Our good friend Darlene, who directs the Jacksonville Axe Maidens, wrote to us with some great news about Alumni and Veteran Axe Maidens being selected for new teams.
Veterans Carolyn, Natalie, Courtney and Sara-Marie were selected to the Jacksonville Jewels (ABA Jacksonville Giants)
Carolyn
Natalie
Courtney
Sara-Marie
Veteran Ashley P. was recently selected to the Shark Attack Dance Team (AFL Jacksonville Sharks)
2008 Alumni Micah was selected to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders
2010 Alumni Hilary is a rookie on the ROAR of the Jaguars joining 2010 Alumni Marisa who is in her 3rd season on the ROAR.
Former Washington Redskins Cheerleader Dr. Talmesha Richards, PhD
More photos from Pro Bowl Dan. He was in Cincinnati for the Ben-Gals Alumni Weekend. Both the alumni and the current squad were wearing pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It doesn’t look like much fun to rehearse in the rain.
Big Blue’s unofficial dance team proved they’re still on top of their game Wednesday night, as the Daily News joined them for a 60-minute cycling class at Revolve Fitness, the squad’s last workout before tackling the Tough Mudder obstacle course race this weekend.
By Rheana Murray
New York Daily News
A sad start to the Giants’ season can’t keep these girls down.
Packing pom-poms and bedazzled sports bras, The Gotham City Cheerleaders — Big Blue’s unofficial pep squad — proved their spirit is still high during a sweaty spin ride Wednesday night at Revolve Fitness in Union Square. It was the team’s final workout before they tackle the grueling Tough Mudder obstacle course race Saturday in Englishtown, N.J.
“We want to show everybody that cheerleaders are tough,” team captain BriAnna, 21, told the Daily News. “It’s more than just shaking pom-poms and being pretty. We’re in great shape and we take pride in that.”
The team, founded by former Washington Redskins Cheerleader Ana De Villegas in 2011, doesn’t perform inside MetLife Stadium, but they’re outside every Sunday home game, amping up the tailgating crowd.
BriAnna, the team captain for the Gotham City Cheerleaders, at Revolve Fitness Wednesday night.
“We dance for three hours straight, so you need to be in top physical condition,” said BriAnna, who’s in her second season with the GCC. “You have to have the stamina to keep up. I remember my very first game ever, after that home game I couldn’t even walk — I was so sore!”
The cheerleaders practice twice a week for three hours — mostly running, cardio, lots of arm work and dancing.
Is part of a cheerleader’s job to look great at all times? GCC’s Kaitlyn is all smiles before an indoor cycling workout.
Christianne Phillips, a master instructor at Revolve, said indoor cycling — which she sets to bumping soundtracks packed with Rihanna and Kanye West hits — is a natural addition.
“Dancers and cheerleaders are inherently motivated by music,” she said. “And we’re music-based, we use it to get you through the drills. So I think our style resonates with them.”
The Gotham City Cheerleaders pose at Revolve Fitness in Union Square on Wednesday night. The squad dances at every Sunday home game.
Classes like Revolve’s high-intensity, 60-minute Rip Ride are also perfect training for grueling mud runs like the Tough Mudder.
“We use resistance, so your body is going to work. And we do drills,” Phillips said. “That kind of interval training is what improves your strength and your cardiovascular endurance.”
It was enough to exhaust an entire cheerleading squad Wednesday night.
Emerging sweaty but with eye makeup still intact, the team kept up the pep through one last photo shoot — proof they’ve got the perseverance to see the Giants through the season.
And one day, they hope to break into MetLife stadium.
“Even though we can’t be on the field, the Giants’ management is well aware we exist and that we are at every single home game supporting them,” BriAnna said. “Hopefully, one day we’ll be on the field.”
Last month we asked our readers to try and choose among some of the Washington Redskins Cheerleaders hottest looks, and here are the results:
1. Black and Burgundy
2. White One Piece
3. Gold and Burgundy
4. Burgundy Warm-ups
[Washington Redskins Cheerleaders]
A Baltimore Blast Cheerleader
It’s a tough season for Giants fans, but there is one reason to cheer: The Gotham City Cheerleaders.
For those of you who aren’t aware, the Giants don’t have official cheerleaders, yet. But you can help start a groundswell of support. Be sure to like the GCC on Facebook.
GCC Director Ana and Team Coordinator Janel
Tailgate Party Performance outside the stadium
Members of the GCC’s Ref Squad
Colleen, Sarah and Kate
Carina and Ashley
Earlier on game day before the Cheerleaders head to MetLife Stadium, you can catch them at Redd’s Restaurant. Here the Cheerleaders engage in a game of “Pom toss.”
[Gotham City Cheerleaders on Facebook]
From Examiner.com
As you come up the stairs and head towards the Denver Nuggets practice gym, you can hear the workout being performed. But it was not the Denver Nuggets but rather the Colorado Mammoth Wild Bunch holding their annual tryouts before the new upcoming season today, Sunday October 6, 2013. Amy Jo Wagner and her staff were at the gym early. Am Jo otherwise known as AJ, is the leader of the Mammoth Wild Bunch and she had a busy morning.
The Examiner was able to catch AJ for a brief interview.
Examiner: When did you start cheerleading?
AJ: I’ve actually never been a cheerleader. I started dancing in high school to avoid regular gym class and fell in love with performing. After high school, I continued taking dance classes in college and began dancing for professional sports in 1999. My first professional dance team was the AFL’s Arizona Rattlers Sidewinders. After dancing for the Rattlers for 2 season, I became a member of the NBA’s Phoenix Suns Dancers and the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury Hip Hop Squad.
Examiner: Where you ever in gymnastics as a lot of cheerleaders are?
AJ: I think I took one gymnastics class when I was a kid.
Examiner: Are you originally from Colorado?
AJ: I am originally from Minnesota, but went to school in Arizona before moving up to Colorado.
Examiner: How long have you been involved with the wild bunch?
AJ: I began choreographing and managing the Wild Bunch in the 2009-2010 season.
Examiner: Were you ever a member of the Wild Bunch and then moved to being the leader/coach of the team and if so how long did you dance for them before moving into the managers role?
AJ: I was never a Wild Bunch dancer, but I did dance professionally before becoming a dance team manager. I danced with the Arizona Rattler’s Sidewinders Dance Team for 2 seasons, The Phoenix Suns Dancers for 6 seasons and the Phoenix Mercury Hip Hop Squad for 7 seasons before taking on my first management position. After managing the Rattler’s Sidewinders for 19 months, I was offered a full time position choreographing for the Denver Nuggets Dancers. 1 year later, I was given the opportunity to also choreograph for the Wild Bunch.
Examiner: Who creates the dance routines?
AJ: It’s a group effort. I choreograph a few routines each season and we also bring in outside choreographers to mix things up. And, in the past two seasons, the Wild Bunch dancers have choreographed a few of their own routines.
Examiner: How many hours a week goes into being with the wild bunch?
AJ: The dancers put in 6 hours a week practicing for games. On game weeks, we put in about 15 hours between practicing and game day activities. For myself, my hours vary from month to month with the Wild Bunch. The off season is anything but an off-season for me because preparations for the next season start almost immediately. From audition preparations to corporate partners to uniform design, Wild Bunch season prep takes months of work. On average I would say I spend about 15-20 hours per week on Wild Bunch related issues.
Examiner: Are the dances required to make a certain number of appearances outside of mammoth games?
AJ: Dancers are not required to make appearances, but are always happy to get into the community. The ladies make public appearances for the Mammoth organization and for numerous non-profit organizations throughout the year.
An Orlando Predators Prowler
Last month our good fried Pro Bowl Dan was at the Purple Friday Celebrations for the Ravens home opener and he sent us a few photos of the Ravens Cheerleaders.
