An Arizona Rattlers Sidewinder
An Atlanta Falcons Cheerleader
A Tennessee Titans Cheerleader
A Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleader
Kings Vision was on hand for the 14-15 Ice Crew calendar photo shoo! Check out this profile featuring Ms. September 2015, Amanda!
Philadelphia Soulmates Alyssa and Jenae at Saturday afternoon’s game.
By Linsy Hunsaker
Deseret News
“So You Think You Can Dance” is back again with another set of top-20 dancers. As with most seasons of the show, Utah dancers are also back to shine; however, this year, the show is doing things differently.
Season 12 is pitting 10 stage dancers — those formally trained in things like ballroom, ballet and contemporary dance — against ten street dancers — those experienced in things like hip-hop, krump and animation. Each team has been given a SYTYCD alum to coach them — contemporary dancer Travis Wall for the stage team, and hip hop dancer Stephen “tWitch” Boss for the street team — but only one dancer will win the title of “America’s favorite dancer.”
On Monday’s show, two Utah Jazz Dancers were picked for the stage team.
Hailee Payne, 20, of Roy, was selected on her third attempt at making the show’s top 20.
“(I) can’t believe that this is real life,” she wrote in response on Instagram.
“I think (Payne’s) going to be incredible all around,” Wall wrote at Entertainment Weekly. “At the same time, I think she has a very bright personality, and people are going to pick up on that.”
In her bio on Fox.com, Payne said her “dream dance partner” would be SYTYCD alum and Utah native Tanisha Belnap.
“It would be such a pleasure to share the SYTYCD stage with one of my best friends,” she said.
Alexia Meyer, 19, of Orem, will join Payne in the top 20 this season.
“(Meyer) is a little firecracker,” Wall wrote at Entertainment Weekly. “I’ve known (her) since she was 12 years old, and she’s always had that fire in her.”
Meyer said in her bio on Fox.com that she started dancing at three years old.
“I remember watching (Allison Holker) as a little girl at my studio, The Dance Club, and being so mesmerized by her passion,” she said. Holker — another Utah native — competed in season two of SYTYCD.
To find out how the Utah natives fare in the competition this year, check out “So You Think You Can Dance” on Fox on Mondays at 7 p.m.
By Ashley Lewis
New York Daily News
I auditioned for the Brooklyn Nets dance team on Sunday — and managed to bust every move but the right one.
When my editor asked me, “Want to try out for the Brooklynettes?” I jumped at the opportunity as visions of jazz hands and kick lines danced through my head.
It wasn’t long until I regretted my decision. The Brooklynettes are an NBA professional dance team, so their standards are high.
As I walked into the Long Island University gymnasium, I was surrounded by 300 beautiful women in colorful crop tops and spandex booty shorts.
Only 16 spots were available on the team of 18, and two were reserved for the captains. The auditions are a grueling three-day process. The first day of auditions includes two elimination rounds, which are crucial in bringing the competition down to 70 women. During the first round, we learned a four-move combination, which included pirouettes, leaps and kicks.
I danced for 12 years, but it’s been a while since I stepped foot on a stage. My goal was simply to make it across the floor without falling flat on my face.
The pressure was on, and trails of sweat trickled down my back. Two lines of dancers effortlessly leaped across the floor at a time. My turn was coming up, and I had only 20 seconds to flaunt my inner diva.
I took a deep breath and remembered what Luam Keflezgy, celebrity choreographer and guest judge, told me before I hit the court: “Go for the gold. Give it everything you got. This moment is all you have.”
I put on my brightest smile and launched into a series of hip shakes, leaps, pirouettes and high kicks — and amazingly landed on two feet.
Then my mind blanked. My face turned the same shade as my bright pink shirt. I broke into nervous giggles. Not knowing what to do next, I shook my hips and leaped in the air — over and over again. Needless to say I was kicked out after the first round.
Adar Wellington, the dance coach who’s been with the team since they were the New Jersey Nets, said she’s looking for women who exhibit dance versatility, athleticism, confidence and have an interesting story.
“We’re looking for stars. It’s like putting together a girl group,” Wellington said. “You just have to have that ‘’IT’ factor. It’s something that’s not taught. I think everybody has it. It’s just pulling it out of yourself.”
I may have failed to conjure up my inner IT factor during my 20-second number, but 70 other women exuded enough Brooklynette star quality to advance into the second day of auditions.
Katie Latkotko, 23, a professional dancer from Connecticut, said she made it to the semifinals for the second time. Last year she made it to the final round, but failed to make the cut.
“I feel like I’ve grown a lot in the past year, so I wanted to give it another go,” said Latkotko. “This year I can see it. I can see myself on the team.”
As for me, it looks like the only place I’ll be shaking my groove thang will be in the clubs.
The new team will be announced Tuesday.
By Matt Owings
Carroll County Times
Danielle S. got her first experience cheerleading for the Baltimore Ravens when she was in the fourth grade.
The Eldersburg native distinctly remembers being dressed in her purple uniform, and going through her routines during a game.
Sure, her outfit wasn’t official Ravens gear, and yes, her moves were only seen by her family while she stood next to the television. Yet, that enthusiasm and desire to perform for her hometown team were part of a crucial first step for someone who had hopes of one day doing the real thing.
“This was my dream,” said Danielle, a 2011 Liberty High School graduate. “And I’m so fortunate to have made the team.”
Danielle is entering her second season as a member of the Ravens cheerleading squad, which, as a policy, does not publish the last names of its members.
On Friday, she took part in the final day of the Lil Ravens Cheerleading Camp at M&T Bank Stadium, where children ages 6-14 got a chance to learn the sport from current professionals in the business.
Last year, Danielle was a counselor for the camp. The year before, when she was a member of the Chesapeake Bayhawks “Hawkettes” cheer squad, she was asked to lend a hand as well.
Being a part of the camp is one of the best things about the job, says Danielle, who wished she had been a camper when she was growing up.
“It gives me goose bumps,” she said. “It’s the best feeling ever, because I was once in their place, looking up to professional cheerleaders. … So it’s great to teach them [to] get along, make friends, be nice to others, and then some awesome cheer skills as well.”
Danielle’s impact on some of the campers over the last few years has been vast, as evidenced by the group of girls surrounding the cheerleader during the final day of camp.
Kaitlyn Osborne, 10, was one of the girls sitting with Danielle as her fellow campers performed their final routines to close out the week. The Severna Park native said Danielle is “so sweet, and she makes me feel like I’m a part of her family.”
Growing up in Carroll County, Danielle said she was a member of the Sykesville Raiders cheerleading team. As she became more serious about the sport, she went on to cheer for four years on varsity at Liberty, as well as competitively for TNT in Westminster.
Tina Galdieri, director and coach for the Baltimore Ravens cheerleaders who has been in the position since the squad’s inception in 1998, said that candidates trying out for the squad often don’t make it on their first try.
When she’s selecting new cheerleaders for the squad, she said she’s looking for athletes who are dependable, as well as mature.
“A big part of it is how successful they are going to be,” Galdieri said. “Meaning, are they in college? Are they furthering their life? Are they out of college and at a job? I want well-rounded individuals, and I’m not looking for cookie-cutter.”
It took Danielle three years to finally hear her named called among those who made the final cut for the team.
Perspective cheerleaders go through two days of physical tryouts, followed by a business-like interview. If they are asked to come back, the candidates show their skills in a routine with other hopefuls. Finally, following a physical, the process could take more than one month to complete.
In Danielle’s case, honing her skills for a few years with the Hawkettes, as well as the Baltimore Blast — both led by former Ravens cheerleaders — gave her an inside track to learning what it would take to get to the next step.
“She’s really turned the corner on maturity, dependability, dedication,” Galdieri said. “And when I saw that, I knew she had matured enough to understand the process and what I’m looking for.”
Now that she’s made the team for the second time, Danielle said her focus has shifted to maintaining her spot, and improving her skills. She’s hoping to stay a part of the organization for as long as they’ll have her.
It’s all about a lifestyle shift, she said, which will keep her mind and body in shape for the physically demanding sport. That means eating healthy and exercising outside of practice.
“They definitely make sure we’re in shape, but they don’t overdo it,” she added.
Danielle’s father, Daniel, watched her interact with the children at the camp Friday from the stands in the stadium. Danielle never gave up, the proud father said, balancing her family life, work and continued efforts in perfecting her craft.
“She’s 100 percent busy 100 percent of the time,” he said. “She’s very dedicated, very smart, very beautiful.”
Danielle is currently pursuing her associate degree at Carroll Community College. When that’s complete, she has hopes of moving on to Towson University.
As a Ravens cheerleader, Danielle is surrounded by other men and women who are still in school, recently graduated, or even full-fledged members of the workforce outside of the cheerleading arena.
Danielle said she wants to become a physician’s assistant, adding another goal to her list as she continues to chase her dreams.
“I think that’s more important, because they’re only going to be cheerleaders for so long,” said Galdieri. “But they’ve got to be really good, successful human beings for the rest of their lives.”
