When the Miss USA Pageant aired a couple of weeks ago we neglected to mention that Miss Wisconsin USA 2010 Courtney Lopez is a member of the Milwaukee Brewers Diamond Dancers. Courtney was also Miss Wisconsin Teen USA 2008.
[Milwaukee Brewers Diamond Dancers]
Las Vegas Locomotives Cheerleader Cheerleader Director Kim Diaz is a central Florida native who relocated to Las Vegas tw0 years ago with her husband Marco and 2-year old son Nathan. She’s also expecting a little girl, Alissa, in 3 weeks. Yes, just three days after Locomotives Cheerleaders Finals!
Kim danced throughout college for UCF football and basketball teams while spending her summers as a Dance Instructor for Universal Dance Association traveling the Southeast teaching dance to high schools and colleges. She then went on to dance for the NBA Orlando Magic as well as the AFL Orlando Predators.
Kim tells us, “In the last month I have been very excited about my new position as Director for the Las Vegas Locomotives Cheer and Dance Team. This is a wonderful opportunity for Dancers in Vegas to experience the thrill and enjoyment working with a professional sports team. To me what makes a great cheerleader and dancer is enthusiasm, not only for your performance but for supporting your team and conveying that support that to fans and the community not just when in uniform but whenever out in public.”
[Locomotives Cheerleaders Registration]
Last Friday I was in Orlando for the where the Orlando Predators hosted the Milwaukee Iron. It was a real nail-biter with three touchdowns scored in the last minute of play, including the game winner for Orlando with just three seconds left to play.
But exciting football wasn’t the purpose of my trip. The Predators Dance Team, The Prowlers were the reason I was there.
An actual stage was brought out for the pre-game performance.
Sophia
Alexis and Giselle
Co-captain Roxanne
Prowlers with the Orlando All-Stars. The All-Stars were part of the half-time entertainment.
Renee
Cassie
From NorthShoreJournal.org:
Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders visit Soldiers assigned to the kennels of 501st Military Police Company, 1st Armored Division, at Camp Victory, May 20. The Cheerleaders took time to talk to service members and take photos with them to help build morale and lift their spirits. They also participated in a military working dog demonstration, which included take-down techniques and obedience skills. Photo by Sgt. Phillip Valentine.
Minnesota Vikings Cheerleader and Mahtomedi, Minn., native Peyton visits Gero, a German shepherd assigned to 501st Military Police Company, 1st Armored Division, at Camp Victory, May 20. This is Wight’s first visit to Iraq but said she has visited Soldiers in Afghanistan in the past. Photo by Sgt. Phillip Valentine.
Minnesota Vikings Cheerleader Meghan, a St. Cloud, Minn., native, tries on a Soldier’s equipment while visiting 501st Military Police Company, 1st Armored Division, at Camp Victory, May 20. Photo by Sgt. Phillip Valentine
Lissa, a Minnesota Vikings Cheerleader and Eagle River, Wis., native, tries on a Soldier’s body armor during a visit to Camp Victory, May 20. The cheerleaders toured the kennels of 501st Military Police Company to watch a K-9 demonstration, meet Soldiers, share stories and lift their spirits. Lissa has been with the Vikings for four years and said this is her second time in Iraq. She also said it has been special to see how Soldiers are doing, and she prays for their speedy return. Photo by Sgt. Phillip Valentine.
[Complete Blue Crew Audition Information]
[Complete A-Town Dancer Audition Information]
By Cristina Kinon
NY Daily News
New York native Courtney Galiano is excited to return to the stage of “So You Think You Can Dance,” not only to show off some new moves but to help new contestants show off some steps of their own.
“Sometimes you just need somebody to rub you on the back, bring you back down to reality and remind you that you were chosen out of thousands of dancers,” Galiano, of Commack, L.I., told The News. “There’s a reason you are here.”
The seventh season of “So You Think You Can Dance” premieres Thursday at 8 on Fox. Galiano, who finished fourth in the fourth season, is back, along with nine other all-stars, including Neil Haskell, Stephen (tWitch) Boss, Pasha Kovalev and Allison Holker.
Former ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ contestant Courtney Galiano (r.) returns to the show this season with Neil Haskell and Cat Deeley.The returning dancers will partner with this year’s top 10 and dance with the contestants in their own styles. Galiano is a contemporary dancer, but has been working hard on her turnout.
“I’ve been training like crazy, taking private ballet lesson pretty much every day,” said the former Knicks City Dancer. “I’m really excited to go on the show again and show what I got.”
Other changes this year include choreographer Mia Michaels joining the judging panel, alongside Nigel Lythgoe and Adam Shankman. Mary Murphy has stepped down and will participate in the show as a guest judge and choreographer.
Since her season ended, Galiano, 21, hasn’t stopped working. She’s a recurring member of Vocal Adrenaline on Fox’s hit show “Glee” and will be featured as a dancing pregnant teenager in an upcoming number.
She dances in Disney’s upcoming movie, “Camp Rock 2,” with Demi Lovato and the Jonas Brothers. She’s also performed in several music videos and danced with J.Lo in Times Square last New Year’s Eve.
She owes all of it, she says, to “So You Think You Can Dance.”
“The show totally made it happen for me,” said Galiano.
Looking ahead, Galiano would love to go on tour with a performing artist and maybe, one day, return to New York on the Great White Way.
“It’s just not enough to be good at one thing anymore. You have to be a triple threat, and I love acting and singing,” Galiano said. “So as I get older, I hope I can come back to New York and pursue a career on Broadway.”
“I have a whole list of things in my room that I want to do,” she added. “I made it when I was a Knicks dancer and felt like I needed to do more. I’ve crossed some things off it.”
Galiano helped out during the audition rounds this season and has already had a glimpse of some top contenders, whom she calls “killer.” Combined with the level of returning talent, she says, this season will be a series best.
“I feel so honored and blessed to be given this opportunity again,” she said. “I just want to come back and be better.”
The NBA Oklahoma City Thunder are looking for a new Dance Team Manager for the Thunder Girls.
Interested parties can send their resume/cover letter to Sabrina Ellison sellison@thunder-nba.com
The latest from Mid-Atlantic Dave who traveled to Reading for the Richmond Raiders-Reading Express game on May 14th. He sent us a few photos of the Smokin’ Hot Steam Team.
Siobhan and Ashley
Laura and Ginelle
All-Pro3 is thrilled to announce the line up of guest instructors for the 2010 P-R-O Convention. The best in the business come together every year in Atlanta, Georgia to teach routines that fit every type of pro cheerleading team. Choreographers that are the Directors and Coaches of actual teams in the NFL, NBA, MLS, NLL, AHL, and WPFL will teach amazing routines the weekend of June 19-20th. “Each year, the instructor list grows as our convention numbers increase”, says Tracy Rutledge of All-Pro3. “We love adding exciting new choreographers to the creative choreographers that have been working with us for a while.”
The list of choreographers for 2010 includes:
Tami Krause-Minnesota Vikings & Minnesota Swarm
Shannon Kingsley-Seattle Seahawks
Stephanie Jojokian-Washington Redskins
Raquel Torres-Garcia-San Antonio Spurs
Heather Karberg-Arizona Cardinals (**New for 2010)
Brandii McCoy-Charlotte Bobcats & Charlotte Checkers
Tamara Jenkins-FC Dallas
Derric Whitfield-Houston Energy (**New for 2010)
Stacie Kinder-Tennessee Titans
Denise Garvey-New York Jets (**New for 2010)
Michelle Stover-Washington Wizards (**New for 2010)
Alto Gary-Houston Texans
For more information about the P-R-O Convention, visit www.allpro3.com. See videos and pictures from past conventions and register for this year’s event.
(Author’s note: I kind of dropped the ball with this story. I’ve had it for a while, but could never find the time to finish it. It’s a little out of date. For example Nina talks about her plans to try out for DCC, but those auditions were last weekend)
Two-year veteran Washington Wizard Girl Nina was kind enough to take time out of her busy schedule to answer a few of our questions and share some photos from her time with the team. But first a little about her.
Nina was born in Houston but grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana. She’s part Louisiana Cajun and says she’s a Texan that’s a little more spicy than most!
She started dancing rather late compared to most dancers. She didn’t start taking studio classes until 7th grade, which really challenged her with having to continually catch up through much of middle school and high school with the basics that so many other dancers already had perfected. She says that having to come from behind with many of her skills forced her to work harder to prove herself, and ultimately, she believes it solidified my desire to dance beyond high school and college.
Nina graduated from Kilgore College with an Associates of Art, where she was a member of the wold-famous Kilgore College Rangerettes. She continued dancing at Texas A&M University on the Aggie Dance Team. She was part of a nationally ranked group of 20 ladies who performed at the Men’s and Women’s Aggie Basketball games. While at A&M the Dance Team marked our 10th Anniversary, and the girls continue to have bi-annual reunions.
After graduation from A&M Nina accepted an internship in the House of Representatives which eventually led to a permanent position as an Executive Assistant and Scheduler.
But as much as she loves the atmosphere and the culture inside the beltway, Texas is her home. Most of Nina’s family is in Texas, as well as countless close friends. So last month she moved back to Texas and is looking forward to being close enough to drive to see everyone. She says Washington will always be close to her heart, and with all of the friends she has in the area, she’s bound to be back occasionally.
UC: What was it like to be a part of the famous Kilgore College Rangerettes?
Nina: In today’s world, the idea of cheerleaders and dance teams performing on the football gridiron seems a given and expected part of the gameday festivities, but in 1940, Gussie Nell Davis was the visionary who brought the Broadway style of the Radiuo City Rockettes to a college football field in East Texas. My grandmother was a part of the fourth class of ladies called the Kilgore College Rangerettes, so my very first time to see the Rangerettes perform was at the age of five. I grew up with a goal to wear the red, white and blue and do high kicks to the sky. Immediately following high school, I auditioned in their seven day tryout and unfortunately was not chosen. I went back to intense studio training that year, and the next summer, finally my number was on that sign!! It was an intense, life-changing and unforgettable experience. I was so proud to follow in my grandmother’s footsteps as a part of the 62nd class of Rangerettes. Unfortunately, the events of September 11th affected some of our travel opportunities, but we still had a continuous schedule of performances with our football team winning the national junior college championship my freshman year, multiple national parade opportunities, and our annual spring production. The current directors, Mrs. Blair and Mrs. Wayne, expect nothing less than perfection, and being a part of 70 phenomenal dancers who were dedicated to deliver that really shaped my dancing career, as well as my life as a whole. We were taught so many life skills from responsibility and assertiveness to time management, teamwork and carrying ourselves like ladies. It was clear to us that we weren’t just Rangerettes in uniform; we represented our school and our team in our daily lives, and it was important for us to carry ourselves with class. I liken the experience to a military boot camp for a sorority of dancers. While that seems like a contradictory description, there is no other way to describe the level of discipline, the love of a sisterhood, and the dedication to an art form. Being a part of the Rangerettes was and still is one of the biggest and most lasting accomplishments that I will always cherish.
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