Need some hints for hosting a super-terrific Super Bowl bash? Let us assist you, by asking LisaMarie, a perfect combination of football/culinary expertise, as both a pastry chef and New England Patriots Cheerleader. If she were hosting a Super Bowl party, what would she whip up for guests to be the perfect Super Bowl game cuisine? “Miniature dishes are key!” LisaMarie responds. “Who doesn’t like to be able to pick up a little bite of something and not need a plate? Deviled eggs are a huge hit. You can make them spicy, sweet or spike them with an outrageous ingredient like smoked salmon!”

But this Super Bowl, LisaMarie will not be hosting a party, as she will be at the biggest party of all, cheering and dancing at the game itself! What is it like to be part of a Super Bowl team? LisaMarie answers, “Surreal. Pinch me! This season has been absolutely incredible. I feel very lucky to be able to share this special game with my teammates and cheer on my favorite team at the Super Bowl.”

LisaMarie shared with UltimateCheerleaders some surprising challenges of being a pastry chef, why her sister is on her Mount Rushmore of favorite musicians, and how her ultimate culinary goal combines food and football.

LisaMarie’s life’s journey took her from New York to New Jersey to New England. “My mother is originally from Long Island, New York, and my father is from Brooklyn, New York,” LisaMarie explains. “They met at SUNY Buffalo in college and after finishing their studies they were married and started a family together. My older sister, Chevonne, and I were born in New York City and were raised in Bergen County, New Jersey.”

Having an older sister added to LisaMarie’s own drive to excellence. “Growing up, Chevonne and I were very competitive,” LisaMarie says. “Not only did she excel in the classroom but she was an extremely talented singer, performer, and competitive dancer. Naturally I looked up to her and wanted to be just like my older sister.”

Today, LisaMarie is involved with so many things, from a busy vocation to several avocations, including scuba. Was she always a high energy youngster? “Since I was such a high-energy child, I was involved in an immense amount of activities,” reports LisaMarie. “I started playing the classical violin at age four, as well as the piano. I went to tennis lessons, gymnastics, soccer, basketball, softball, and dance classes. Eventually as I became older, it was evident that I needed to make choices on what I wanted to focus my time on. I was a great soccer player but I chose to focus on competitive dancing since my sister was so into it. It was definitely the right choice!”

Dance has been part of LisaMarie’s life for about as long as she can remember. “I started dancing at age two-and-a-half,” shares LisaMarie. “Chevonne was four years older than me, and already performing in dance recitals. I wanted so badly to be dancing in them as well! Besides taking classes in ballet, tap, jazz and hip-hop, I was always creating routines with my sister and singing made up songs throughout the house. It was always one giant performance.”

And leading up to the Patriots, LisaMarie was part of numerous dance teams. “I competed with the traveling competition team at ‘In the Spotlight Dance Studio’ in Waldwick, New Jersey, from age eight until high school,” LisaMarie says. “I went to Muhlenberg College to study Theater and I tried out for their performance team ‘Mint*’. I danced on the squad for all four years of college as well as served as captain for the final two. I couldn’t get enough of dancing while I was at college so I also auditioned for the Philadelphia Kixx and danced with them before their season sadly ended in 2010. My senior year at Muhlenberg I danced with the Lehigh Valley Steel Hawks ‘Precious Metals’ in its first season as an organization.”

Plays played a big part of her youth, too, and LisaMarie studied Theatre at Allentown, Pennsylvania’s Muhlenberg College. “I have been performing in theatre productions since the third grade,” LisaMarie says. “My first role was playing Grace Farrell in Annie. My favorite role had to be when I played ‘Lola’ in Damn Yankees as a junior in high school. I was nominated for ‘Best Vocal Performance’ in the State of New Jersey.”

Yet with a life of performance, the call of the kitchen was always there for LisaMarie. “I have always been interested in cooking and baking!” explains LisaMarie. “Whenever I was home from dancing, singing or acting, I was making a complete mess in the kitchen. My first cookbook was Semi-Homemade with Sandra Lee. I attempted to create desserts and dishes like Sandra created in her book, however, they never really came out the same. My absolute favorite thing to do over the weekend was to open up a page in the book and just try to re-create one of the recipes from it. I had always wanted to go to culinary school yet I had spent so much time focusing on singing, dancing and acting that my skills in the kitchen weren’t so great. I figured if it was meant to be it would work out eventually.”

And it did! LisaMarie attends Johnson & Wales University studying in Culinary Arts/Chef Training. What are some of the unexpected challenges for a pastry chef in training? “Some people may not realize just how hard it is to keep your chef whites, WHITE,” explains LisaMarie. “As a chef, you are required to keep your uniform clean, crisp and extremely white yet you are performing tasks that are very messy and stain easily! Not only do you need to be able to cook or bake delicious and beautifully presented items, you must be polished and presentable yourself.”

“Also, now that I am a Chef, it is challenging to go out to eat,” LisaMarie continues. “I find myself picking out short cuts that places may have taken when creating something or mumbling over high prices that I could make myself from scratch less expensively.”

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When asked who her personal fashion icons were, Fashion Merchandising graduate Kate chose another Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge. “One of my fashion icons would have to be Kate Middleton,” Titans Cheerleader Kate responded. “She is always very polished and put together. She mixes high and low fashion, and is not afraid to reuse outfits that she has previously worn. Another one of my fashion icons is Blake Lively. Whenever she hits the red carpet, she always looks so stunning! Her hair, makeup, jewelry, and dress always looks flawless!”

Third-year Tennessee Titans Cheerleader Kate shares a lot in common with Duchess Catherine. Both young women have parents that worked for airlines (TTC Kate’s dad is a pilot; the Duchess’s parents were both flight attendants), both have fashion expertise, they enjoy their roles in helping the community, and both brighten the spirits of their adoring throngs. But we have to give the dancing nod to TTC Kate, as royal watchers grade Prince Harry as the top palace dancer. And Titans’ Kate certainly rates tops for being the ultimate positive spirit, always donning a bright smile, which is more valuable than a royal title any day of the fortnight.

Kate kindly shared with UltimateCheerleaders her dance/cheer history, her fashion forward preview to the trends of 2015, and gave some examples of who is notably stylish among her always fashionable Titans Cheerleaders peers.

Her dad’s profession moved the family a bit north when Kate was young. “I was born in Paducah, Kentucky but raised in Sylvania, Ohio,” Kate recalls. “We moved up to Sylvania when I was four years old due to my dad being a pilot for Northwest Airlines, and he was based in Detroit, Michigan.”

And it seems both parents played a role in Kate’s journey to NFL Cheerleader. Kate’s mom would sprinkle a healthy dose of dance as part of their kitchen fun. “My mother and I cooking in the kitchen is a favorite childhood memory of mine,” Kate explains. “We used to make chocolate chip cookies for my brothers and their friends. We would turn the radio on, make the cookies, and have a dance party as well! Not much has changed though. When we are in the kitchen together, we still turn on the radio and dance away!”

Her dad’s role was by including football as part of her dance dreams. “I decided to try out for the Titans Cheerleaders because it was a dream of mine since I was a little girl to become a Titans Cheerleader,” Kate says. “I remember watching football with my dad and brothers, and when they would show the cheerleaders I would always think how I would love to do that. I love football and I love to dance so it’s the perfect combination!”

Kate’s favorite childhood memorable times also included family memories of activity filled trips. “My family and I used to take ski trips out to Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and I would have to say that is one of my favorite childhood memories,” Kate relates. “My cousins and I still talk about the ski trips and those memories hold a special place in my heart.”

And Kate’s dance was not confined to the kitchen. Kate’s cheer/dance journey started with dance, and then incorporated both cheer and theatre. “I started dancing when I was three,” Kate explains. “I took tap in Kentucky, and then when I moved to Sylvania I started ballet. I took ballet for five years, and then took Jazz for one year. I tried out for the middle school cheerleading team and made it! I was a cheerleader in seventh and eighth grade. I was on the Sylvania Northview Dance Team during my freshman and sophomore year, and was in musical theatre for three years as well.”

“There are many things I love about dance!” Kate exclaims. “I love performing for others, and putting a smile on their face. I love getting lost in the music, and just being able to express yourself. I love that when I dance I become a character, for example, the way I dance in a hip-hop dance is completely different then the way I dance for our Christmas dance.”

After graduating from Western Kentucky University with her degree in Fashion Merchandising, Kate took a chance, and auditioned for Nashville’s Titans Cheerleaders. “My feelings the first time going through try-outs was to just enjoy the process and hopefully make it to finals,” Kate recollects. “I remember during the open auditions thinking how there were so many beautiful women, and just reminding myself to have fun and just give it my all.”

“I made it to finals that year, but did not make the team.” Kate, with her ever present positivity, continues, “I remember thinking to myself, that I had achieved my goal to make it to finals and I should be happy. My next year auditioning the goal was to make the team. The next year, I made the team!”

Given her family’s role in her NFL dreams, it should be no surprise that the biggest cheers when Kate achieved her goal came from her family. “When I found out I made the team, it was unbelievable!” Kate reflects. “My year of hard work had paid off. There were a lot of people that had helped me achieve my dream, and I could not thank them enough. My brother and mom were in the crowd the night I made the team. I do not think I have heard my brother yell so loud! The first time stepping out on to the field, it was the moment that I had waited for all my life, and to see my family in the stands is a moment I cherish.”

From the beginning, Kate’s experience lived up to her dreams. “This TTC adventure has been such a blast and I would not trade this experience for anything!” Kate says. “One of the most memorable moments was the first time I stepped out onto the field. The roar of the crowd, the lights, and the energy of the night was such a rush. I will never forget that moment. Another memorable moment was when we served lunch at the Nashville Rescue Missions the day before Thanksgiving. It was such an honor to be able to serve lunch and to be able to give back to the community.”

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The Chicago Bltiz, a proud member of the American Indoor Football League, is expanding its organization to include for the first time ever a professional dance team. Jenny Hinz, the Director of the Chicago Blitz Girlz informs us of their upcoming Auditions, and additional information is below:

Chicago, Are you Ready to Go Pro?

Chicago Blitz Girlz Prep-Classes
February 12 8:30-10:30pm
*FFC Gym East Lakeview, 3657 N Pinegrove Ave, Chicago Il 60613.

February 19 8:30-10:30pm
*FFC Gym East Lakeview, 3657 N Pinegrove Ave, Chicago Il 60613.

Prep-Classes are $15 per session or $25 for both. Limited spots available email chicagoblitzdancers@gmail.com

$15 per session or $25 for both February 12 and February 19 Prep Classes. Come camera ready as we will be filming the web series: Chicago Blitz Girlz, Making the Team!Email chicagoblitzdancers@gmail.com to register or receive additional information.

Why Come to Prep-Classes?
1. Brush up on technique, flexibility, style and choreography
2. Get a vibe for the style of choreography
3. You obviously love to dance, so dance
4. Dancers who audition and make the team need to be featured in the web series we will be filming during the prep-class and auditions

Brooke Sorenson Nix, former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader (2006-2011) informs us of her new venture, she is the owner of Brooke And Arrow Boutique. Brooke grew up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, then moved to Texas to spend five years as a DCC, and is also now doing choreography for the Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders, so still in the cheerleading world. Brooke says, “I just launched an online boutique that is PERFECT for our NFL Cheerleader style! Most of our models were Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders as well. We have FREE shipping, new arrivals DAILY, and a very personal boutique feel.”

Brooke’s links include twitter @brookeandarrow, instagram – brookeandarrow, and her website is brookeandarrow.com.

Good luck Brooke!

First Witch, MacBeth Act IV, Scene 1, Line 1699: Ay, sir, all this is so: but why Stands Macbeth thus amazedly?...

In theatre lore, Shakespeare’s play MacBeth is so cursed, superstition claims that even speaking the name “Macbeth” inside a theatre is bad luck that will cause unmitigated disaster. Well, for Jenny of the Ohio Dance Machine, a production of MacBeth was truly a blessing, not at all a curse. “It’s actually how I met my husband, because my first role at Capital (University) was in Macbeth, and I was the First Witch,” Jenny explains. “We met outside at the cast list and we were talking about what role I had. I said, ‘Oh, I made the cast, are you in it?’ He said, ‘Yeah. I’m Macbeth.’”

Jenny loves plays, musicals, Broadway, particularly A Chorus Line, and she majored in theatre, and, of course, her role in The Scottish Play is her favorite role of her life, “It was so much fun,” Jenny recalls. “Oh my goodness, it was awesome.”

First Witch, MacBeth Act I, Scene 3, Line 110: Thou’rt kind.

Fast forward, now one of Jenny’s current “roles” is Co-Director/Co-Captain of the Ohio Dance Machine that performs at Major League Lacrosse’s Ohio Machine games in central Ohio outside of Columbus. Her view of the entire Machine organization is also ebullient. “I just love it,” Jenny says. “The Machine are wonderful, the front office, and the players are so nice. It’s just a great team and a great organization to start up with. As far as the dance, it’s just like there’s not many other places where you can dance in front of people, perform, work, and challenge yourself for free. You either have to take classes, so it’s just really great to be able to do that every week, and to know that it’s coming each year, and to be a part of this organization.”

And 2015 is on its way! With 2015 ODM prep classes this starting January 5th and auditions starting January 17th, let’s learn more about Jenny as she co-leads with her Co-Director Megan this impressive squad of pro dancers.

First Witch, MacBeth Act I, Scene 3, Line 98: Where hast thou been, sister?

“I’ve been dancing since I was three years old. And I haven’t stopped. I can’t,” laughs Jenny. “My sister had started dancing, and she was older so I just wanted to do what she did. She actually ended up not liking it, and leaving it for a while, but I just kept doing it. I think it was something to contain all my energy.”

Jenny continued studio dance through high school, and also began avidly performing in musicals during high school. Jenny is a native of Toledo, and she moved to Columbus to attend Capital University, where she received her degree in Theatre Studies. Jenny also started her pro cheer career with Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew. ”At Capital there was not as much dance, so it wasn’t until I found about the Crewzers,” Jenny says. “I actually joined the Crewzers originally and so I was able to start dancing again.”

Though Jenny was a long time dancer, being on the Crewzers was her first cheerleading experience. “Actually, I hadn’t heard about the Crewzers,” Jenny remembers. “I had a friend who was one of the co-captains, so she was a big recruiter for them. That was the first time I ever cheered was with the Crewzers.”

Were local fans familiar with the Crew and realized that they had a dance team? Jenny replied, “You know, it was about 50-50 when I’d say, ‘I’m a Crewzer,’ and people would ask, ‘What’s that?’ Or people would say, ‘Oh, I love the Crew.’ The first year or two, I’d say, ‘Ohio Machine,’ and they say, ‘What’s that?’ Now, fans are really starting to get excited about us, and I’ve had a couple people outside of games recognize me, so as they are building, we’re building.”

First Witch, MacBeth Act III, Scene 5, Line 1488: Come, let’s make haste; she’ll soon be back again.

After Jenny’s rookie season, the Crew discontinued the Crewzers, but some of the Crewzers like Jenny and Megan found a new sidelines home with lacrosse’s Machine. “The Crew was definitely different than the Machine, because now we’re interacting with the audience, Jenny explains. “They’re right there, but on the Crew we were way back there. But it was still neat because there was a lot of energy there.”

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Like any last game of the season, there were some group hugs and tears among the St. Louis Rams Cheerleaders. But there were some local cheers of relief earlier in the week that the NFL will not allow teams to move to LA for the 2015 season, so this was the Rams season finale, but not their St. Louis farewell game. See ya next season St. Louis Rams Cheerleaders!

And thanks and congratulations to all the NFL cheerleaders taking the field for the last time of the year today!

More photos of the Rams Cheerleaders last game of the season at this link.

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(As the year ends, we’re sharing our favorite photos from the past 12 months)

There was a photo sequence of Titans Pro Bowl selection Ashley P during the Halloween game that I love, and this is one of my favorites of the series. Ashley’s joy shines through and is infectious. Plus, at times photography can be economically intimidating, but because I used wide aperture fixed length lenses for most of the game, and I knew it would be sunny, I brought along a low end telephoto lens for on field performances. I am always happy to see that I could capture Ashley’s performance with equipment that does not break the bank. All of the photos in this sequence and more at this link. Have a wonderful 2015 everyone!

No doubt, Whitney was born to be a Tennessee Titans Cheerleader. The daughter of a cheerleader, Whitney started cheer at age seven, then through high school and college. Even when participating in other sports, Whitney’s innate cheer spirit emerged. “My mom was a cheerleader and I kind of just grew up knowing that’s what I wanted to do,” Whitney explained. “I tried playing softball but I was the girl in the dugout cheering on the rest of my team.”

And Titans faithful would not want their fan favorite any other way. Along with teammate Jocelyn, Whitney graces the cover of the Titans Cheerleaders 2014-15 Swimsuit Calendar. Whitney detailed for UltimateCheerleaders how she went straight from college to pro cheer, being on stage in concert with Florida Georgia Line, and, although I refuse to believe it, Whitney claims that she went through an age not quite as photogenic as she is today.

One reason Whitney was born to be a Titans Cheerleaders is that she is a native Tennessean. “I was born and raised in Soddy Daisy, a small town right outside of Chattanooga,” Whitney details. “I moved to Nashville two weeks after graduating from the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga. I have one younger brother, Jackson, who also lives in Nashville.”

Another requirement of being the perfect TTC is being ready for the sideline extremes of Nashville’s summers and winters, and Whitney’s best family moments helped prepare her for that. “My favorite memories were all the places we traveled to for vacation,” remembers Whitney. “We went skiing in Canada, Montana, and Colorado. We also went to Vegas, Mexico, and Florida. Every year we went somewhere different and we always had the best time.”

Though a Nashville resident now, Whitney has fond feelings for her natal area. “Chattanooga is so beautiful,” Whitney says. “It has all kinds of outdoorsy things to do. They have the new aquarium, famous Chattanooga Choo Choo, cute art shops, boutiques, fun restaurants, and a building you can rock climb. It’s very artsy and downtown always has something going on.”

But much of Whitney’s time growing up was devoted to her passion for cheer. “I have a long history of cheerleading,” recounts Whitney. “I started off in All-Stars when I was seven years old, and cheered throughout middle school, high school, and college. I remember my first cheerleading competition like it was yesterday. I was in second grade. Our music was a mixture of songs, but Alan Jackson’s song “It’s alright to be little bitty” was a big part of it because we were pee-wee’s. We had the coolest black, blue, and silver uniforms. We had our pony tails on top of our heads with ringlet curls, tons of hair spray, and glitter head to toe. I’m pretty sure we dropped all of our stunts and forgot most of the motions, but our tumbling was perfect so we didn’t care.”

“There’s nothing better than an adrenaline rush, and that’s what competition cheerleading gives you,” Whitney continues. “You work all year long, go to a handful of competitions, and you have one try to get it right. I started off at United All-Star Cheerleading, cheered at Loftis Middle School, cheered at Soddy Daisy High School, and competed with United my senior year, then cheered 4 years at UTC.”

Whitney loved her university time at UTC. “College was an awesome experience,” Whitney details. “I was in and out in four years, so it flew by, but I had the time of my life. I majored in Communications and minored in Business Marketing. My concentration was in broadcasting, radio, and journalism, so I did radio segments, broadcasted on air, and did marketing for a local radio station in Chattanooga. My best memories are definitely with the UTC cheerleaders and football players. We were all really good friends. Our parents tailgated together so it was like one big family! I also had the opportunity to travel to New York City and Arizona while I was cheering. I have only the best memories with UTC and I’ll always cherish those moments.”

But remember, Whitney was destined to be a Titans Cheerleader. “I was graduating from UTC in May of 2012, so I was ready to start a new chapter in my life,” said Whitney, when asked what prompted you to try-out for the TTC. “I somewhat felt like I had done everything in Chattanooga that I could possibly do. I wanted something more and I’ve always admired NFL cheerleaders so I just decided to go for it. It was last minute and I didn’t tell many people. I remember standing behind the curtain waiting for the names to be called. There were 50 girls backstage and 27 spots. They started calling names and I was one of the last ones behind the curtain. I just remember telling myself over and over that if it’s meant to be, God will make it happen, and if it’s not, then I’m not meant to be in Nashville. When they finally called my number, I probably looked down five different times at my number just to be sure I heard right.”

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There was a monumental shift from the first to second half of the Rams game at the Edward Jones Dome. No, not on the field, as the Rams trailed throughout. The big change was on the sidelines, as Rams Cheerleader Karielle went from Rams Cheerleader during the first half to engaged Rams Cheerleader, to fiance Drew, in the second half.

At halftime, the Rams Cheerleaders lined up at midfield to watch a highlights video. But instead, it was a proposal from Drew, and eventually he was on the field on one knee. Karielle said yes and a super big group hug ensued.

When Karielle returned to the sidelines for the third quarter, the fans cheered in support of her change in status.

Karielle is originally from Kansas City, was on the Golden Girls dance team at University of Missouri, and now is a Rams Cheerleader. What a way to end the season!

But I must ask, usually the surprise proposal this time of year is the future groom dressed as Santi Claus, and also the Rams Cheerleaders were not donned in any holiday apparel during the game. Did the Grinch claim he was taking their Christmas-y costumes to the North Pole for emergency mending? Well, just like Christmas in Whoville, the joy of the Karielle-Drew engagement could not have been more joyous than it was.

More photos of engaging Karielle are at this link.

Not too many people have this response when asked about their dream job. “Dream job? I think I have it right now, doing hair,” said Jen, who was in her second year dancing for the Ohio Dance Machine last season. Just like this refreshing response, Jen was part of a refreshing group of dancers that support Major League Lacrosse’s Ohio Machine. The Dance Machine is the only squad of pro dancers in the Columbus, Ohio area, the largest city in Ohio. And their try-outs for next season are coming up right after the New Year! Jen shared with UltimateCheerleaders her many artistic sides, the contrast between Columbus and her hometown, and why orchestras really need to replace sheet music with flat screens.

Jen is originally from the Toledo area, specifically growing up in Oak Arbor, Ohio. Oak Harbor is a small farming town, and Jen reflected, “I like that everyone knew each other. Everyone was nice, everyone was really close.”

But Jen moved to Columbus for college, and she enjoys her new hometown because, “There’s so much to do and so much to see. I met a lot of different people. There are a lot more job opportunities.”

Jen initially came to Columbus to attend Capital University and studied Clarinet Performance. Starting clarinet at age ten, Jen was trained in classical music and then moved into modern.

Now personally, I always get stressed out when I’m watching an orchestra because they still have to turn the sheet music pages as they play. What if they don’t turn the page in time?! What if the page flips back?! Musical chaos I bet! Why can’t they get digital screens? Jen, how important is the sheet music? “Usually by performance time, I just play,” Jen explained. “There was one time my music blew off the stage. I tried to turn it and it just blew off. It’s like, okay, I’m going to keep going, or tried to.” Did anyone notice that it happened? “Not really, no,” answered Jen. Wow, she’s in control.

So, I always wonder, are you really watching the conductor? Seems to me, conductors get way too much credit and no one is really watching them anyway. Back me up on this Jen, are you watching that baton? “Yes,” replied Jen. “We have to watch to get the tempos.” Okay Jen, I’ll take your word for it.

Asked about her favorite clarinet pieces, Jen said, “There’s too many. The first one that came to mind was Mozart’s concerto for clarinet.” Mozart’s Clarinet concerto in A major was written in 1791. It was also one of Mozart’s final completed works, and his final purely instrumental work.

Jen decided to take a different career path after graduating from Capital, and attended Aveda Institute Columbus for cosmetology, and Jen’s current job is hairstylist. Jen’s favorite part of her job includes, “Interacting with people and talking to them all the time. Getting to know them more than just saying, ‘Hi, how are you?’”

Jen, is it hard sometimes to convince people the hair style they should have versus the one that they want? “Yes, I’ll make suggestions and then usually they’ll come around to it after time.” How does Jen keep track of all the new styles? “I take a lot of classes. I also look online and lots of different magazines.”

So, last summer, I asked Jen what was the hot trend was in hair. “I would say varied bowl cuts, very blunt, minor colors,” replied Jen.

So Jen expresses her artistic side as a stylist, musician, and of course, through dance, taking her to the sidelines with the Ohio Dance Machine. “I’ve been dancing since I was six,” Jen explained. “I thought it would be fun. I actually started gymnastics first and then branched out in to every other kind of dance that I could possibly do.”

Jen also continued her gymnastics her senior year in high school. In gymnastics and dance in general, is there a synergy between them? “Definitely yes,” Jen answered, “Dance, helps the movement flow, and gymnastics helps with power dancing.”

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