The Missouri Comets are proud to announce Galaxy Girls Finals LIVE! This event showcases the finalists for the 2011-2012 Galaxy Girls in front of a live audience at the Power & Light District’s “KC Live!” stage. This year’s competition will be fierce as girls from all over the region will be vying for a spot on one of the most prestigious and professional dance teams in Kansas City.
The competition actually begins with the preliminary round on Monday July 18th and the semi-final round on Wednesday July 20th. Both of these rounds will be held at Steppin’ Out – The Studio, Official Studio Sponsor of the Galaxy Girls. The list of hopefuls will be whittled down to no more than 24 after these two rounds.
The Galaxy Girls Finals LIVE show begins at 7:30PM on Saturday, July 23rd on the “KC Live!” stage. The girls will be performing small group and full squad dances for the entertainment of the crowd and the judges. The final squad will then be selected by a panel of judges including current Comets players and other local celebrities.
The final squad will be announced on Tuesday July 26th on the Comets home page and the Galaxy Girls Facebook page. The Galaxy Girls can be seen at Comets home games and events all season
By Amy Smith
Dance Spirit Magazine
Last month, 300 dancers queued up outside The Sports Center at Chelsea Piers in NYC on a Saturday afternoon, all striving to fulfill one dream—to become a Knicks City Dancer! Only 30 girls continued on to the weeklong training camp, which culminated with the announcement of the twentieth anniversary team. Dance Spirit caught up with one of the six new members to learn more about the audition experience.
Christina B., a recent graduate of Towson University with a degree in psychology, has always been a competitive dancer. She was on the Towson Dance Team for all four years of college, helping her team to win a national title each year. Her hard work has earned her a spot with the KCD! Check out our interview with Christina below, then head over to our Facebook page to check out some photos from this year’s KCD auditions.
DS: Why did you decide to audition for the KCD?
Christina B.: I’ve wanted to be on the KCD since high school. The dancers are glamorous—they’re strong, confident, fierce, and dynamic. Every move they do is picture-ready!
DS: What was the first day of auditions like?
CB: The first day was an open call audition. The first cut was really unexpected: after warming up and going down the floor, we learned two 8 counts of a routine, went over them a lot, and then they spread out all the dancers to make sure they saw every single person. Then they cut half the group! After that, we learned more of the combination, performed it, and then they picked the top 32.
DS: How did they choose the final team?
CB: The beginning of the Training Camp week was rehearsals, where we learned a routine with different formations and ripples. It was a lot of fun, but it was very technical, and we had a short amount of time to learn everything. Then there was the boot camp, which was really intense. It felt more like a workout for a men’s sports team—we did lots of cardio work, push-ups, planks, crunches, and ladders. I was nervous the whole time, but the directors were looking for leaders, girls who don’t crash and burn under pressure. I just believed in myself and had faith that everything would work out.
DS: What was your reaction when you heard your name called?
CB: I was just shocked – I didn’t know what to say or feel. I know I had a surprised look on my face. The first thing I said was “Me? You said my name?” I’m so excited to perform at Madison Square Garden and to be a role model for women and girls all over the nation. I love the opportunity to be a spokesperson and a model citizen for NYC.
DS: What advice do you have for girls hoping to audition for the KCD?
CB: Make sure you go to the audition clinic series [a 3 hour session where they teach the routines that will be used at the audition.] I was prepared because I already knew the combinations. Be yourself, because the directors want to see you. Don’t change who you are just to fit a certain “look.” As long as you’re confident, you have nothing to worry about. If you work hard, you can achieve it!
Stephany
Auditions for the 2011-12 Sixers Dancers got under way at the Wells Fargo Center back on June 28th. Approximately 150 hopefuls turned out for two days of performances and three rounds of cuts.
The Finals will take place next Wednesday (July 13th) at Chickie’s & Pete’s in South Philadelphia.
[Sixers Dancers Auditions Gallery]
Ken Martin’s USA Cheerleaders are holding tryout in NYC. The tryouts will be held at one of their Wounded Warrior Project Appearances in conjunction with it. The WWP is the reason a team is being added for New York City.adding a team in NYC. Only a small number of girls will be accepted for the tryouts that will take place on Pier 66, the same location that the Heroes on the Hudson event will be taking place that day.
Heroes on the Hudson will be bringing Wounded Warriors from Walter Reed, Bethesda and Ft. Drum to take part in kayaking, canoeing, sailing and more water sports.
The Arizona Rattlers’ Sidewinders co-director, Angie Baker, was selected by the Arena Football League to direct the 2011 Arena Bowl XXIV dancers, the Aaron’s “Dream Team”.
The team will consist of one dancer from each AFL team that will perform in the pregame festivities, during the Arena Bowl and will assist in the presentation at the AFL awards banquet. Baker will be responsible for music and choreography for the dream team as well as coordinating its events in the host city.
The host location of the Arena Bowl is to be determined.
Angie has been involved in the cheerleading and dance industry for almost 20 years. She cheered professionally for 6 years, 4 of those with the Arizona Rattlers. During her time as a Sidewinder, Angie represented the Rattlers at the Arena Bowl in 2007 and at the Talladega International Speedway as part of the AFL’s Dream Team.
Angie was an Arizona Cardinals Cheerleader from 2008-10 and performed at the Super Bowl in Tampa FL. She was also a member of the Arizona Cardinals Show team and had the opportunity to travel to Ft. Hood and perform for the military and their families. She is a veteran Cheerleading Instructor and Judge for USA and stays busy with competitions and dance/cheer events year-round.
Six Chiefs Cheerleaders will spend Independence Day in Iraq with members of the United States Armed Forces
Six Chiefs Cheerleaders began their 4th of July weekend boarding a United Airlines flight at Kansas City International Airport. The final destination: Kuwait and Iraq.
The Chiefs will be represented by veteran cheerleaders Summer (pictured), Krystal, Katie, Liz, Lindsay and Jeron, who departed Kansas City on Friday to begin a 12-day U.S. Military Base tour that spans across multiple branches of America’s armed forces.
While overseas, the cheerleaders will visit hospitals, MWR Centers and multiple locations on bases for meet and greets during the day. The squad will perform a variety show for troops each evening and military personnel will get a chance to meet the women after each show.
In addition, the Chiefs have donated team t-shirts and hats for the cheerleaders to distribute to the men and women of our armed forces throughout the tour.
“We were actually invited by Pro Sports MVP and they called us because there are several Kansas Brigades over in Iraq,” explained Chiefs Cheer Director Stephanie Judah. “They asked for the Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleaders to come visit. We were actually specifically requested by those troops.
“The girls are going to spend Independence Day over in Iraq with our troops, which is an amazing and special moment that they will never forget.”
While in the Middle East, Chiefs Cheerleaders will board Black Hawk Helicopters as well as other military vehicles to travel from base to base. Each show lasts one hour and consists of singing, dancing and other audience-engaging performances.
The opportunity to visit America’s service men and women is especially meaningful for Summer, who is making her first overseas military visit. Summer’s brother, Taylor, is a member of the U.S. Navy and has been deployed overseas three times over the past four years.
“Coming from a military family, I’ve seen him traveling overseas a number of times and it’s going to be interesting for me to get somewhat of an idea of what that experience is like,” Summer said.
Taylor is scheduled to return home from his final tour in three weeks, just a week after Summer will have arrived back in Kansas City.
“I’m just so excited for him to come home,” Summer said. “It’s been really interesting for me because I’ve seen the challenges he’s had to endure being away from his finance and family. He’s gone for months at a time and sometimes all you get is an email of two every few weeks. So I’ve kind of seen what it’s like from a military wives perspective as well.”
Chiefs Cheerleaders have previously toured military bases in Egypt, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Cuba, Spain, Portugal and numerous bases stateside.
Fans can follow the overseas journey on Twitter @ChiefsCheer
There’s a new dance team in New York State. The Jamestown Iron Maidens who will be an integral part of the new NAHL hockey team, The Jamestown Ironmen.
The pre-audition workshop is set for Saturday, July 9th from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.. Tryouts will be at the Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena on Saturday July 16th, in Jamestown N.Y. (the home of Lucille Ball!)
Former Buffalo Bombshell (Arena Football Buffalo Destroyers) and Buffalo Bandette (LaCrosse team) LeAnne Zimmer-Gerth will be the head choreographer. She will be assisted by another former Bandette, Justina Langdon.
Auditions for the Jamestown Iron Maidens Dance Team have been scheduled for Sat. July 16th at the Arena. To register email: jamestownironmaidens@gmail.com
One the highlights at each P-R-O Convention is the reveal of the cover of Sideline Distractions Magazine. This year was no exception as Margaret, a four-year veteran of the Atlanta Falcons Cheerleader, earned the coveted spot.
