Congratulations to our good friend (and Richmond Lady Raiders Director, former KC Chiefs and St Louis Rams Cheerleader) Laura Eilers who was crowned Ms United States last week in Las Vegas.

The Allen Americans have named Stephanie DiBiase-Wheat, as new Ice Angels Director/Choreographer.

DiBiase-Wheat, comes to the Americans with an impressive resume, including stints with both the Dallas Mavericks, 2000-2002, where she was Team Captain. And the Dallas Desperados, 2003-2004 as a choreographer/dancer. She has also made appearances on “Live with Regis and Kelly, Good Day Dallas, and Fox Sports Net.

“After dancing and choreographing for different sports organizations, it feels great to have a team of my own, said DiBiase Wheat. I look forward to sharing my experiences and expertise that I received as a dancer and choreographer for the Dallas Mavericks, and Dallas Desperados”. “To be a part of the Americans organization and The Ice Angels is extremely exciting for me. Let the fun and entertainment begin”.

“We feel with the experience that Stephanie brings to our organization, the Ice Angels will
continue the success that has been started here. We are excited to have her join our
organization and look forward to the upcoming season and to repeat as the Best Dance Team in the CHL.” Added Matt Canavan, Americans team President.

The Ice Angels were founded by BreAnna Foddrill in 2009 and have been an integral part of the Americans organization. The Allen Americans Ice Angels are actively involved in the Collin County and surrounding communities civic and nonprofit organizations.

The Ice Angels prep classes begin July 22nd and tryouts are August 13th.

By Monica Villar
TCPalm.com

Vero Beach will get a taste of easy Mediterranean recipes when a South Florida native introduces the Treasure Coast to her new cookbook, “Nahima’s Hands: Unique Mediterranean Cuisine.”

Andrea Cassell, 55, will sign copies of the book and let guests taste her favorite dishes at the Vero Beach Book Center on July 16.

Cassell, who lives with her husband in Wichita, Kan., said the book was inspired by her grandmother Nahima Albert, a Syrian immigrant who raised her and taught her how to make most of the recipes in the book. After Cassell’s mother went back to work as a first-grade teacher, her grandmother took care of her.

“She would prepare food for my mom when she got home from work, and from watching my grandmother cook, I captured all that love and giving from an early age,” said Cassell, a mother of four. “She was extraordinary. She was 101 years old and was never on medication, never colored her hair and always had a smile on her face.”

Nahima was born Sept. 21, 1908. In a time of arranged marriages, she was matched at age 15 with her husband Antonio, and they were married in 1926. They moved to a number of countries and ended up in Miami, where they owned Tony’s Curb Market.

“I remember going to my grandparents’s grocery store as a kid and knowing and chatting with all the employees. I think that’s where I formed my outgoing personality and love for people and for food,” said Cassell, who was a Miami Dolphins Cheerleader in the early 1970s.

Mrs. Tony, as neighborhood residents often called Nahima, died in 2009. Cassell wrote the book to capture the memory of her grandmother, using what she learned from Nahima to create recipes to fill out the book.

“It’s an easy cookbook with easy ingredients,” Cassell said. “All the recipes in the book are Mediterranean and healthy. Nothing is fried.”

Creating the recipes was easy; writing them down was difficult for Cassell.

“I’m not used to cooking with measurements so I had to make everything five or six times to make it work,” she said.

The book features appetizers, salads, dressings and marinades, soups and stews, grains and legumes, vegetable dishes, meat dishes, dessert and breads. There’s also a slow cooker section and wine pairings to go along with many of the dishes.

But the book is about more than just good food to Cassell.

“When you have someone who passed away, the memory can last forever,” Cassell said. “But how many people can hold that memory in their hands every day? I hold my grandmother in my hands every day with my book, so I can never forget her.”

NAHIMA’S TRADITIONAL ROLLED GRAPE LEAVES (WHADDA ADEESH)

Serves 10 or more

Ingredients

1 16-ounce jar grape leaves

1½ pounds ground sirloin or chuck

1 6-ounce can tomato paste

10 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup rice, washed and drained

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 cup lemon juice

4 large tomatoes, finely diced

Directions

1 In a large bowl, combine meat, rice, garlic, salt, pepper, tomatoes and tomato paste. Mix well.

2 Lay grape leaves on a plate smooth side down; cut stems. Place leaves one at a time on a flat surface. Spread with 1 tablespoon of mixture. Fold sides in and roll leaf very tightly. Repeat method until all leaves are rolled.

3 Left-over leaves can be used to line the bottom of your pan. Line rolled grape leaves in pan side by side. Cover the bottom.

4 Place second row in the opposite direction. Cover with a heavy plate to keep them in place while cooking. Add water to cover the plate. Contemporary method: Use chicken broth instead of water for extra flavor. Bring to a boil.

5 Cover and simmer for 40-45 minutes until rice is done. Remove plate. Pour lemon juice over leaves.

6 Cool 5-10 minutes, then remove leaves gently to avoid breakage. Place on platter and garnish with sliced lemons.

NAHIMA’S TRADITIONAL WHEAT AND PARSLEY SALAD (TABBOULEH)

Serves 6

Ingredients

¾ cup fine bulgur wheat

¾ cup finely chopped green onions

¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped (optional)

1 cup fresh parsley, chopped

2 medium tomatoes, chopped

1 cup diced cucumber

¼ cup lemon juice

¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Black olives to garnish

Directions

1 Place bulgur wheat in a bowl and cover with cold water. Let soak for 20 minutes. Drain excess water if necessary.

2 Mix wheat with onion. Add mint, parsley, tomato, cucumber, seasonings, oil and lemon juice. Tabbouleh should have a distinctive lemony flavor.

3 Serve chilled and decorated with black olives. Tabbouleh is eaten scooped up in bread or, more traditionally, in fresh lettuce leaves.

[Nahima’sHands.com]

Check out photos from last weekend opening round of the Denver Nuggets Dancers Audition here.

Congratulations to Captain and 1st-year Philadelphia Soulmate who will represent her squad on the Arena Bowl XXIV Dream Team.

[Alexandra at PhiladelphiaSoulmates.com]

And the routine he taught was ambitious to say the least:

[Nets Dancers Final Auditions Gallery]

Diamond Divas Entertainment is a multifaceted Entertainment company created, choreographed and Directed by Doris Cano, that provides entertainment for all events! They provide the nation’s most beautiful models, the industry’s most successful professional dancers, and talented singers that can be combined to create an unforgettable experience! Their dancers have danced for the NBA, NFL, NHL, AFL, MiLB, NLL, and MLL!!

Doris Cano is a young Professional Dancer, Choreographer, Model, and Entrepreneur that is taking the Entertainment Industry by storm. Her passion and love for dance and business is what drove her to create what we now know as the “Diamond Divas”. Doris is a professional dancer who has danced for 7 professional sports teams to date, including the Philadelphia 76ers Dancers (NBA), the NY Jets Flight Crew (NFL), and the NJ Devils Dancers (NHL). Doris has also choreographed for many studios, college dance teams, and upcoming artists. She brings her talent and love into making the Diamond Divas “A Cut Above the Rest!!”

Diamond Divas Entertainment is holding an open casting call searching for talented dancers to become part of the hottest dance group around! They are an all female entertainment company that perform choreographed routines for corporate events, music videos, live shows and much more! They’re looking for the most beautiful, fierce, and sexy dancers that can pick up girly hip hop as well as fierce hard-hitting styles. Trained in Various styles a plus! We are also looking for freestyle club dancers as well! Models, and singers are welcome to submit their applications as well! We are looking for all around talented ladies! If you think you have what it takes to be a DIVA come out to auditions!

Auditions will be held Thursday, July 28th from 6:00-9:00 pm in New York City. Location will be given upon email registration. Please email DiamondDivasEnt@live.com with you name, age, contact, headshot & resume to register. We will contact you shortly with all details regarding the audition including location.

To check them out visit DiamondDivasEnt.com and like them on Facebook at Facebook.com/DiamondDivasEnt

Congrats to second-year Sidewinder Brianne who will represent her squad on the Arena Bowl XXIV Dream Team.

[Arizona Sidewinders]

These dancers made the cut…and they’re flying high

By Christina Amoroso
New York Post

Eight months ago, Jaclyn McFadyen packed her bags, left her family and friends and booked a one-way flight from her native Phoenix to New York.

As her plane descended over the Manhattan skyline, she had only one thought on her mind: “I am going to be a Knicks City Dancer.”

Last week, McFadyen finally got her chance. After beating out nearly 400 candidates, she competed in a grueling boot camp against 25 other women for just 22 slots on the Knicks’ official dance squad, which performs booty-shaking routines during home games.

“I’ve always loved the Knicks Dancers and Madison Square Garden because there’s so much history there,” said McFadyen, 23, as her eyes welled up at the tryouts.

Although she was a dancer for the Phoenix Suns for two years, her prior experience was no guarantee of a spot. Even members of the Knicks City Dancers squad have to reaudition for their slots every year.

At the one-hour boot camp at a Midtown studio on Wednesday evening, McFadyen jogged in circles, sprung into the air and held her body in a push-up position as though her life depended on it. On Friday, she heard the news she was waiting for: Along with five other new women, she had made the cut.

“One of my favorite quotes is, ‘You have to take big risks to get big rewards,’ ” said McFadyen, beaming from ear to ear. “And this is my reward.”

It’s a particularly special year for the Knicks City Dancers, who will celebrate their 20th anniversary this upcoming season. For head coach Danielle Mimnaugh, it was heart-wrenching to pluck a small squad after the open call at Chelsea Piers on June 18. This year, two slots were added to the group, and 16 out of 17 returning dancers were picked.

“Everybody wants it so bad,” says Mimnaugh, who was a Knicks City Dancer from 2006 to 2008. “It’s very emotional to make or break somebody’s dream.” Dancers are whittled down based on a series of criteria. The first two days, women are judged on how quickly they pick up choreography. After that, Mimnaugh and the other nine judges — who include several Knicks City Dancers alumni — assess the women’s poise and professionalism. Because they serve as ambassadors for the Knicks, traveling during the off-season and performing charity work for partner organizations such as the Garden of Dreams Foundation, the dancers need to be polished, says Mimnaugh.

Several of the winning dancers said the marquee gig — dancing courtside at Madison Square Garden — eclipses the Broadway stage. “I really like the styles of dancing that the City Dancers do,” says Stephanie Rizzolo, 26, “as well as everything that they stand for: being a strong New York woman.”

Dancer Amanda Eve, who tried out twice before making the team three seasons ago and has been on it ever since, says she understands the need to audition year after year — but continually having to prove yourself never gets easier.

“It’s been a crazy week,” says the 24-year-old Queens native. “But at the end of the day, it’s worth it, because whoever does make the team knows what hard work is. . . . Being born and raised in New York, [I know] nothing comes easy.”

And the Knicks dancers are much more than shiny hair and six-pack abs: All but two attended four-year universities, and some even work flexible 9-to-5 jobs in fields such as advertising and journalism. (One dancer, Kelly Volz, 23, is an overnight production assistant for CBS News.) Plus, being a Knicks City Dancer provides a “competitive” five-figure salary, full benefits and perks, including gym memberships and discounts on MAC makeup.

Michele Roe, a two-time Jets dancer who decided to make the switch from the football field to the basketball court, broke down when she found out she made the team.

“Dancing in the NBA is in my top five list of things to do before I start a family,” says Roe, 27. “[Making the team] felt like I was dreaming, and someone had to wake me up, and I still feel that way.”

[KCD Audition Gallery]