Brooklyn Nets dance team coach Adar Wellington picked up pirouettes before the potty. “I pretty much came out of the womb dancing,” jokes the limber beauty, who parlayed concert touring stretches with Diddy and Rihanna into principle music video features for Kanye (“Lost In The World”) and Usher (“Scream”). Like Jay-Z’s infantile b-ball dynasty, the Jersey native is saying hello to Brooklyn, helping Barclays Center’s cleverly dubbed Brooklynettes kick BK flavor for your eyes and ears. “These girls are super-athletic and well-spoken; they’re the whole package, not just gorgeous and talented dancers,” says the entertainment coordinator, who choreographs, handpicks music and selects the dance team’s sporty garbs. “I’m not quite sure if Brooklyn is ready for us.” —John Kennedy
FIRST DUNK
My last season as a Nets dancer, I was on the [sub-squad] Dunking Divas. I don’t get nervous when I dance, because I’m confident. But I was a wreck the first time I dunked. [Laughs] We practiced four hours before the game, so next time it’s game time—you just hope your body knew off memory how to get it done. I had two dunks: the double-basketball dunk and under-the-leg dunk—that one’s tricky. Doing that in front of basketball players and fans makes it even more nerve-wracking. I give credit to the players that can do it without a trampoline, but I got up there and got that ball in that hoop. I was so hyped I wanted to hang on that thing.
LAST EMBARRASSING MOMENT
I had a star role in a Vegas show called Peepshow. My number was a solo. And there are cracks in this stage. One performance—of course the one all the bigwig directors are watching—my six-inch stiletto heel got stuck in a crack in the stage. [Laughs] I fell and couldn’t get out of the crack! As a dancer you keep going and fake the funk. But no, the audience definitely knew. I was trying to yank my heel out of the crack and still perform. It was a disaster. I was on the floor for probably 30 seconds but it felt like 20 minutes. I never wanted to step back on that stage.
An Indianapolis Colts Cheerleader at the P-R-O Convention
Last month the Cincinnati Ben-Gals held their Calendar Release Party, and our good friend Pro Bowl Dan was there. He shared a few photos with us:
It takes more than pom poms and a smile to make the Bulls’ dance team
By Ryan Smith
For RedEye
Considering she’d just spent several weeks preparing for it, the seven minutes Ashley Piepenbrink spent kicking, twirling and dancing in front of judges in her bid to join the Luvabulls felt more like two seconds.
The 24-year-old from Wrigleyville hired a personal trainer to help her lose 3 inches off her waist and spent much of her free time practicing dance moves. But when one of the judges came backstage to announce who would stay for the second round, Piepenbrink’s number was not called.
“Honestly, I knew what to expect, but that still felt like it was over very soon,” she said.
As the Bulls open their preseason home schedule Tuesday, it’s the Luvabulls’ time to shine, too.
Time is of the essence when you’re trying to earn a coveted spot on the Bulls’ dance team. Of the 155 women who auditioned recently at the United Center, less than half made it to the next stage—making every moment spent performing freestyle dance moves, thrusting legs up in a kick line and answering a few simple biographical questions in front of the seven judges essential.
“The audition starts out the minute you walk in and you have to leave a good impression,” said Jessica Piper, 22, of Brookfield. “It’s very fast-paced but they warned us about that. It’s good because no one wants to waste their time.”
The dizzying speed left Erin Collier, 23, out of breath as she trotted off the United Center court following her tryout.
“That was an intense kick line right there,” she said while bending down for air.
The new contenders were teamed up with Luvabulls veterans during the afternoon sessions, and those veterans are required to compete for their jobs again. By the end of the exhausting day, 50 were selected for a three-day minicamp. From there, only 25 dancers made the final squad.
Because there are so many potential Luvabulls in the morning session, the women each wear a number attached to their tops. The judges then study each woman’s performance and take notes divided into three categories: appearance, personality and dance. Team director Cathy Core expects each Luvabull to score highly in all three.
“I always like to say that I’m looking for the total package in a person—looks, body, personality and performance level,” she said.
Core said she looks for women who are height and weight proportionate and have a look that’s glamorous, yet “girl-next-door approachable.” Dance ability sometimes trumps all, however.
“If a girl doesn’t have the right look, maybe that look can be changed a bit with the magic of makeup and hair coloring. Regular workouts can change a body very quickly,” she said. “But if the girl can’t dance, that’s a problem. Some girls have good rhythm but can’t follow choreography.”
The interview also is important, said judge Tracie Marciniak, a former Luvabull dancer and choreographer, because the women are ambassadors to the community.
“This isn’t just about grabbing some pom-poms and cheering on our stars and being a fan,” she said. “We also need to know what’s their background, what’s their resume, can they multitask.”
Still, even with a set of criteria of what makes an ideal Luvabull, narrowing down so many quality candidates is tough, Marciniak said.
“I always say that no one should feel a sense of rejection because there is so much talent and there’s going to be quality people that slip between the cracks because there’s such an amazing amount of competition,” she said.
Piepenbrink believes she’s one of them.
“I feel like it’s almost luck a little bit to get them to see you,” she said. “I wanted to be like, ‘Hey, I’m over here!’ But it’s OK, I had a great experience and I’ll be back next year.”
By Andrea McCann
Washington Times Herald
When she was younger, Alyssa, 24, always thought it was cliché when people said “don’t give up on your dreams.” Now she’s living her dream and realizes it’s more than just an expression.
The 2007 Barr-Reeve graduate from Cannelburg, who now lives in Odon and is an engineer at Crane, was invited in August to be an Indianapolis Colts cheerleader. She’d auditioned in 2008 and 2011, then again this year. Turns out, the third time really is a charm.
“Originally, I just wanted to try out to say I tried,” she said. “I didn’t have any expectations, necessarily. That audition was horrible. I was unprepared and it was intimidating. I didn’t think I would try out again until I went to IUPUI and moved to Indy.”
When the Colts played the Saints in the Super Bowl, Alyssa said, it sparked her interest again. She was on the cheerleading and dance teams at Barr-Reeve; the competition cheerleading team at Purdue University, where she started her college career; and was a cheerleader at IUPUI, where she earned a degree in electrical engineering in 2011.
So in 2011 she auditioned and made it to the third round.
“In January of this year I decided I would give it one more try,” Alyssa said. “I felt like every time I did it I learned a lot and improved. I got cut before finals this year. I was devastated. I felt like I was more prepared mentally, physically and dance skill-wise, so I was pretty upset.”
Shortly after that four-week audition process, in June, the coach contacted her about a training program taught by Colts alumni cheerleaders for girls who had potential as cheerleaders.
Unsure if she even wanted to audition again, she said she knew if she turned down the opportunity, she wouldn’t have a chance if she did try out next year.
“I went ahead and did it,” Alyssa said. “At the beginning of August the coach called and said a girl quit and they wanted me to replace her. I was ecstatic.”
She joined 31 other young ladies who cheer at all Colts home games and make appearances to support the Colts organization. They practice eight hours a week and meet with a personal Pilates trainer twice a month.
“I’ve always liked to dance, and I pick up on that stuff fast,” Alyssa said, adding they do some jazz, hip-hop, kicklines and even a little country.
“They provide us with uniforms and practice attire.”
They also get outfits to wear to appearances. Each cheerleader is required to make 20 appearances, which may be Colts-sponsored or special requests. The cheerleaders also help with a junior cheerleader program sponsored by the Colts.
But of all her responsibilities as a Colts cheerleader, it’s hard to beat the excitement of game day.
“The fans make me excited because they’re so into the game,” she said. “It’s so surreal. The amount of people in the crowd doesn’t bother me a bit, but I get distracted by the game because I’m an avid sports fan.”
However, she said she has to watch the game so she doesn’t get in the way and get tackled, along with watching the cheerleaders so she doesn’t fall behind.
“My favorite part of game day is the starting lineup when the players run out of the tunnel,” Alyssa said. “I’ll never forget the very first game.”
Describing the scene, she said the cheerleaders lined the tunnel and made a rippling motion as the players emerged growling and yelling.
“Imagine these 6-foot-2-plus men growling and screaming as they ran out of the tunnel,” she said.
Alyssa said her family and community residents seem proud and are very supportive. Her parents are Jason and Cathy Ochs of Cannelburg and Tony Neidigh of Odon. She said her husband, Derrick, is somewhat reserved, but as the experience has become more real, his excitement is showing more.
“He likes going to games. He tweeted ‘My wife is a Colts cheerleader. Just saying,’” she said with a laugh.
“My mom cried, she was so excited. My parents are season ticket holders, so we’ve always followed the Colts.”
People tell her they’re happy she didn’t give up on her dream of becoming a Colts cheerleader. At appearances, people get her autograph and have their picture taken with her.
“I’m just a normal person,” Alyssa said. “I just sort of fell into this.
“I’m just really glad I didn’t give up on it.”
A trio of Charlotte LadyCats during pre-game rehearsal
[Orlando Magic Dancers in Spain]
It was another successful and enjoyable trip to Europe for the Orlando Magic Dancers.
Over the course of the last nine seasons the Dancers have visited 19 different countries in their travels abroad for Military tours and NBA events. This particular voyage took the girls to Bilbao, Spain for an NBA 3X Tournament.
Over a five-day span, several of Orlando’s finest entertainers traveled to Europe to perform dance routines, posed for photos, signed autographs, and much more as part of NBA 3X.
Read about the journey from Team Manager Jeanine Klem-Thomas and Dancers Ashley, Victoria, Shalize, Laine, Krystle and Team Leader Kendra as they respond to a few questions about the trip, check out “By the Numbers” and watch video clips from the adventure.
Heather Foster is no stranger to a football-crazy atmosphere.
She’s a graduate of two schools that, to put it mildly, are passionate about the sport: Vestavia Hills High School and the University of Alabama.
Now, Heather is experiencing football fandom on a different level. She’s cheering for the NFL’s Tennessee Titans.
Her mother, Mary Foster, said Heather has an extensive dance background.
“Heather has danced since she was five years old at Dale Serrano Studios and danced competitively with Encore Studio even while she was a member of the dance team at Pizitz Middle School and then later as a Rebelette at Vestavia Hills High School,” said Mary. “She loves to dance.”
During those experiences, Heather often performed before crowds. But her first time on the sidelines at LP Field in Nashville was a whole new ballgame. The stadium seats some 69,000.
“I don’t think anyone could have prepared me for what it was actually going to feel like,” she said. “You don’t realize how big the field is until you’re out there.”
Becoming a Titans cheerleader fulfilled a goal Heather set for herself while she was still in high school.
“I knew then that I wanted to be part of an NFL organization,” she said. “I looked at Nashville and Dallas. I had family in Nashville and had visited friends there, and I could see myself having a life there and being happy.”
At Alabama, Heather majored in public relations and said she loved being a member of Phi Mu sorority. Shortly after graduating from UA in the spring of 2011, she vied for a spot on the Titans cheerleading team.
“It was a crazy fiasco,” she said of the experience. Tryouts were held shortly after Tuscaloosa was devastated by the April 27 tornado, which interrupted the final weeks of the school year. Heather, like many other UA students, was still somewhat shell-shocked by the disaster.
“I left Tuscaloosa in a hurry to go to Nashville and try out,” she said. “I made it to the finals but got cut.”
Undaunted, Heather tried again in April of this year. The tryout process lasted more than two weeks, she said.
“I made about six trips from Birmingham to Nashville,” she said. “I was working full time in Birmingham but had to go to all the practices.”
In mid-May, Heather got good news: She’d made the team.
“I had to pack my bags and move right away,” she said.
She landed an inside sales job in Nashville and quickly “fell in love with the cheerleading coach, the team and the Titans organization,” she said.
Balancing her job and her cheerleading responsibilities can be a challenge, but Heather loves what she’s doing.
“We practice a lot,” she said. “In June, we had training camp. We practiced Tuesday through Friday nights and Saturday mornings.”
Titans cheerleaders also have to pass a fitness test and a written exam testing their knowledge of subjects ranging from history to football, she said.
During the summer, said Heather, the team practiced three days a week. During the season, it’s a two-day regimen.
The 27 cheerleaders perform at all Titan home games – but they’re more than just Sunday afternoon entertainers.
“We each do two or three charity events per month,” Heather said. “It’s important to us. We don’t get to talk to fans on game days, and at these events, it’s fun to do that, especially to talk to kids.
“And for me, it’s a great way to get involved in my community.”
One charity function Heather eagerly signed up for was the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night Walk.
“I was the first to volunteer for that,” Heather said. That’s because she has a personal connection to the cause. Her uncle, she said, is a survivor of multiple myeloma.
On game days, Titans cheerleaders are expected to arrive at the stadium four hours before kickoff, Heather said.
“That’s usually at noon,” she said. “We practice and mark off the field for our routines. We have a wonderful hair and makeup team, and it takes a while for them to get all of us ready.”
Most of the team’s performances are “dancing, not cheering,” Heather said, adding that about half the team is made up of former dance team members and half of former cheerleaders.
While the women have several different uniforms, Heather is looking forward to the Titans’ Oct. 28 game against the Indianapolis Colts. Since the game is close to Halloween, the cheerleaders will exchange their usual outfits for costumes.
“I’m trying to decide if I’m going to be Wonder Woman or a hippie,” Heather said.
Her parents, Greg and Mary Foster of Vestavia Hills, have already been to Nashville to see their daughter in action. Also cheering proudly in the stands have been Heather’s sisters Meredith, Carlin and Carlin’s husband Josh.
“We are so very proud that Heather continued to pursue her dream,” said Mary. “Her determination and the sacrifices she was willing to make to reach that goal will serve her well all her life.”
Mary said she and Greg have been “impressed with the Titan cheerleader squad and their director, Stacie Kinder. Stacie runs an excellent program, and we could not be more proud of Heather for being a part of this great group of young women.”
“When we watch her cheer as a member of the NFL cheerleaders working with the Tennessee Titans’ great organization, we see in her happy face the reality that when you dream big and work hard to make those big dreams come true, you can accomplish anything,” Mary said.
The Fosters are looking forward to their next road trip to Nashville for the Titans-Colts game.
Another loyal fan is Heather’s boyfriend, Ryan Kinder. The Hoover High School graduate hasn’t missed a single game or performance, Heather said.
Although this season still has weeks to go, Heather hopes to keep cheering for the Titans beyond this year.
“Absolutely I’ll try out again,” she said. “Everyone has been very nice and very accepting.”
According to cheerleading director Stacie Kinder, Heather has already been a hit in her new role.
“Heather is an excellent addition to the 2012 Tennessee Titans cheerleaders,” Stacie said. “She is beautiful inside and out and brings with her a positive attitude and excellent dance ability.
“ I hope this is the first of many years she has with the Titans. She’s already a fan favorite.”
[Heather at the Titans Website]
The USHL Cedar Rapids RiderGirls take a moment to pose with the Stanley Cup at a RoughRiders game on October 13th.
A member of the Jacksonville Sharks Attack Dance Team
