When I became aware of all the new squads that would be in attendance at the 2019 P-R-O Convention in Atlanta, there was one in particular that I was excited to see…The Carolina Panthers TopCats. As I aggregated NFL content for UltimateCheerleaders.com last fall, one squad stood out and they were the TopCats. With beautiful girls and colorful uniforms, I hoped to be able to photograph a few TopCats for our readers. As luck would have it, I was able to shoot all four that were in attendance in Atlanta.
So without further ado, introducing Carolina TopCats Cheerleader Keleigh…our next 2019 P-R-O Convention All Star.
Our cavalcade of amazing cheerleaders and dancers continues. Check back tomorrow to see who is our next 2019 P-R-O Convention All Star. I think we will be staying the state of North Carolina for our next honoree, but you can never be sure of these things!
Like A Boy: Interview with Lisa Zaragoza, Coach of Portland Trail Blazers Rip City Crew All Male Dance Team
Brittany and Mhkeeba interview Lisa Zaragoza, the Coach of the all male Rip City Crew for the Portland Trail Blazers and get the inside scoop on what it’s like working with professional male dancers.
Lisa shares her dance background and how she became one of the hottest choreographers for NBA, college and high school teams. The ladies learn about her experience as a BlazerDancer for the Portland Trail Blazers for five seasons and a member of the 2014 NBA All-Star Dance Team. Lisa explains how she balances it all and also finds time to be the Coach of her alma mater, Oregon Cheer!
During Cheer Chat, Mhkeeba and Brittany give an update on NBA auditions and squad selections. They also discuss the number of NBA teams that have formed all male hip hop crews. The ladies get to know Lisa better during Drop It Like It’s Hot!
Click here to listen to the latest episode of the Pro Cheerleader Podcast.
There’s a certain buzz about our next 2019 P-R-O Convention All Star and that’s no coincidence since she is a member of the Charlotte Honey Bees, one of the most amazing dance teams in professional sports. A former Charlotte CheckMate and a first year Charlotte Honey Bee, introducing Cassie…our next 2019 P-R-O Convention All Star.
Our parade of All Stars continues. Check back soon to see who is our next 2019 P-R-O Convention All Star.
OAKLAND, Calif. – The Golden State Warriors are expanding the Warriors Dance Team to include male dancers during select performances of the 2019-20 season. The team will continue to be headlined by the all-female “Gold Squad” which will perform at every Warriors home game, while the all-male “Blue Crew” will perform alongside the female dancers at 15 select home games. In addition, in-game entertainment will include crossover performances featuring all teams in the dance program, including the Warriors Dance Team, Golden State Breakers, Hardwood Classics and Jr. Jam Squad.
Audition information is listed below:
Warriors Dance Team Gold Squad (Women ages 18 and up)
- Preparatory Class – Wednesday, July 10 at 8 p.m. at the Bay Club in Walnut Creek (2805 Jones Road)
- Preliminary Auditions – Saturday, July 13 at 11 a.m. at the Rakuten Performance Center in Oakland (1011 Broadway)
- Final Auditions – Thursday, July 18
Warriors Dance Team Blue Crew (Men ages 18 and up)
- Preparatory Classes – Wednesday, July 10 at 8 p.m. and Tuesday, July 23 at 9 p.m. at the Bay Club in Walnut Creek
- Auditions – Saturday, August 10 at 2:30 p.m. at the Ultimate Fieldhouse in Walnut Creek (2675 Mitchell Drive)
Hardwood Classics (Ages 55 and up)
- Preparatory Class – Wednesday, July 31 at 8 p.m. at the Bay Club in Walnut Creek
- Auditions – Sunday, August 11 at 9:30 a.m. at The Ultimate Fieldhouse in Walnut Creek
Jr. Jam Squad (Ages 6-14)
- Preliminary Auditions – Saturday, August 10 at 9:30 a.m. at the Ultimate Fieldhouse
- Final Auditions – Tuesday, August 13 at 7:00 p.m. at the Ultimate Fieldhouse
GS Breakers (Ages 18 and up)
- Auditions – Sunday, August 11 at 3:00 p.m. at the Ultimate Fieldhouse in Walnut Creek
For additional information or to pre-register for preparatory classes and auditions, visit Warriors.com/danceteam.
For more information on the Golden State Warriors 2019-20 season presented by Kaiser Permanente, please visit warriors.com.
2019-20 Auditions –Preliminary Rounds
Sunday, July 28
PCC Sylvania Campus – Health Technology Building
Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. Auditions to immediately follow registration.
What To Wear
Please wear two-piece athletic wear. Tights are permitted. You may wear any kind of dance shoe, sneakers or perform barefoot. Please make sure shoes have non-marking soles. Game Day look expected.
What To Bring
In the interest of time, we encourage participants to bring their completed and signed Application and waiver forms.
- Applicants under the age of 18 at the time of Auditions must have a parent or guardian sign the forms.
- A current head shot as well as full body photo of yourself (at least 4×6; does not need to be professional but must be clear and contain only the audition participant). Photos are used for identification purposes and will not be returned.
- Snacks, water, make-up or hair products for touch ups. Please note that there is no extended lunch break. There will be breaks but not long enough to leave the site for food.
What To Expect
Preliminary rounds of auditions are closed and spectators will not be allowed in the gymnasium. Score sheets and judges’ comments will not be made available. The Final Round is open to spectators and Finalists will receive a limited number of tickets for friends and family. Portions of Auditions are expected to be filmed for www.trailblazers.com and social media.
During the preliminary rounds, dancers will learn several routines and perform them in small groups in front of a panel of judges. The judges will make cuts after each routine. Approximately 30-40 Finalists will be selected at the end of the Preliminary Rounds to continue to the Finals. Dancers who make it to the Final Round will learn at least two routines to perform and will be required to perform a 1-minute solo routine showcasing their dance ability and personality. Finalists will also be required to come in for interviews July 31 or August 1.
Requirements
- Must be 18 years of age by October 1, 2019
- BlazerDancers must attend all practices, games, training camps and mandatory Portland Trail Blazers events. BlazerDancer duties include community service events, appearances and photo shoots.
- Must be able to attend practices every Thursday and Sunday evening (beginning mid-August, dates & times TBD). Additional practices may be added throughout the season.
- Must have reliable transportation to practices, games, appearances, etc. Must meet and maintain dancing skill requirements, personal appearance and fitness level throughout the season.
Click here for more information.
One of the squads I enjoy photographing over the years is the Cincinnati Ben-Gals. They usually send a few girls and their colorful orange uniforms provide a nice contrast to the squad colors (the blues, reds, and purples) that I normally see year in and year out. So, it is special when I get a chance to photograph them up close and personal and this year, I was able to shoot all three of them for this feature.
So without further ado, introducing our first of three Ben-Gals and our next 2019 P-R-O Convention All Star…Cincinnati Ben-Gals Cheerleader Kelly.
We have another special one in Kelly, but there were many special cheerleaders and dancers in Atlanta. Check back tomorrow to see who is our next 2019 P-R-O Convention All Star…rumor has it that there is a buzz about her!
