Kissimmee native and Poinciana High School grad Deanna Clover has been named the new director of the Orlando Predators Prowler Dancers.
Clover began her dance career with the Predators (2002-03) before going on to spend five years with the NBA’s Orlando Magic (2004-09), where she served two years as team leader.
Clover recently launched dance teams in three different leagues as a dance director in the World Basketball Association, American Basketball Association and American Football Association.
She plans to use her experience to further broaden the appeal of the Prowler Dancers.
“The Orlando Predators was the first professional team that I danced for and I’m excited to be involved once again with such a great organization,” Clover said.
Audition dates for the 2012 Prowler Dancers will be announced soon. Clover said she’s in search of a talented group of dancers who will represent the team as good role models while remaining active in the local community.
Clover currently works as a dance instructor and choreographer at Central Florida Dance Studio and is also a consultant for Going Pro Entertainment and regional director for Just Gotta Dance Talent Competition.
While with the Magic, Clover appeared in the 2009 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.
Clover previously organized dance teams from scratch for the ABA’s Florida Thundercats (2008-09), AFA’s Florida Crusaders (2009-10) and WBA’s Florida Flight (2010-11). She has also worked in the entertainment department at Disney World and danced for Carnival Cruise Lines.
The Houston Rockets Power Dancers (RPD) are hosting a Halloween party on Oct. 30 from 7 to 11:30 p.m. at the House on Blues.
The party will not only feature lovely RPD girls in costumes, but it will also feature Lucky Devil Thrill Show, DJs spinning the jams, great prizes, special guest appearances, drink specials and more.
Doors open at 7 p.m. with $5 donations at the dorr to benefit Kids Meals Houston. Guests must be at least be 18-years old. Come dressed in your costumes!
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders Karen Bittinger, Elisa Eichbauer, Darla Faye Nolan, Milly Figuereo, Kelli Jones, Meagan Praden, Lauren Rasys and Amber Rehman took a break from the sidelines to visit Howl-O-Scream 2011 at Busch Gardens over the weekend.
That’s former Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleader Brooke Newton in an episode of Happy Endings tomorrow night on ABC. Brooke is playing the role of Christine, Dave Rose’s new girlfriend.
Watch for Brooke in The League next week on FX and in an upcoming pilot called Perception on TNT.
For the big screen Brooke recently worked with Rob Lowe and Jamie Chung on the political drama Knife Fight which is a political drama and “Trophy” which she both starred and produced.
The search is on for fun outgoing brides in Miami or the Florida Area who have not purchased their wedding dresses for a NEW TLC Bridal Show.
The producers are looking to film brides shopping for a dress the week of October 24th. Brides must be available for a whole day of filming and a half a day for a bridal portrait shoot.
Interested parties should email Brandy@northsouth.tv for more information and to set up an interview.
(Last set of photos from before my vacation)
It’s been quite a soggy year on the East Coast. And back on September 24th things were no different. A drive down the Delmarva Peninsula to Virginia Beach found threatening clouds.
Rain held off for the kick off of the Virginia Destroyers game, and the Destroyers Cheerleaders managed to smile as it began to drizzle.
The Destroyers Cheerleaders are under the direction of former Washington Redskins Pro Bowl Cheerleader Kimberly Vaughn.
Last chance to see the Virginia Destroyers Cheerleaders this Friday when the UFL Championship Game is played at the Virginie Beach Sportsplex.
[Destroyers Cheerleaders Gallery]
[Virginia Destroyers Cheerleaders]
Still getting caught up with all that I did, before I went on vacation.
Back on September 22nd, Auditions for the Wings Angels Dance Team were held at the Wells Fargo Center in South Philadelphia.
Choreography was taught by returning Captain Lauren and the team’s new co-captain, Angel.
Then it was upstairs to perform the routine for a panel of judges.
Semi-finalists were chosen, who would later interview with team management.
Co-Captian Angel, Co-Director Debbie, Co-Director Dana, Captain Lauren
Cary
Meghan
Kirstin
Look for the new team this January when the Wings take the field.
The SPARKS are the premier Dance Team for the Pittsburgh Power Arena Football Team. We are back, and ready for another amazing season! The SPARKS perform at each of the nine (9) POWER home games in the brand new CONSOL Energy Center, as well as make appearances at community events in and around Pittsburgh, and bring an undeniable energy to over 10,000 fans per game!!
The SPARKS are paid per game and for various appearances as well as receive a complimentary gym membership, free tanning, discounted hair services, airbrush tanning, photo shoots, POWER gear, as well as many other benefits and perks. The SPARKS dance team will be the perfect balance between technique, beauty, and entertainment!
Pre – Audition Workshops
Would you like to get a ‘leg up’ on the competition at this year’s tryouts? Receive instruction on 4 different routines (two per workshop), to ensure you’re ready for tryouts. Each workshop will give you an opportunity to get used to the style & technical requirements, and give you a little taste of what auditions and being a SPARK are going to be like! Attending each one of these workshops will also give you a discount on your tryout costs and an undeniable ‘leg up’ at auditions!
* Workshop attendance is not mandatory to audition, but strongly recommended!
Location – Club One Fitness in Shadyside
6325 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh
Dates – Wednesday, October 19th and Wednesday, October 26th
Times – 6 – 8 p.m.
Cost Per Workshop – $15 (each workshop contains separate dance instruction ; attend both to get a ‘leg up’)
* Save $20 towards tryouts – Get $10 off tryout registration for each workshop you attend!
Requirements
On Tryout Day
• Must be 18 years of age by the start of the 2012 season. Valid ID is required
• Must submit a non-returnable individual photo (headshot preferred) at least 5×7 in size
• Must submit a non-returnable resume including professional and dance experience
• Being a SPARKS dancer is a commitment so you must have an accommodating schedule and be able to attend appearances, all home games, and practices and workouts
• Must have reliable means of transportation
• Must have some form of dance training
Attire
• Preliminary Audition – Half top or sports bra and shorts, form-fitting shorts or skirt, of any color or style
• Interview – Trendy pant suit, skirt suit, or business casual attire
• Finals – You will be required to wear black spandex shorts, your top will be provided by the POWER
• Footwear – Any sneakers or dance shoes of your choice
• Appearance – Hair and makeup should be sophisticated and glamorous. You are encouraged to bring touchup makeup and hair products. This is a professional audition, it is important to maintain a game day appearance! The SPARKS perform with their hair down and make-up is always performance ready!
* Visible tattoos should be covered with makeup and body piercings should be removed
Auditions:
YOU MUST ATTEND AUDITIONS ON ONE OF THE PRELIMINARY AUDITION DATES (LISTED BELOW) TO BE CONSIDERED FOR A MEMBER OF THE SPARKS DANCE TEAM, YOU CAN ONLY AUDITION ON ONE OF THESE THREE PRELIMINARY AUDITION DAYS TO QUALIFY FOR FINALS
* Preliminary Auditions – Closed to the public
* The first 30 minutes of the tryout will be for registration, walk-ins are welcome!
Dates –
Wednesday, November 9th from 6-11pm
Saturday, November 12th from 11am-5pm
Sunday, November 13th from 11am-5pm
Location – Club One Fitness in Shadyside
6325 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh
Fee – $40 ($10 refund per Dance Workshop you attend ; $20 savings!)
Attire – See above
Registration – The first 30 minutes will be for registration
[Sparks Audition Registration]
By Aaron J. Lopez
Nuggets.com
The misperceptions of an NBA dancer are incalculable.
Few people know this better than Denver Nuggets Dancer Jessica. After all, when it comes to crunching numbers, she can calculate just about anything.
While talk of amortization, balance sheets and zero-based budgeting would make the average person’s head spin, it is a way of life for Jessica in her job as an accountant for Vail Resorts.
“I love accounting, which is so odd,” she said. “Ever since I was little, my dad and I have been doing math problems. All the numbers just always made sense to me.”
Jessica, 24, joined Vail Resorts almost immediately after graduating from the Metro State School of Business last spring. Working out of the company’s Broomfield office, she has found a nice balance with her practice schedule with the Nuggets dancers.
“I know how lucky I am to have two awesome jobs,” she said. “They are both things I love and they balance each other out.”
Jessica first joined the Nuggets dance team in 2008-09 but spent the following season focusing on earning her accounting degree. The year away from the team gave her a better appreciation for the thrill and excitement of being part of an NBA game.
“When the lights go down and we’re standing under the basket, I still get chills,” she said. “My eyes tear up. There are thousands of girls all over the country who want to do this, and I get to do it. That is still so unreal to me. I’m very blessed.”
There can be a fine line between blessed and embarrassed.
During her first season with team, Jessica felt like hiding when she looked into the Pepsi Center crowd and noticed four oversized cardboard signs spelling out J-E-S-S. Her teammates were puzzled, thinking the Nuggets had signed a new player. It turned out to be a proud father paying tribute to his daughter.
“My parents have never missed a game,” Jessica said. “It’s awesome.”
Though born in Colorado, Jessica grew up in the three-stoplight town of Newton, Kan. Her only experience on the basketball court was brief and forgettable. While playing on a YMCA girls basketball team in third grade, she walked off the court when the referee mistook her for a boy because of her short haircut.
“I never played basketball again,” she said. “I literally set the ball down and said, ‘I’m done.’ I was scarred forever.”
Jessica found comfort through dance, and there’s never a case of mistaken identity when she and her teammates make dozens of community appearances every season.
“It’s amazing to see how excited people get – kids and adults,” she said. “If I was to go in regular street clothes, nobody would care. To see the impact that the uniform has, it’s incredible. To have that power, it would be silly not to use it, so we do as many community events as we can. It’s so rewarding.”
The impact, you might say, is incalculable. Even for an accountant.
[Jessica’s Gallery at Nuggets.com]
Thanks to Reader Mike for sharing these photos from recent Eagles Cheerleader Appearances:
