By Jacqueline Matter
WNCT.com
Two Jacksonville natives are headed to the Super Bowl, but they’ll be cheering on the Panthers from the sidelines.
WNCT’s Jacqueline Matter spoke to their mothers on the exciting journey.Friends since elementary school, Aliscia Taplin and Annalise Coleman are both first-year dancers for the Carolina Panthers Cheerleading Team, the TopCats.
While the girls didn’t always desire to be NFL cheerleaders, they both had a gift from a very young age.
“When I saw her amongst the other 5-year-olds and 6-year-olds, her hands were straight out, her legs were high, and I thought wow she’s a natural,” said Valerie Taplin of her daughter Aliscia.
“Annalise started dancing since she was about four years old, her preschool teacher told me she was gifted in rhythm,” said Vanessa Coleman, Annalise’s mother.
The goal of being a TopCat has been a passion of Annalise’s for years.
“She decided when she was 17, we went to the Panther’s game, and she said mom I’m going to dance with the cheerleaders, and she watched them the whole time and so when she turned 21 she tried out.”
But making the team wasn’t easy. Annalise and Aliscia competed among 160 other girls vying for a spot on the TopCats squad.
“Every day for about a month, ‘mom I’m still in, I’m still in’, so it was really a nerve-wrecking thing for us,” said Vanessa Coleman.
“She’d call me and tell me ‘oh I think I did okay, I think I did alright’ which was good to hear but I said don’t get excited don’t get nervous for her just let everything be calm,” said Valerie Taplin.
After countless hours of training and chasing a lifelong dream, the dancing duo made the 28 member squad.
Now, both girls will soon have a Super Bowl experience.
“To dance, just to dance and dance for the Panthers, but God’s plan was you can dance for the Panthers but you’re going to the Super Bowl with that,” said Valerie Taplin about their excitement.
Each year the girls must re-try out for the TopCats dance squad, but both girls say they have every intention of returning to the sidelines next year to cheer on the Panthers.
While the Panthers have already landed in Santa Clara for Super Bowl 50, the TopCats Cheerleaders will be headed to California on Friday.
By Jennifer Sangalang
Florida Today
There’s a cheerleading group in town — and they need a little L-O-V-E.
The Special Olympics Brevard cheerleading team seeks members, volunteer coaches and community support. So says Joanna Kiel, head cheerleading coach.
The 28-year-old former Baltimore Ravens cheerleader coached a Special Olympics cheerleading team in Maryland. One of her favorite cheerleaders was her youngest sister and biggest fan, 23-year-old Lexi Tippett, who has Down syndrome.
“With my experience with Special Olympics, performing is their favorite thing to do,” she said. “They love practice, but when the team can get out at a huge venue, they are beyond excited. It makes them feel included. Just like they’ve watched their family members perform — now it’s their turn.”
Sign-ups begin Feb. 2 at the Special Olympics Brevard office in Rockledge. For the 2015 season, there were eight girls on the team. Currently, there’s almost 20, and many more are welcome. Kiel’s Maryland team had more than 60 cheerleaders.
“Special Olympics Brevard has many, many sports that I don’t think people are aware of,” Kiel said. In addition to growing the cheer program, though, she hopes the team will make it to the ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando for the state championships in the fall.
“We condition, we train, we learn new skills,” she added. “We’re working with the local high schools so that our cheerleading team can perform at some of their games.”
Boys and girls are needed for the Special Olympics cheerleading team — any age, any skill level, any ability.
“As far as Special Olympics go, it’s any person in the special needs community,” Kiel said. “We’re not afraid of any severe disabilities. Anybody that wants to be a part of it can be a part of it.”
Ways to help
• Transportation: Travel could be an issue for someone with special needs. “If we were able to help get the funds to help transport (children with special needs to) the competition, that would be amazing,” Kiel said.
• Donations: Funds raised will go toward cheerleading uniforms, hair bows and tennis shoes.
• Volunteers: With Special Olympics, usually four or six coaches are needed per team — a cheer and dance background isn’t required. Also, students who need service hours could volunteer.
Thanks to her NFL cheerleading days, Kiel knows all about the adrenaline that comes with performing for large crowds. But nothing beats the experience of seeing her sister, Lexi, put on a cheerleading outfit and perform.
“At the end it’s just pure waterworks,” she said. “When it’s over, you’re unbelievably proud.”
The first full practice for the Special Olympics Brevard cheerleading team is set for Feb. 16 at Freedom Athletics in Rockledge.
From Nuggets.com
This Salt Lake City, UT native has made Denver, Colorado her home for the second year in a row as a Denver Nuggets Dancer.
Alisha, or Lecie Bug, has been dancing since a very young age, showcasing her natural talent since she was a mere 8-years old.“My first day of dance class my teacher asked if I could do the splits, I remember being so excited because I could! I dropped right down into my center splits with a giant smile on my face.”
Her life has revolved around dance, earning her many impressive awards and recognitions over the years. Several of her outstanding achievements include Utah Valley University Dance and Leadership Scholarship, Utah Valley University- 2nd place at NDA Nationals 2011, Urban Talents best dancer award at Miss Utah Pageant 2011, Several Queen titles, Stars Regional and National Champion 2000-2010, AFL Dream Team Finalist 2012, Angela King Designs Model Search top 10 finalist 2015, Duke of Edinburgh Life Style Award 2015, and Miss Colorado 2nd runner up 2015.
Outside of her skills during Nuggets home games, you can find this accomplished performer teaching jazz, jazz funk, a sassy heels class for adults, hip hop to ages 10-12 year olds and even assisting Coloradans to find new homes as a leasing agent.
Although Alisha’s days are jam-packed with activities, she still saves time to spend with her comical kitty, Prince Reginald.
“Prince Reginald (my cat) used to sit on my shoulder like a parrot when he was a kitten. I could walk around with him just sitting up there; he is much, much bigger now.”
Through thick and thin, this dancer stays true to her passions and lives by the quote, “Remember who you are and what you stand for!”
The Westchester Knicks Dancers have posted photos of the new squad:
[ZPRoPrep.com]
Hong Kong selects Indianapolis Colts Cheerleaders to represent the U.S. at the 21st annual Cathay Pacific Lunar New Year Celebrations.
From Colts.com
Hong Kong is set to kick off the world’s largest and internationally televised Chinese New Year celebration. On February 8th, award-winning performance groups from around the globe will gather in Asia’s World City to participate in this year’s Chinese New Year festivities. Today, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) announced its selection of the National Football League’s (NFL) Indianapolis Colts Cheerleaders as the performance group representing the U.S. in Hong Kong.
“We are honored to have our Cheerleaders selected to represent our country, Indiana and the National Football League in Hong Kong’s Chinese New Year Celebration,” said Pete Ward, chief operating officer for the Indianapolis Colts. “Our cheerleaders are tremendous ambassadors for our organization and we are excited to have them share the spirit of the horseshoe on an international stage.”
This marks the first visit to Hong Kong for the Indianapolis Colts Cheerleaders. As part of the event, the Indianapolis Colts Cheerleaders will unveil a brand-new performance exclusive to the world-renowned Chinese New Year Parade.
Headlined by the award-winning Cathay Pacific International Chinese New Year Parade in Kowloon, and Chinese New Year Fireworks Display on the iconic Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong is set to welcome the “Year of the Monkey” – the ninth sign in the Chinese Zodiac symbolizing riches, honor and luck for 2016.
“Hong Kong’s Lunar New Year celebration has been recognized as a world-class event as thousands of international visitors celebrate the sophistication and rich traditions that only Asia’s World City can offer,” said Bill Flora, U.S. Director of the Hong Kong Tourism Board. “With Hong Kong’s East-meets-West culture, it’s only fitting that we bring a performance group from one of the largest sports organizations in the U.S. Fans and visitors will get a chance to watch the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts Cheerleaders perform in Hong Kong for the first time during the festivities.”
The award-winning Cathay Pacific International Chinese New Year Parade kicks off Hong Kong’s festivities on the first day of Chinese New Year (February 8), bringing an extravagant procession of embellished floats and international performers to the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront. Celebrating its 21st year with the theme “Playground of the World. Party of the Year.” the Night Parade is set to feature an extensive roster of critically-acclaimed performances by world-renowned talents, including the Indianapolis Colts Cheerleaders.
Following the Indianapolis Colts Cheerleaders’ Hong Kong debut, the celebration rolls on as Hong Kong’s annual Chinese New Year Fireworks display engulfs the breathtaking skyline of Victoria Harbour on February 9, 2016.
From last month here are the fabulous Baltimore Blast Cheerleaders:
DALLASWEAR UNIFORMS 2016 AUDITION VIDEO from Dallaswear Uniforms on Vimeo.
Check out some of the New 2016 Audition styles from Dallaswear! All the new styles launch on January 27th!
