Philadalphia Soulmate Crystal at the AFL American Conference Championship Game on Sunday
The AFL American Conference Championship was played in Philadelphia on Sunday. And in a real nail-biter the Sharks defeated the Soul 61-56 with the game in doubt until the final play.
Mauria would have been much happier to present the trophy to the Soul, but alas it was not to be.
But she smiled like a professional as the trophy was given to the visiting Jacksonville Sharks.
By Nora Olabi
Chron.com
As recent Woodlands High graduates prepare to start their college careers, one former High Stepper has turned an extracurricular activity into her dream job.
Kara Robinson started competitive dancing as a fifth grader at Mitchell Intermediate in The Woodlands. She kept dancing all the way through high school, when as a senior at The Woodlands High School she became captain of The Woodlands High Steppers.
After graduating, she took her dance skills on the road, attending college with acclaimed dance teams. She danced with the Kilgore College Rangerettes, the first women’s precision drill team in the country, and, a few years later, danced for the Dallas Cowboys for three years.
Earlier this month, Robinson signed her second season contract with the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder to dance as a Thunder Girl.
“Performing for a crowd is one of my passions in life. I know that there’s only a short amount of time that I’m going to be able to do this, and I’m coming up on that time where I have to start focusing on a career,” Robinson said. “But for now, I have the most supportive parents in the world that have always wanted me to follow my dreams, and I was lucky enough to do that.”
The Thunder Girl auditions are rigorous. Before the auditions started, dance coaches held boot camps and prep classes for anyone interested in being a dancer.
On the big day, 60 new and returning dancers went through three audition phases over five days this summer. The prospective dancers learn three routines – pom, hip hop and jazz – go through a fitness bootcamp, and undergo business interviews all in full makeup. Those who make the first two rounds perform a final show at the Riverwind Casino in front of an audience of TV and radio personalities, some season ticket holders and the entertainment department of the OKC Thunder. In the end, seven new girls joined the Thunder Girls, and 12 returned, including Robinson, to dance in the upcoming season.
“She’s great; she’s made for this,” said Paige Carter, manager and dance choreographer for the Thunder. “She’s a wonderful person, and her big talent is how remarkable she is at learning choreography and retaining it.”
Once brought on, all 19 dancers train two to three nights a week, perform several dance routines during the games, and make about 200 public appearances throughout the season. And although it sounds like a full-time job, most of the women have part- or full-time jobs outside of the Thunder Girls.
When Robinson is not performing as a Thunder Girl, she works as a brand ambassador for the Austin-based designer jewelry store Kendra Scott. After transferring from Kilgore College, Robinson graduated from the University of North Texas with a bachelor’s in merchandising. Although she’s learned and grown as a professional dancer, she hopes to one day blaze her own trail in the fashion industry.
“There are a lot of different options I can take with fashion. Being in the fashion industry, I’ve always wanted to open my own store and sell my own merchandise there. That’s definitely in the far away future,” Robinson said.
In the meantime, Robinson will wield her pompoms and entertain fans for the 2015-16 NBA season.
Amanda at Blast Cheerleader Tryouts on Saturday. Yes, she made it to training camp.
After a long day of auditions, twenty-nine young ladies are headed for training camp, starting on Monday night. Best of luck!
Alison is a fourth year veteran and team captain. She is originally from Lighthouse Point, FL but resides currently in Fort Lauderdale. This marks Alison’s third year on the calendar shoot, serving most recently as Miss August 2015. Alison has had the privilege of going on two military tours to Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, UAE, Ethiopia and Bahrain.
Photo courtesy of the Miami Dolphins
[Alison at DolphinsCheerleaders.com]
Auditions for the 2015-16 Warriors dance team began on Saturday, August 15, with many aspiring dancers trying out at Las Positas College in Livermore.
More photos here.
With a victory over Cleveland last Saturday, the the Soul are just one win away from the Arena Bowl!
The Soulmates wanted to show off their one of a kind individually named and numbered uniform jerseys.
Dance Clinic Participants
Lora
Jenae and Danielle
Former Soulmates Maurisa and Gabrielle
Theresa
Jenna in Pre-game rehearsal
Soul Squad rehearsal
Alyssa M.
Check out the hilarious outtakes that come with hours of shooting during the 14-15 calendar shoot.
Macy is a fourth year veteran and team captain. This marks her 3rd year on the calendar shoot, as she was Miss December 2014 and Miss December 2015. Macy currently resides in Palm Beach Gardens. She is featured here in DESPI Swimwear and Lavish Jewelry.
Photo courtesy of the Miami Dolphins
