Quick recap: Nearly 300 dancers turned out on Saturday for Jets Flight Crew Auditions. One hundred nineteen were invited back for Sunday’s Semi-Finals, where hopefuls would be taught a 8 eight counts and a kick-line routine.
The morning started with dancers stretching and warming up on their own.
Minnesota Swarm Performance Team member Betsy is a natural performer.
She began studying Russian Classical Ballet at the age of 4.
In Russian Classical Ballet she explains the dancer perfects every single detailed movement before advancing. The main focus is on strength and endurance. It’s very precise and nit-picky, but it does develop muscles in a way that helps prevent injury. She says the training definitely helped her become a more disciplined and patient person.
Besides dance, her house was always full of music. Her mother was a band director, so she learned discipline early by studying piano, French horn and voice. She has also been lucky enough to act at Chanhassen Dinner Theaters and what is currently known as Stages theater. She continued dancing and singing through high school and then at Gustavus Adolphus College, where she majored in Political Science and with a minor in Japanese Studies. Betsy is half-Scandinavian and half-Japanese, and knows enough Japanese just enough to get by in Japan.
By her senior year of college Betsy decided to go to attend William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, and put her love of dance and performing on hold. She currently practices in a small firm in several different areas of law, and is constantly challenged at her job and staying busy running from depositions to arbitrations to the courtroom. She enjoy her days the most when she has several things to juggle at once.
She followed the Swarm Performance Team for a year before she tried out because she had a friend on the team. She had always wanted to be part of a professional dance team, but law school got in the way of that dream.
Since making the team, the reaction from the universal reaction form people has been “How do you have time?” And then, people are usually interested in learning more about the team. She has had no problem using my “friends and family” tickets when people have learned about how awesome the games are.
And while performing, whether it’s acting, singing or dancing, is Betsy’s favorite thing to do. She also enjoys cooking. She says most of the time the things she makes are good, so the her actual talent should be described as “exceptional at following directions.”
Most exciting for Betsy is her spring wedding in Costa Rica. Her fiancé Sam actually lived across the street during high school and they graduated together in the same class. Despite the proximity, they didn’t become friends until after high school. She is so thrilled to be marrying a guy who supports her, challenges her to keep growing, and makes her laugh. It also doesn’t hurt that they can simply walk across the street to celebrate holidays. They chose Costa Rica because they wanted to do something different, where people hadn’t all been to. They heard that there were a lot of exciting things to do, like zip-lining, rappelling, white-water rafting, and surfing. And Betsy asks, “Who doesn’t love a country where monkeys just walk around everywhere?”
Brittany was a Phoenix Suns Dancer.
Gina was a Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleader.
Megan was an Orlando Magic Dancer.
The 2010 Miss USA Pageant airs next Sunday on NBC.
(Click photo to enlarge)
A very long day at the Jets Training Facility on Saturday. Nine hours of solo performances, high-energy routines, kicklines and the invariable waiting. In the end 38 dancers were chosen to go to Jets Flight Crew Training Camp. Twenty-two are veterans of the squad. Among the 16 rookies are a former members of the Tennessee Titans Cheerleaders and the New England Patriots Cheerleaders.
And yes I am doing this a bit backwards. I still have photos from both Semi-finals and Finals to post.
Last week, Texans Cheerleader coordinator Alto Gary selected her squad from the 42 finalists after weeks of tryouts. But one spot was left open for you, the fans, to pick. Gary selected four finalists to compete for the final opening on the squad.
Would it be Hayley, Ashley, Christina or Lindsey? All week, we posted video from their cheer routines and appeals to the voters, as well as photos of the four hopefuls.
And after more than 40,000 votes cast, the winner of the online vote adn the final spot was Lindsey.
“This is the best feeling of my life,” said Lindsey after the big reveal Friday. “This has been my dream since I was a little girl.”
As for the vote, Gary says it was a big success, and said the tally shot up by 20,000 once she posted it on Facebook.
“No matter where I went in town, they recognized me. They would run and tell me who they voted for. Everyone knew about it,” said Gary. “As far as people knowing this and getting behind the program, the public did an awesome job.”
Watch the announcement here.
A new Semi-Professional football team in Atlanta, the Atlanta Chiefs, are holding their 2nd auditions for Cheerleaders. The Chiefs are owned by former Atlanta Falcon player Stan Gay and the cheerleaders are under the direction of former Pro Bowl Cheerleader Kelly Stewart Barker. The first turnout was great and now we are looking for more beautiful and talented ladies to join our team. Auditions will be held on May 21, 2010. If you or someone you know is interested in trying out for our squad, please visit our website at www.atlantachiefsfootball.com and click on the CHEERLEADERS tab for more details.
The Boston Cannons Dance Team is a professional, volunteer dance team that performs at all Boston Cannons home games and any additional league games hosted in Boston; which has include events such as the MLL All Star game as hosted in 2007 and 2006. Also MLL Championship weekend as hosted in 2008, 2005, and 2004.
The Boston Cannons Dance Team practices once a week for three hours during the season (March – August). The Cannons Dance Team not only performs on the field at each game, but also participates in on-field promotions and other game day fan activities. In addition, members of the dance team participate in various community service events throughout the season. This year members of the team volunteered at the NSTAR Walk for Children’s Hospital, hosted a dance clinic for the Big Sisters of Greater Boston and represented the Cannons at the Dew Tour. In 2008, members of the team participated in a Kevin Youkilis Hits for Kids Foundation fundraiser and the NSTAR Walk for Children’s Hospital.
REQUIREMENTS:
§ Must be 18 years old (there is no maximum age limit)
§ High school graduate or GED
§ $25 registration fee required (non refundable)
§ Attached photo (non returnable)
§ Must be able to attend all rehearsals 3-4 times a week, 24+ home games, appearances and other NBA D-League activities and promotions
§ If selected, a contractual commitment of one (1) year is required
WHAT TO WEAR:
§ 2 piece attire
§ Top: Dance/Athletic Bra Top
§ Bottom: Hot Shorts or briefs
§ Dance Shoes (any type – jazz, ballet, character, split sole Capezios…etc.)
§ Full game-day hair and make-up
Please Note: Dancers must cover all exposed tattoos with makeup; dancers with exposed or uncovered tattoos will have points deducted from appearance score. Dancers should bring their own water and food.
JUDGES WILL FOCUS ON:
Dance Technique
Enthusiasm
Energy
Figure
Personal Appearance
Personality
Poise
Showmanship
Double Turns
[Registration and Complete Audition Information]
The 2010 Tennessee Titans Cheerleaders Final Auditions presented by Sun Tan City are open to the public and be will be held Sunday, May 9th, at Limelight across from LP Field.
The final auditions were originally slated for May 5 at the Wildhorse Saloon but had to be rescheduled because of the flooding downtown.
“I really can’t thank Kenny Winchell from Limelight enough for inviting us to host this event when we were flooded out of our previous venue,” said Titans Director of Cheerleaders Stacie Kinder. “We look forward to putting on a great show and raising some money for the flood victims.”
The auditions will consist of 48 finalists competing for 26 spots on the squad. A panel of celebrity judges will grade the contestants on their appearance, physique, dance ability and fans’ applause. The celebrity panel includes Taj George, a Grammy-award nominated member of the musical group SWV, 2009 Survivor competitor and wife of Titans great, Eddie George; former Titans All-Pro safety Blaine Bishop; country artist Kip Moore; and former Miss Tennessee USA Allison DeMarcus.
“We had some extremely talented women audition this year. We were very pleased with the turnout and the selection process for the finalists was the most strenuous it has been in several years. I am excited about the final audition and the potential for this year’s squad,” said Kinder. “Each of these women have been preparing for the competition and we welcome support from the Nashville community.”
Proceeds from the event will benefit the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. In partnership with Davidson County’s Office of Emergency Management, The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee has activated its Metro Nashville Disaster Response Fund to help to those affected by the May 1, 2010 floods. Donations of any size are welcome- visit www.cfmt.org
The audition will include a show by the finalists, musical performances by DLS and Greez Monkeez and the announcement of the 2010 Titans Cheerleaders. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $15 at the door or can be purchased in advance at the Titans ticket office at LP Field or by calling (615) 565-4172.
This past weekend the Fairleigh Dickinson University Athletic Courts were the site of the 2010-11 Jets Flight Crew Auditions.
In just a few short years the Flight Crew have gone from less than a dozen flag wavers to a highly visible, in-demand, full-sized (maybe as high as 40 ladies this year) NFL Squad with regular major media appearances and a swimsuit calendar (being shot in Aruba this year).
And who is responsible for the Flight Crew’s evolution into one of the league’s top squads? Denise Garvey, a former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader, Knicks City Dancer and, NJ Nets Dancer, has been leading the way as the Flight Crew’s only Director in squad history.
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