa knew it was more, it had to be entertainment, and her vision soon lead her to being in charge of the first squad she was on. Tasa danced on the sidelines for the two first two seasons and then “put herself in retirement.” She says it was a challenge to separate dancer from coach, especially in the early years, when most of the dancers she recruited were friends. She was happy to stand aside and coach, and let others have the spotlight, even though she continues to be coerced by attempts to get her back on the sidelines.
Lady Warrior coordinator Tasa's husband is OLB Elvin (#5)
For Tasa, the family aspect of the bigger Warrior family starts at home; her husband Elvin is a starting outside linebacker. Nine years ago, Tasa and Elvin met on base as Air Force medics in Biloxi, and were married five months from the day they met (Tasa jokes she kept him around because he would not leave her alone). So, Elvin playing on the field while Tasa directs the sidelines has been a big part of their life every season since she saw the flier. Both Tasa and Elvin are on now the Board of the Warriors; Tasa as dance team coordinator and Elvin as defensive player representative. Both continue to serve in the Air Force; Tasa’s role now is to work in a counter-drug task force for youth, working with community based organizations that do drug prevention work.
Julie during the first quarter
Katie and Britanny greet fans prior to a Mad Ants game last spring
Ana and Samantha greet fans and give out free stuff
Madame Ant Melanie is second from right, from before a February 2009 game
Head to fortwaynehoops.com now to vote for your favorite 2010-11 Madame Ant! The girls have already gone through a grueling dance tryout, and now they must pass the ultimate test – facing the scrutiny of Mad Ants fans across the globe. The future of the Madame Ants dance team (partially) lies upon your shoulders, so vote today!
From Pacers.com:
We need your help selecting the 2010-11 Indiana Pacemates. Check out their photos and videos before submitting your ballot. Your votes will be compiled along with those from the other judges to determine who makes the squad. Cast your vote prior to the audition showcase and squad announcement on Wednesday, July 21. Vote Now
Looks like a great set of candidates: some veterans, newcomers, and maybe even a former Colts cheerleader.
Pacemates alongside the Pointer Sisters' Float
Amidst the fun, sunshine, and excitement of attending the 500 Festival Parade in Indianapolis are the occasional concerns that these might be the last moments of life if you are sitting in the front row. Motorcycle daredevils whizzing past your feet, a horse that seemed a bit TOO nervous, and always (and why, on days with little wind?), helium cartoon character balloons that seem WAY out of control (yes, I’m talking about you Uncle Sam). But, if I had been squished by a large multi-colored cartoon figure, I would have died happy having seen the Pacemates along the parade route.
Jessica R leads the way along the 500 Festival Parade route
From my seats, the Pacemates, the dance squad for the NBA’s Indiana Pacers, walked alongside a float carrying the Pointer Sisters. The Pointers performed at one the pre-Indy 500 concerts later that night, no doubt Neutron Dancing up a storm. The Pacemates were in appropriate race week checkered attire, and walked along a parade route on a sunny and a bit hot Saturday afternoon. The 500 Festival Parade is the state’s largest parade and features all 33 drivers that race in the next day’s Indy 500.
Brittany and Kayla escort the Pointer Sisters
But walking in the parade was the LEAST of the Pacemates’ role in the parade. For those sitting in the big bleachers at the front, where the TV cameras capture the parade, the Pacemates were part of the big opening musical number, featuring country music’s Laura Bell Bundy.
Pacemates perform in 500 Festival Parade
Meredith and Brittany greet fans as they enter Conseco Fieldhouse
Now that's a program!
Jessica R and Jarin
Elizabeth
Tamara
Ashley and Jessica L
Shea I: The Pacemate
Shea II: Game emcee
Jarin's fancy footwork avoids mascot Boomer's flag antics
Tamara and Elizabeth amongst one of their many young fans
