Last Thursday the second round of Soulmates Semi-Finals took place at Valley Brook Golfy Club in Blackwood, NJ
The judge (l-r): Soul Vice President / COO John Adams, Choreographer Cassie Russo, Director Melissa Demyan
Vets Kristan and Erin
AJ on the DL 🙁
Erica
Lucy
Leah
Finals (closed to the public) at Chickie’s & Pete’s in South Philly on Monday Night. But come out for a live performance during half-time of Monday Night Football.
Abby, 7-year veteran and 2nd year captain of the Washington Redskins Cheerleaders, was announced as our 2012 Pro Bowl Cheerleader at the Redskins vs. Jets game on December 4, 2011.
When I attended Soulmate Open Call Auditions last month, I ran into former Philadelphia Wings Angel Emily, and did a little catching up.
So, after three seasons dancing for the Wings, she co-founded (with best friend Cassie Russo) the Philadelphia Fight Vixens (Professional Rugby) Dance Team.
She also helped Cassie open the new CaRu Entertainment Dance Studio in Pennington. The studio opened this past September.
Emily also earned her Masters in Broadcast and Digital Journalism from Syracuse; she already had a Masters in Writing from St. Joseph’s. She’s landed some radio gigs doing financial and traffic reports, and gave me the scoop on how being a traffic reporter really works.
She does reports for radio station in Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland. From a small office in Bucks County, she logs into traffic cams across the three states and monitors police scanners. She does live and recorded (emails them an mp3) for seventeen station and says it’s pretty faced paced. One challenge she encountered is since she’s a Philly girl, she’s not quite as familiar with some the roads down in Maryland.
On Monday night at Chickie’s & Pete’s, Emily will be one of the finalists competing for a spot on the 2012 Philadelphia Soulmates.
[Hip new dance studio CaRu Entertainment brings latest trends to Hopewell Valley]
By Christopher Huber
Sammamish Review
Christina Clarke was on the spot during the 2011 Miss Washington pageant Oct. 8 and 9. During the interview portion on stage, the judges asked her to sing an Elvis song — she had performed a few with the Sea Gals for American Troops during a USO tour. And without preparation, she executed.
“I hadn’t even sung in such a long time,” Clarke said.
That spur-of-the-moment success very well may have helped the 2007 Eastlake High School graduate make the cut to the top five in the competition. And moments later in her first ever beauty pageant, Clarke was crowned Miss Washington. The final moments on stage, waiting for the winner to be announced were a bit nerve-wracking, said Clarke, who moved from Sammamish and entered as Miss Snohomish County.
“As soon as they said ‘first runner-up is Spokane,’ I just kind of melted inside,” Clarke said about her reaction to earning the Miss Washington crown. “The feeling I had was, completely just blown away from hearing my title.”
Clarke will go on to compete in the Miss USA pageant, on NBC, in the spring. And even though she was new to the whole beauty pageant thing — she hadn’t even watched them prior to this experience — it wasn’t as intimidating as she had expected, she said.
“I had no idea what to expect. I was just hoping to hear myself called in the top 10.”
The beginning stages of the competition were a bit slow going, while judges interviewed all the contestants involved. Once the interviews were over the first day, the show got going, with hair curlers, earrings and such flying around backstage, she said.
“It’s really chaotic,” Clarke said. “When the actual show gets going, it’s go, go, go, go, go.”
Having performed with the Seattle Sea Gals for the past two years, Clarke, who spent the first 20 years of her life in Sammamish, said she felt confident on stage.
“This was such a new experience for me,” Clarke said. “It wasn’t really a scary thing; it was just an exciting feeling.”
Since becoming Miss Washington, she appears at various community and charity events. She has worked with organizations like Project Homeless Connect, United Way, the Special Olympics and Hope for Horses, according to the Miss Washington website.
Eastlake teacher Richard Belcher remembered his former student’s kind demeanor and that she didn’t fit the stereotypical beauty-queen mold.
“She was extremely respectful and polite,” said Belcher, who had Clarke in his senior English and sophomore world literature classes. “I always remember she was always watching during lecture. I always had her attention. She always was engaged in class.”
It didn’t surprise Belcher all that much that Clarke ended up finding success with the Sea Gals, as Miss Washington and with her community involvement. Her positive, can-do attitude was contagious.
“It doesn’t surprise me one bit she’s involved in the community,” Belcher said. I think she has a real positive outlook. There was a certain glow about her I’ll always remember.”
In the midst of pursuing a degree in psychology and working as an optician, Clarke said she hopes to purposefully fulfill the responsibilities of being Miss Washington for a year. She has numerous appearances to make throughout the year, including throwing out the first pitch at a Mariners game and possibly coming to speak at her alma mater, but said she plans to be proactive in her community service efforts.
“The most important thing is making every day count,” Clarke said. “It’s easy to let things lag each day because there’s lot’s to do. It’s important to follow through. There are tons of things I want to do. The important thing is just doing it and making it happen.”
As for competing in the springtime Miss USA pageant — televised on NBC — Clarke said it’s going to be tough to find that perfect gown. She’s also looking forward to all the new people she’ll meet.
“I cannot wait to meet Donald Trump,” she said.
Are you a current, former or prospective professional dancer or cheerleader? Does your team need fresh choreography? Would you like to meet others in the industry or hear about audition opportunities?
Then get ready for the Midwest Pro Dance Workshop in Kansas City, Missouri on Sunday, December 18, 2011!
** Learn choreography from elite alumni and directors
** Representing the NFL, NBA, AFL, MLS, and MLB
** Get tips from the pros on fitness, nutrition, makeup, attire and more
** Network with other performers from the midwest (and beyond!)
** Receive giveaways from sponsors including attire and cosmetics
COSTS
** Morning (9:00am-12:00pm): $45 Register Now at www.midwestprodance2011.eventbrite.com
** Afternoon (1:00pm-4:00pm): $45 Register Now!
** Full day (9:00am-4:00pm): $79 Register Now!
** Discount: 15% off early bird registration before Dec. 8!
** Groups: Receive one free admission with the enrollment of two full day admissions
** Refund Policy: In the event of cancellation, all fees will be refunded in full as well as discount to attend future Going Pro event. If attendee withdraws, 75% of registration fees may be refunded through 3 days prior to the event. Registrations are not refundable within 48 hours prior to the event start time.
** Event Tank Top: $26.50, available in sizes X-Small, Small, Medium, Large. May purchase online to reserve your size, available in limited sizes at the event.
LOCATION
Stars Unlimited Dance Studio
6602 Royal, Suite D, Pleasant Valley, MO. 64068 – near Liberty, Missouri off of I-35
Our choreographers are top alumni and directors of dance and cheer teams in the NFL, NBA, AFL, MLB and other sports leagues. They will teach 6 sidelines and 2 routines in length of 45-60 seconds, representing all major sports leagues.
Laura Eilers, Director of the arena football Richmond Raiders “Lady Raiders” Dance Team and American Basketball Association Portsmouth Cavaliers Dance Team, NFL Cheerleader for Kansas City and St. Louis, Ms. United States 2011.
Featuring experts in the area of fitness, hair, makeup, and interview skills.Michele Gregor, Chiefs Cheerleader- 3 years. Staff member for Chiefs Cheerleading squad- focus wason fitness and nutrition, Dancer for the Comets (indoor soccer team), Certified personal trainer, Group Fitness Instructor (for over 10 years); Spin Instructor, Youth Cheer Coach, Top 5 National Level Bikini competitor- NPC, Arnold Amateur- 3rd Place, Jr. Nationals- 4th Place. Michele currently trains other fitness competitors and works full-time as an Occupational Therapist.
[Midwest Pro Dance Convention]
Congratulations to five-year veteran and first-year captain Heather!
Valerie is a six-year veteran and a first-year captain.
Pro Bowl Dan made his first visit to Cowboys Stadium for the Thanksgiving game against the Dolphins. Unfortunately, for us he says, “I did not get any pics of the Melissa Kellerman play since it was 180 rotation away from me.” But he still had a few photos of the DCC to share.
