By Frank Otto
Delaware County Times
All four agreed. The first time they charged out of the tunnel at Lincoln Financial Field to the roar of 70,000 fans, they knew they were part of something big.
“I feel like, for all rookies, your first time coming out of the tunnel and just seeing the crowd…” said
one. “You just stop and look at it and it’s just an amazing feeling for anyone.”
“Not only seeing our fans, but knowing that there are cameras everywhere,” said another. “It hits you all of a sudden.”
“There are really not words to
describe walking out,” another said, smiling. “It almost makes you want to cry.”
These aren’t the Philadelphia Eagles. These are four of their cheerleaders, all Delaware
County natives: sisters Paige and Danni-Lynn Bell of Media, Jessica Gonzalez of Ridley and Jaqueline Ranieri of Glen Mills.
The Bells, Gonzalez and Ranieri find themselves on national television many Sundays every year and are part of a high profile organization. Despite that, they don’t think they’re particularly famous.
“I feel like I don’t really see myself that way,” said Paige, one of the squad’s captains. “I don’t really notice it when I’m doing it.”
Paige said that her relative fame only hits her when she’s recognized outside of the games.
“We don’t really recognize (our popularity) until somebody notices it,” said Gonzalez.
Certainly, none of the women were groomed for the spotlight like someone from glitzy towns like Los Angeles or New York City. Most just had backgrounds in dancing or cheering in Delaware County and carried that to their current level.
Cheerleading is a family affair with the Bells. They’re veterans, each with four years on the squad. Their older sister joined the squad five years ago and they said that, after seeing the different opportunities she had, they decided that they wanted to be a part of it.
“We kind of got a little bit jealous,” said Dann-Lynn, smiling.
Paige, 21, just graduated from West Chester University. Danni-Lynn, 24, works at the Per Lei Boutique in Media, where she does buying and styling.
Gonzalez, 26, is in her third year of cheering for the Eagles. She said she’s been a cheerleader since she was five years old. She continued through college, when she cheered as part of an all-star squad, the Thunder Elite All-Stars in Delaware County.
“After college, it just seemed like I was ready for the NFL,” she laughed.
Gonzalez currently works as the assistant to a spine surgeon at the Rothman Institute.
Ranieri, 26, is in her sophomore season with the Eagles. She did a mix of dancing and cheerleading when she was younger and one of the reasons she became an Eagles cheerleader was that she missed dancing.
Ranieri is an elementary health and physical education teacher in Downingtown.
Eagles cheerleaders practice long hours, starting around 7 p.m. Rehearsals go over three hours many times during their two-practice-a-week schedule.
However, traditions that date back to their childhoods might help them soldier on.
“Our dad always had parties in our house,” Paige said. “Football was a really big part of our lives and our family.”
“Same here. My whole family was really into football ever since I was young,” said Gonzalez. “I’ve always been an Eagles fan so it just sort of worked out.”
“I think that being from this area, being local to the Eagles and so close (as) to come down to the game, you’re just always around it,” Ranieri said. “It’s just a nice way to incorporate it a lot more into your life.”
The four Delco natives met different celebrities and participated in igh-profile events during their respective tenures.
Paige was even in 16-year-old internet lip-syncing sensation Keenan Cahill’s video for Katy Perry’s “Last Friday Night,” filmed in Philadelphia. Cahill previously filmed lip-synchs with San Francisco Giants Brian Wilson and Cody Ross and also rapper 50 Cent, among others.
“He does these videos with so many famous people,” said Paige. “For me to be in a video with him, I just felt extra, extra special that day.”
Celebrity perks aside, Danni-Lynn said that one of their favorite parts of cheering was working with the other women.
“This is the only time, away from college, that you can be around all different girls your age with all the same interests,” she said. “You get to know some really good girls and stay friends with them for a while.”
Ranieri also said that the attention from fans and young girls looking up them and aspiring to be cheerleaders impacts them.
“It really makes us take a step back and realize the opportunity we have,” she said.
The four know that they can’t cheer forever, but none seemed able to imagine life after cheering, since so much of their time is taken up doing it.
“It’s such a big part of your life,” said Gonzalez. “Not just practice, but things outside (of that).”
“You think about what you’d do in your free time, but to really have it all again?” said Ranieri. “I don’t know what I’d do.”
“I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like,” said Paige. “When else do you have the chance to perform in front of 70,000 people?”
“We’ll figure something out,” said Danni-Lynn.
In the meantime, they’re gearing up for this season. Although the lockout hung over their heads, they did everything they could to prepare themselves and tried to “stay positive.”
With games definitely on their slate now, the cheerleaders are as ready to go as anyone.
“We’re really excited, and I think the fans are excited, to get back to football again,” said Ranieri.
[Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleaders]
Just one week after showcasing an assortment of dazzling costumes, the Orlando Magic Dancers were back in action on Thursday to model in some sizzling swimwear.
With the help again from the incredibly talented stylists from Stella Luca Salon and the amazing artists from MAC Cosmetics, the dancers posed for photos in a beautiful array of swimsuits provided by Venus Swimwear at the gorgeous and luxurious Paramount on Lake Eola condominium property in downtown Orlando.
Photographer Michael Cairns snapped a myriad of portraits of each dancer all across Paramount’s breathtaking poolside. Some of the shots included the dancers in the water while others captured Orlando’s magnificent downtown scenery.
Like it was for costumes, between hair, makeup and photography, the shoot lasted for about nine hours.
[Behind the Scenes Swimsuit Shoot]
By Murray McCormick
Leader-Post
Deb Ruhr said there were the usual challenges associated with organizing a 50-year reunion of the Saskatchewan Roughriders cheerleaders.
One of the tougher ones involved getting in contact with the hundreds of women who have been part of the cheerleading squad since it was formed in 1961.
“Do you know how many women have changed their names?’’ Ruhr, chair of the organizing committee for the 50 Years of Cheers reunion, said Monday with a chuckle.
That takes place with women, especially after they get married. Ruhr and her six-person organizing committee contacted many of the former cheerleaders and 110 are to be on hand this weekend for the reunion. There are many events planned, including an appearance at Saturday’s game when the Riders play host to the Toronto Argonauts. All of the cheerleaders and the members of the current Riders cheer team are to form a line and cheer on the Roughriders when they run out of the tunnel.
While that event will be exciting, Ruhr feels there will be other highlights.
“Seeing it all come together and all of the smiles on their faces will be one,’’ Ruhr said. “It will also be nice reminiscing.’’
Ruhr was a member of the Riders’ cheerleaders from 1969 through 1974. She joined the team while in high school and remembers it was far different from the modern-day cheer team.
“Today it’s a stunt team,’’ Ruhr said. “We’ve seen many variations of cheer teams over the years. We didn’t have any sponsors and the first team that had a sponsor was the Molson Golden Girls.’’
It’s the second reunion marking a milestone for the cheerleaders. One was also conducted for the 25th anniversary of the team which was formed by Carol Gay Bell in 1961. She directed the cheer team until 1977 and is to serve as the master of ceremonies during Saturday’s wrap-up dinner. George Reed is the keynote speaker.
“It should be a lot of fun,’’ Ruhr said.
The Lehigh Valley Steelhawks and their dance team Precious Metal are proud to announce a new dance coordinator for the 2012 season, Arenda DiPasquale. Arenda was born in Easton, Pa and started her dance career at the prime age of three at Nardis Dance Studio. She’s taken all genres of dance including Ballet, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Tap, Lyrical, Modern, Contemporary and Theater. After graduating from Easton Area High School in 2007 she continued her education as a Dance and Business Management major. Arenda has been a part of various dance company’s and semi pro/pro dance teams including Monarch Dance Company, Acta non Verba, Lehigh Valley Storm and Lehigh Valley Lady Outlawz. Last season she served as a captain for the Precious Metal dance team and choreographed crowd appealing routines as well as assembled the first annual youth dance clinic at Stabler arena. She has also been teaching dance technique throughout the Lehigh Valley for the past 4 years and is currently an instructor at Nardis Dance Studio. Arenda hopes to one day own and operate her own studio in the Lehigh Valley and her ambitious attitude will help to make this season’s dance team be the best in the IFL.
An open tryout has been announced to become a member of the Precious Metals dance squad for September 17th from 5-8pm and September 18th from 3-6pm. Interested dancers are invited to attend the two day tryout held at Steel Fitness Riverport, 15 W. 2nd Street Bethlehem, Pa 18015. There is a $30 cash tryout fee to be paid at the door. For more information on the Precious Metals or about the tryout, Dance Coordinator Arenda can be reached via email at arendadipasquale@yahoo.com.
The Bomb Squad Dancers are the official dance team of the Beltway Bombers Pro Basketball Team. Auditions for the Bomb Squad dancers will be held October 9, 2011 at 11am. The Bomb Squad Dancers are a key component to the Beltway Bombers Game Entertainment. Off the court the dancers serve as role models and ambassadors for the organization. They make appearances at several community events each season. The Bomb Squad Dance Team performs during halftime at all home games and are also available before, during and after all home games for pictures and autographs.
The ladies selected to represent the Beltway Bombers will cheer on the sidelines, dance at halftime, greet fans, participate in paid appearances throughout the Washington DC Metropolitan area, and perform in the community.
All online applications should be submitted by 4pm on October 5, 2011. If you do not apply online, you may download the application and bring it to the audition.Candidates must be 18 years of age or older on or before November 1, 2011. There is no maximum age to audition.
(The NFL Season kickoffed last night, but still have a bit of pre-season to catch up with.)
August 2011 was the rainiest August on record in New Jersey history. And Sunday the 21st when the Jets hosted the Bengals was no exception.
You can see fans wearing rain gear and many open seats, but the Flight Crew didn't let the weather slow them down at all.
Nikki (former UFL Hartford Colonials Cheerleader) and Kimberly (former Tennessee Titans Cheerleader) nice and dry in the Jets Flagship Store.
Jessika
(more…)
Pro Bowl Dan was on the field at Paul Brown Stadium last month and he sent us a few photos of the Ben-Gals:
