One of the more enjoyable aspects of the P-R-O Convention is the bright eyed enthusiasm of the rookies and first year attendees. Their excitement is palpable. Everything is new to them and they are a breath of fresh air. I got a chance to chat with a couple of bubbly blonde rookie Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders. They made me remember the sheer joy of my youth and I was re-energized to shoot them…and that was a good thing because I was exhausted, suffering from a mere three hours of sleep.
In today’s All Star edition, we feature one of the blonde rookie Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders…2013 P-R-O Convention All Star Melissa.
Skol, baby!
There were a couple of teams that brought large contingents of cheerleaders to the 2013 P-R-O Convention and one of these was the Houston Texans Cheerleaders. They must have brought their entire squad because there were Texans Cheerleaders everywhere you looked. And this year, Director Alto Gary’s squad may be the hottest in the NFL and they wear some of the most distinctive uniforms in professional cheerleading, which is a plus in my book.
Today, we feature a third year veteran and native Houstonian. Introducing Charlotte, a 2013 P-R-O Convention All Star.
As I begin the laborious task of reviewing and post processing some of the more than 8,000 photos that I took at the 2013 P-R-O Convention, I thought I would begin our coverage by recognizing some of the professional cheerleaders that stood out to me.
We begin with Washington Redskins Cheerleader Maigan, who stood out amongst a sea of beautiful and talented cheerleaders. Beautiful and gorgeous, Maigan is also a very gifted dancer who looked amazing even while learning several intricate dance routines. She understands that even while rehearsing a dance, if there’s a camera on you, it’s show time.
So without further ado, introducing our first 2013 P-R-O Convention All Star, Maigan.
I first saw Maigan a couple years ago in D.C. at a Redskins game and I remember that she stood out to me then as well. She’s just an amazing dancer and has a presence that commands your attention.
So who will be our next 2013 P-R-O Convention All Star? Stay tuned.
ATTENTION LADIES: Ever want to be a performer on the sidelines of your favorite Sports Team? Well come find out what it’s all about! Get audition ready with Alumni Pro-Team Dancers Marlina Moreno and Katrina Jo with Game Day Pros!
Registration begins June 23rd!
Game Day Pros was founded with a mission to mentor aspiring NFL, NBA and Arena performers. There is much more to becoming a professional cheerleader and dancer for the sporting industry than meets the eye, so equipping you with ALL the tools for audition success is our primary goal. Providing exclusive-inside information about what it really takes to make it on the sidelines is what sets GDP apart.
So whether you’re looking to brush up on your sideline moves, find the perfect audition outfit, or maybe just see if becoming a part of a team is for you…GDP promises to keep it authentic and help make the most out of your audition experience.
www.GameDayPros.com
Twitter: @GameDayPros
The NBA Nation Tour was in Los Angeles this weekend and on Sunday, it was the Laker Girls turn to wow the fans in attendance. It’s a rare opportunity to see them up close and personal and even rarer that you can see them performing in a venue other than the Staples Center. So, I decided to make a return engagement to Universal City Walk to photograph the most renown dance team in the NBA.
The NBA Nation tour rolled into town and I stopped on by Universal City Walk to get a glimpse of the Clippers Spirit and get a taste of that NBA action. It’s a tough job, but somebody has to do it!
A Laker Girl
LA Clippers Spirit
Auditioning for the Phoenix Suns Dancers
The P-R-O Convention is the premier professional cheerleading and dance convention. Every June, the very best cheerleaders and choreographers from professional sports descend upon Atlanta, Georgia to learn new routines and showcase their talents. It is the largest gathering of professional cheerleaders in the industry. And this year, they are celebrating their 10th anniversary.
Over the years, UltimateCheerleaders.com has been privileged to cover P-R-O and to honor the 10th anniversary of this amazing event, Tracy Rutledge, one of the principals of All-PRO3, has agreed to answer a few questions about the history of the P-R-O Convention.
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Please tell us a little about yourself and All-PRO3. How did you come up with the idea for the P-R-O Convention?
I am a former NBA dancer for the Atlanta Hawks and my husband and I owned a cheer gym for many years. All-Pro3 encompasses ALL THINGS PRO. From our P-R-O Convention with current professional cheerleaders, to our Real Deal Workshops for aspiring professional cheerleaders, we cover All Things Pro. The concept for the P-R-O Convention came from a need in the industry to provide useable choreography that all teams could perform.
This is the 10th anniversary of the P-R-O Convention, the premiere professional cheerleading and dance convention. Please tell us a little about this history and background of this event.
Ten years ago, we started with the idea that teams wanted actual, useable choreography that could be performed on football fields, basketball courts, hockey ice, soccer fields, and lacrosse fields. We have been blessed in that we have the BEST guest instructors teach for us. They are the ACTUAL coaches and choreographers for professional teams.
What were the first few years of the convention like? And how has it evolved over the past 10 years to where it is today?
The first convention was a lot smaller. Ha ha. But we always had faith in what we were delivering to the customer and had high expectations for it to grow. Now, after all these years, we are thrilled to have over 350 participants.
With more than 350 cheerleaders attending, what is it like putting on a convention of this size and scope? And how important are your sponsor relationships?
We have had to move hotels a few times due to the growth of the convention. A big ballroom is a MUST for our convention.
Our sponsors are paramount to us. We have continued our partnerships with some amazing companies while continuing to add to our partner list. We are always looking for new, unique partners to showcase their company at the P-R-O Convention. Businesses interested in sponsorship opportunities should contact us for more info.
P-R-O attracts the very best choreographers in professional cheerleading and there is a nice variety of routines taught, from sideline routines, quarter breaks, poms, hip hop, kick lines, etc. How do you determine the types of routines to teach at the convention?
That is what makes our convention so unique. The ACTUAL directors and choreographers of teams teach, so you get a fantastic variety of choreography from the best in the business. We always determine the types of routines taught beforehand, to ensure that our participants get a variety of useable routines to take home. From country, to hip hop, to jazz and novelty. We have even had holiday dances and pink (breast cancer awareness month) dances.
One of the positives that standout about P-R-O is the music. The songs are hip and contemporary, yet appropriate for the types of routines you teach. How is the music selected?
We work closely with DJ Ran, our resident DJ and music professional, to make sure we have a good mix of current music and some classic music. Every stadium and arena is different, so it allows our participants and teams to take home some routines that their fans will love.
Two of the most unique aspects of the P-R-O Convention are the Sidelines Distractions magazine and the Real Deal Workshop. Why publish your own magazine?
The Sideline Distraction Magazine is such a hit with the participants that we continue to do it year after year. All of the work that these girls put in throughout the year, it is a great opportunity for them to be recognized by their peers at the P-R-O Convention.
And one of the best events of the weekend is the Real Deal Workshop, where the instructors discuss professional cheerleading from the Director’s point of view.
Anyone who has ever attended our Real Deal Workshop, will never forget it. It’s highly entertaining, and if you listen closely, you will get some valuable information on how to stay on a professional team. I don’t know that there is any other chance to hear the “Real Deal” straight from the coaches mouths. They offer advice that is not normally offered up at their own clinics, totally unfiltered, and amazingly humorous. This is one of the highlights of the weekend.
For the cheerleader who is interested in attending, what can she expect? Why should she attend the P-R-O Convention?
Professional Cheerleaders & Dancers can expect over 25 fully choreographed routines throughout the weekend. Our class schedule offers great variety. You also receive a cd of all of the music to take home. There is a wonderful opportunity to mingle and network with other professional cheerleaders/dancers and coaches. We tell the participants that you never know where you may audition one day, so it is a great way to meet so many others in this profession. Lunch is provided both days, so we are confident that we provide the best value in Professional Cheerleading/Dance Conventions.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your involvement with P-R-O?
Seeing all of the talent from our amazing instructors. Knowing that they (the attendees) can take the material back to their respective venues, and perform unique routines for their season. Regardless of what team you come from, and what league you represent, you can use the material.
I once interviewed an executive with a NHL team and he said that they were not in the sports business, but that they were in the entertainment business. As teams include more entertainment at games, what do you see as the future for professional cheerleading.
There are so many more pressures added to professional cheerleaders/dancers now. Instead of just performing, they are now models, fitness experts, and ambassadors for their organization. Allowing the girls to get together for one weekend allows them to relax and have fun in a non-competitive atmosphere.
We have also noticed that smaller markets and other professional sports are starting to add cheerleaders/dancers to their business models. We welcome those girls. At the end of the day, we want to represent every sport with professional cheerleaders and dancers, not just the most recognizable ones.
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Our thanks to Tracy Rutledge for taking the time to answer a few questions about the P-R-O Convention.
If you are a professional cheerleader interesting in attending the 2013 P-R-O Convention in Atlanta, please click here for more information.
And for all of you who are planning to attend, UltimateCheerleaders.com is looking for a few, good cheerleaders to feature in our P-R-O Convention All Stars featurettes. See you there!
