By Greg Sullivan
Herald News Staff Reporter
In the world of imminent retirees, Amanda Riddle Amanda Riddle certainly ranks in the top one percentile in terms of looks. Granted she’s only 24. And she’s just starting her true long-term career.
The Tiverton High resident also holds a very high-profile part-time job. She’s a third-year member of the New England Patriots Cheerleaders. That means 2011 – and, she hopes, a month-and-a-half into 2012 – is her farewell tour. Cheerleader team rules require members to hang up the boots after three years.
A graduate of Tiverton High School, Riddle recently completed her work at the University of Rhode Island and is a doctor of pharmacy. In high school, Riddle’s sports were soccer and cheerleading. At URI, she was a member of the dance team that performed at athletics events. Then she succeeded in landing a sport with the Patriots Cheerleaders, a job she worked hard to keep for the following two years. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a second-year veteran. You still have to try out with everyone else, so all the spots are open,” Riddle said. “It’s a little nerve wracking, but it keeps us on our game. There’s high standards to be a Patriots Cheerleader and the re-auditioning helps to keep it that way.”
There are also some great perks, in addition to getting to see the Patriots play from field level. The cheerleading squad recently returned from a trip to Aruba for a photo shoot for its 2012 swimsuit calendar. Riddle has also traveled to China and last winter to Afghanistan to encourage the troops.
This world traveler has not forgotten her roots, and she was happy to accept our invitation to visit her alma mater (Tiverton High School) to be a guest on Ten From the Line.
[Watch a video of Amanda here]
Lots of new photos and video of the Orlando Magic Dancers on the team website.
2011-12 Orlando Magic Dancers
Side note: two of the rookies came from other teams – Katie was with the Cavs for 3 seasons and Gizelle was with the AFL Orlando Predators for 2 seasons.
[Magic Dancers First Round Auditions]
Magic Dancers in Italy
And check out the Magic Dancers recent trip to Italy here.
A local woman turned her childhood love of dancing into a dream career by becoming the choreographer for the Chicago Luvabulls. She now shares that passion by teaching underprivileged youth.
Her dance moves are as dynamic as her will is strong. Kim Tyler grew up in south suburban Chicago Heights and says dancing was her refuge.
“Growing up in a home that, you know, an unprivileged home, not having financial means, having abuse that’s happened in the home. My outlet was dancing,” Tyler said.
Her family couldn’t afford professional training, but that didn’t slow her growth or determination.
Tyler became a Luvabulls dancer — performing regularly at Chicago Bulls home games for five years. For the past seven years, she has served as the dance team’s choreographer.
“I had that dream of being a professional dancer one day. I actually auditioned for the team and didn’t make it the first year. But I still had this desire like I knew I was supposed to be there so I re-auditioned the following year and actually made it,” Tyler said.
During the off season, Tyler shares her talent with local youth. In 2006, she started a non-profit faith-based venture called “Endure Productions.” It provides an outlet for performing arts to mostly underprivileged youth — while spreading a message of hope.
“People are just like, I’ve never seen anything like it, that’s what you usually hear, I’ve never seen anything, it was so awesome. They just don’t believe that sometimes you can come together and do something so good and so excellent for God,” Kyrai Martain said.
“She’s given us an opportunity to do things that normal kids anywhere wouldn’t have the opportunity to do — whether it be with money or transportation or anything. So basically, she’s pouring out to us, you know, so we can give back,” Demonte Polen said.
Students receive all of their dance training for free. The group is hosting its annual benefit show on August 7th at the Harold Washington cultural center. This year, “Endure” is sharing its proceeds with the Luol Deng Foundation in support of South Sudan. If you’d like ticket information, visit endureproduction.com or luoldeng.com .
Hundreds of women showed up with hopes of being a member of the Dallas Mavericks Dance Squad
By Amber Fisher
The 33 News
Saturday was Jennifer Smoak’s second time trying out to be a Dallas Mavericks dancer, a goal she’s had since childhood.
“I think a lot of people just look up to them as a whole and as a team,” Smoak said. “It’s amazing, especially with them coming back from such a great season.”
The pressure was on as dancers were put through three rounds of competition.
First, dancers had about 30 seconds to wow judges with a freestyle routine.
Elijah Jackson said, “It is very nerve-wracking, because you’re in a line and you see all the other girls and they’re so good. I kind of stumbled a little bit. But, if I make it to the second round, I’ll show them I can dance once they teach me.”
In the second and third rounds, dancers had to prove that they could keep up with difficult choreography.
“Everyone wants to get noticed,” said Whitney Greeney. “So, the best way to do that besides dancing big is to wear something bright, something that makes you stand out.”
Between each round, cuts were made.
Leslie Dyer said, “It makes you nervous. Now, we just kind of wait and it’s out of our hands. So, I hope I make it through.”
As dancers nervously waited between each round, a panel of judges made the difficult decision of which dancers would not move on in the competition.
Out of the 220 dancers that tried out on Saturday, only 70 moved on to Sunday’s final round, when 20 dancers will be chosen to make the team.
Dyer said, “I’ve always watched the Mavericks. I’ve seen them on the court and I’ve always wanted to be down there.”
“I teach the little kids on my block, so it would mean a lot to me for them to see me on TV. It would mean a lot,” Jackson said.
The Thunder Girls have wrapped up their trip to China, traveling as a part of the NBA Lenovo Pavilion Tour 2011. Catch up on the last part of their trip by reading the THUNDER GIRLS BLOG.
If you’re thinking of trying out for the squad, auditions is Saturday August 6th and prep classes have already started! Go here to sign up for prep classes; and for more information on auditions,
Yes, just six months later, I’ve finally started on my Pro Bowl Cheerleader photos.
On the Tuesday afternoon before the Pro Bowl the 26 Pro Bowl Cheerleaders assembled in the pool area of the Waikiki Hilton to shoot the annual Pro Bowl Cheerleader poster.
The whole process took several hours as each cheerleader was brought out individually. Positions were swapped. Poses altered. Test shots taken.
After the photo shoot the cheerleaders signed autographs and posed for photos.
[Pro Bowl Cheerleaders Gallery]
Thanks to reader Scott for sharing some great photos of the Dynamo Girls from a recent game.
[Scott’s Dynamo Girls Gallery]
David’s been doing a great job posting photos from P-R-O. It’s time for me to start catching up. P-R-O is all about the choreography, so check out some photos the top Cheerleaders and Dancers in Pro Sports showing off their moves.
Colts Cheerleaders
By Rob Sylvester
NBC Sports
As our esteemed editor Rick Chandler made note of on Friday, there’s been a surprising revelation for fans of NBC’s long-running sitcom The Office: program stalwart & favorite put-down target of the lovably sociopathic Michael Scott, idle-minded Dunder-Mifflin employee Phyllis was once an NFL cheerleader. Well not the character, but the actress who plays her — who is unimaginatively also named Phyllis (Smith) — was once a paid pom-pom waver for the football Cardinals of St. Louis, before her life took her on a decidedly different career path (and workout plan, but hey, that happens to the best of us).
And now, due to the tried-and-true Internet standard of proof — “pics or it didn’t happen” — we can see at the right that it did in fact happen, along with a deliciously old-school hairstyle and a cheerleading uniform much different than the sartorial skimpiness you’d find on today’s sideline mavens in Dallas or Washington or even sensible St. Louis. Time, once again, makes fools of us all.
No word if other walking punch-lines from the work-place satire (looking at you, Kevin and Stanley) are hiding equally scandalous pasts, but if a picture surfaces of either of them in a cheerleading uniform, you can bet your ass we’ll let you know.
