By Rachel Green-Walker
ChicagoNow.com
Ever wonder who’s behind those flashy moves the Luvabulls come up with? Well, I know!
Kim Tyler is the Head Choreographer for the Chicago Bulls Luvabulls and has served so for the past 17 years. This Chicago native and once before Luvabulls herself, has impacted lives of hundreds of budding dancers across the world; and although many may be impressed by her work with the Bulls, her work off the court is what may interest you the most.
Launching her non-profit, ENDURE Productions in 2006, Kim saw the great need for providing a positive and healthy career program centered around arts and faith. Utilizing her God-given talents, experience, and Christian faith she started her program with 40 participates, which has now grown into 150.
Providing dance training, career shadowing and mentoring ENDURE allows participates ages 12-18 to explore advanced professional options in music as well as dance.
Interested in joining? Auditions for their summer show are being held today (April 30th) at the Harold Washington Cultural Center from 11am- 2pm. All ages and dance styles are welcome.
On May 20th, 2011- ENDURE will host its annual benefit entitled ‘Dancing with the Pastors’ at Chicago State University (Jones Convention Center) at 7pm. Featured in this event are: Pastor Tiffany Davis (Chicagoland Christian Center Embassy), Pastor John Hannah (New Life Covenant Church Oakwood), Pastor Herbert Keller (Chosen One Ministries) , Pastor Greg Livingston (Mission of Faith Baptist Church), Pastor Otis Moss (Trinity United Church of Christ), Pastor Darnard Newell (Logan Street Baptist Church), Pastor Troy O’Quinn (River Oaks Community Church of South Holland), Pastor Ozzie Smith (Covenant United Church of Christ), Pastor Yohannah Watson (New Bethal Church), Pastor Derrick White (Fellowship Christian Center), Pastor John Zayas (Grace and Peace Community Church).
Auditions for the 2011-2012 professional squad in Richmond, Virginia are right around the corner! Join us this spring and summer for audition classes.
Lady Raiders Auditions PREP CLASSES, 8:00-9:00pm
$15.00 per class, pay at the door: Cash, credit or check to J’adore Dance. Classes in May and June will include an additional 15 minutes discussion on the mentioned audition topic. These classes are optional but are highly recommended.
· Tuesday, April 19
· Tuesday, April 26
· Tuesday, May 3, Fitness
· Tuesday, May 31, Hair & makeup
· Friday, June 17, Attire
· Tuesday, July 26, Communication
2011-2012 AUDITIONS
Thursday, July 28: Early bird application deadline for a $10.00 discount on application fee. Applications will be available at prep classes.
Sunday, July 31: Open Auditions. Applications, headshot, full body photograph and $30.00 rookie application fee due. Required by rookies and veterans. Location J’adore Dance Studio, 5000 Commonwealth Center Pkwy, Midlothian, Va.
Wednesday, August 3: 7:30-10:00pm Semifinalist Rehearsal (not required by veterans), Midlothian Athletic Club, Richmond, Va.
Friday, August 5: 3:00-7:00pm Finalist interviews, 7:30-10:00pm Finalist Rehearsal, Location TBD.
Saturday, August 6: 5:30-8:30pm Audition Finals. Team Performance and Promotion at the Richmond Flying Squirrels Game, The Diamond, Richmond, Va.
Sunday, August 7: 12:00-5:00pm Audition Finals. Individual Performances at the Watermelon Festival, Carytown, Richmond, Va.
Additional details regarding the 2011-2012 squad such as rehearsal nights will be provided prior to auditions. See other FAQs at the Raiders website.
CONTACT THE LADY RAIDERS
Please send your name, program, email and phone number to Laura Eilers, Lady Raiders Coordinator. Be sure to indicate your area of interest. Visit the Raiders website for more details on youth and teen programs, community appearances and more.
Contact the Lady Raiders via the Raiders website or contact ladyraidersdanceteam@gmail.com.
2011 Patriots Pro Bowl Cheerleader at Colonials Cheerleader Director Brittany Bonchuk
19 advance to finals; second round of auditions is May 7 in Hartford
A spacious room at the Connecticut National Guard armory in Southington was deployed as a dance stage for a group of energetic ladies on Saturday, April 30, as the first round of preliminary auditions were held for the 2011 Hartford Colonials cheerleading squad.
“We’re really appreciative to the military and Connecticut National Guard for providing us with a facility and allowing us to be here today,” said Colonials cheerleader director Brittany Bonchuk, who visited U.S. troops overseas in 2009 as a New England Patriots Cheerleader.
Bonchuk, a Griswold, CT native, and a panel of five judges evaluated the participants on physical appearance, dance performance and ability, and overall appeal. Each had to perform a 1-minute dance routine that was filmed by Colonials cheerleader assistant director Laura Altieri.
At the conclusion of the auditions, 19 women were informed they had advanced to the finals on May 21. A second round of auditions will be held May 7 at the State Armory in Hartford. Registration begins at 8 a.m. with auditions to follow. A $15 non-refundable registration fee is required for both sessions. Participants can pre-register for $10 on-line at www.hartfordcolonials.com.
“I was pretty impressed with the people who turned out for the auditions today,” Bonchuk said Saturday. “A lot of really excited women came out, as well as some big Colonials fans. I hope our turnout next week will be a little bit better, but those who came out today were really talented. I’m really excited to see what next week will bring, and we’ll get rolling from there. We have a good start.”
The day started with a brief warm-up period, followed by Bonchuk teaching a dance routine the participants would have to perform for their audition. After the judges were introduced, the competition began.
Performing in pairs, the women did a 60-second dance routine to “On The Floor” by Jennifer Lopez and featuring rapper Pitbull. The first 45-50 seconds was the routine they were taught and the final 15 seconds was freestyle.
“I think it went really well,” said judge Alyssa Ziemba, a Boston Celtics dancer. “We were commenting the girls had so much energy. We enjoyed it.”
Seven cheerleaders from the 2010 squad participated in Saturday’s audition. More are expected at the May 7th auditions in Hartford.
The cheerleader squad will consist of 32 members who will perform at the Colonials home games this season and make promotional appearances in the community.
“It was a fun experience,” Ashley Abate said. “The thrill of going out on the field for the first time, everybody was excited. By the end of the season, we had our own fans. I would recommend everybody to try out. You make friends and it was a lot of fun.”
Bonchuk will discuss the cheerleading auditions on two television shows in the next week. She will appear on the FOX CT morning show Wednesday along with three cheerleaders. On Thursday, she’ll be a guest on Channel 3’s “Better Connecticut” with co-hosts Kara Sundlun and Scot Haney.
[Virginia Warriors Cheer and Dance Team]
Thanks to Scott who was at the Texans Draft Day Party on Thursday night. Scott tells us fans had a chance to vote for their favorite finalists, and each set of twins counted as one vote.
[Scott’s Texans Cheerleaders Photos]
After a year off the Arena Bowl Dream Team is back. Each team will have a representative at Arena Bowl XXIV. Hopefuls have been narrowed down to two dancers from each team, and now the fans get a chance to have their say.
Cassie - Orlando Predators Prowlers
Gizelle - Orlando Predators Prowlers
See all the candidates and cast your votes here.
Champion boxer, Eileen Miyoko Olszewski, began her career in New York City as a ballet dancer and then a Knicks City Dancer. Now, Olszewski is a championship boxer and trainer at Midtown Manhattan’s Sykes Boxing Gym at Sportslab. Next up for the fighter is a chance at the New York state flyweight title this summer.
Check out photos from the Sea Gal Semi-Finals here. And don’t miss the live webcast of the Finals this Sunday at 1pm PDT.
Couple new videos of the Carolina Panthers TopCats:
[Top Cat Semi Finals Auditions]
[TopCats promote NFL Draft Party]
The 30th episode of On The Flipside is comes to you from Miami’s Wynwood District, where host and our good friend Aubrey Aquino is hanging out at the art-filled, “Wynwood Walls.” Plenty of sports stars and celebrities along with the NBA‘s 2011 ″Best in the West,” Sacramento Kings Dance Team! Co-captain and veteran Katie talks about her purple reign, as we get an inside look at this Sideline Distraction. It’s all going down, On The Flipside!
