Every…body…dance!

The P-R-O Convention in Atlanta is the premier professional cheerleading convention and attracts the very best professional cheerleaders and choreographers in the nation. Squads from the NFL, NBA, NHL, and minor league baseball gathered in Atlanta for a fun filled weekend of dance, team building and networking.

The staff of All-Pro3 gave UltimateCheerleaders.com complete access to the convention’s events.  In the second part of my article, we continue our coverage of P-R-O with a report on Sunday’s events.

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A relatively recent phenomenon is the number of dancers from Japan who try out and make it onto NFL and NBA dance teams.  This year there were a few pro cheerleaders from Japan who made to P-R-O.

(From left to right: Sayuri – Titans, Nao – Vikings, Masako – Redskins, Nami – Jets, and Mari – Titans)

In my experience, dancers from Japan tend be very technical and skilled and I can understand why they would want to come to America and try their hand at making an NBA or NFL squad…it’s the pinnacle of professional cheerleading. 

My thanks to Redskins Cheerleader Captain Masako for rounding up all the professional cheerleaders from Japan that were here in Atlanta.

There were many professional dance teams at P-R-O this year and there were, as you would expect, many beautiful and talented cheerleaders.  It was an amazing event to cover and I always enjoy my time in Atlanta because I get to photograph cheerleaders from teams that I wouldn’t normally get to shoot.  And one of those teams is the Cincinnati Ben Gals.  Our next 2017 P-R-O Convention All Star is a former PRO Bowl Cheerleader…introducing Cincinnati Ben Gal Lauren.

We have many, many more cheerleaders we would like to recognize for their beauty and talent, so check back regularly.  And tomorrow, we will publish our Day 2 article on the 2017 P-R-O Convention with a plethora of cheerleader photos.  You won’t want to miss that!

For more cheerleader articles and photos, please visit my personal blog: thehottestdanceteam.wordpress.com.

The team that brought the most cheerleaders to the 2017 P-R-O Convention in Atlanta was the Houston Texans. In all the years that I have covered the event, the Texans have been the most well represented squad bar none. And that’s a good thing because they have a lot of impressive cheerleaders and I have enjoyed photographing them over the years. Our next 2017 P-R-O Convention All Star is a second year veteran HTC…introducing Natalie G.

Like all the Houston Texans Cheerleaders, Natalie has an impressive twitter following…check out her twitter page here: @HTC_Natalie G.

We have many more impressive women to feature, so check back soon to see who is our next 2017 P-R-O Convention All Star.

For more cheerleader articles and photos, please visit my personal blog: thehottestdanceteam.wordpress.com.

The wonderful thing about the P-R-O Convention in Atlanta is that I get to photograph the very best cheerleaders in professional sports…cheerleaders that I probably wouldn’t be able to shoot since I live in a Southern California.  One of the squads that I enjoy photographing every time I come here is the Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders because they have some amazing cheerleaders and some of the sexiest uniforms in the NFL.  So when I get a chance to shoot the MVC one on one, I go out of my way to do so.

Our next 2017 P-R-O Convention All Star is a second year veteran from Mesa, Arizona…introducing Minnesota Vikings Cheerleader Qisa.

Check back tomorrow to see our next 2017 P-R-O Convention All Star.  My guess is that it is a Houston Texans Cheerleader because there were a lot of them there and I must have photographed their entire rookie class!

For more cheerleader articles and photos, please visit my personal blog: thehottestdanceteam.wordpress.com.

The most successful and critically acclaimed movie of the year is Wonder Woman.  It is a tale of a strong woman who makes a difference in the world through her courage, intelligence, strength and compassion.  It is a fable that serves as an inspiration to a new generation, both young and old.

There is a parallel here and it is with professional cheerleaders, who are in no uncertain terms, wonder women in their own right. 

When I was younger, I must admit my perception of cheerleaders was not the most flattering, but as the years passed it has evolved.  And in my capacity with UltimateCheerleaders.com, I have met many impressive young women…professional cheerleaders who would become scientists, lawyers, doctors, business owners and many who would go on to have loving families. 

I came to realize that unlike the pop culture stereotype that we all know, these young women had several admirable qualities in common: dedication, goal orientation, passion, and a strong work ethic to mention a few.  Traits that would lead to success later in life.

Yes, I enjoy the sight of these provocatively dressed women entertaining the fans during breaks in the game action, but I realize that professional cheerleaders are all that and a lot more…much more. 

They are wonder women and many of them will go on to make a difference in the world in their own way…but for now, we get to enjoy their gifts and talents as dancers of the highest order.

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The P-R-O Convention is the premier professional dance convention and the instructors represent the very best in professional cheerleading and dance.  This year’s instructors included:

Jakene Ashford – NFL Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders
Tara Battiato – NFL Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders
Coach Alto Gary – NFL Houston Texans Cheerleaders, WCW Nitrogirls, Former NBA Atlanta Hawks & Charlotte Hornets Choreographer
Kristina Ferdig – NFL Arizona Cardinals Cheerleaders
Jerod Fewell – Hip Hop Extraodinaire
Denise Garvey – NFL New York Jets Flight Crew
Katie Gibbons – NBA San Antonio-Spurs Silver Dancers and AHL Rampage
Stephanie Jojokian – NFL Washington Redskins Cheerleaders
Nikki Kill – NFL Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders
Stacie Kinder – NFL Nashville Tennessee Titans Cheerleaders
Brandii McCoy – NBA Charlotte Hornets Honeybees and AHL Charlotte Checkers CheckMates
Tracy Rutledge – Former NBA Atlanta Hawks, AFL2 Georgia Wildcats
Derric Whitfield – NBA Washington Wizards, Wizard Girls

Each year, the best professional cheerleaders gather in Atlanta, Georgia to attend the annual P-R-O Convention for two days of intensive dance training and team building.  This year marks the 14th year anniversary of this marvelous event and over 250 cheerleaders and dancers were in attendance. 

UltimateCheerleaders.com was given exclusive access by the organizers of the event, All-Pro3. For our readers who have never attended a dance convention, the following report will give you an idea of what goes on during a weekend of nonstop dance action.

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The Line Up, an UltimateCheerleaders.com sponsor, has posted an article on NBA audition tops.

3 Tryout Tops That Will Get You Noticed at NBA Dance Team Auditions

Auditions for NBA dance teams are just around the corner, which means you might be looking for the perfect tryout outfit to get you noticed!  Earlier, we looked at some of our best tips for tryout apparel to get you ready for the big event, but here’s a peek at some of our favorite looks from the 2017 audition season!

1. The Sparkle Jersey

The sparkle jersey came onto the scene with full force last year, and this trend is still going strong!  These sequin encrusted jerseys are made by printing colors and designs directly onto sequin encrusted fabric called Gaga.  This look is perfect if you want to represent your chosen team by changing up the colors and lettering!

2. The Mesh Overlay

From workout wear to dance costumes, mesh is everywhere this season.  Insets of mesh, full mesh shirts, large hole mesh textures, you name it!  Our favorite tops pair a mesh overlay with another bra underneath. Mix and match to create your own unique style! 

3. The Jersey Leo

Full disclosure – we realize this doesn’t fit into the “crop top and booty short” requirements of most first round auditions, but for some final rounds that allow more flexibility, this look is hands-down our favorite!   So channel your inner Beyoncé with these jersey style leos in mesh or sparkle – the perfect look for an NBA dancer.

Looking to create a tryout outfit you won’t see on anyone else?  Shop our Pro apparel at www.thelineup.com/pro for styles made-to-order in your color choices.  Hundreds of styles + dozens of colors = thousands of unique possibilities.