Over 500 hopefuls turned out for Houston Cheerleaders Auditions this past Satuday.
The finalists will perform at the 2010 Houston Texans Draft Party, presented by Miller Lite, on Thursday, April 22, at 6 p.m. CT. The final squad will be announced live on HoustonTexans.com on Tuesday, April 27, at approximately 6:30 p.m. CT.
[Complete Texans Cheerleaders Audition Coverage]
[Photos from HoustonTexans.com]
by Eric Hagen
Anoka County Union
Being a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves dance team includes much more than cheering on the home team at the Target Center. There are the weekly four-hour practices, one-hour fitness sessions and countless public appearances.
It essentially is a part-time job, said Sara Roessler, who grew up in Anoka and is a rookie on the dance team. She is loving every minute of it though.
“It’s one of the best part-time jobs I can think of,” said Roessler, who now lives in Minneapolis.
Alisa Hetterick is another rookie member of the Timberwolves dance team. The 2008 Anoka High School graduate lived in Andover before moving onto the University of Minnesota campus, where she is a sophomore.
Hetterick and Roessler have some similarities in their dance background. Around their fifth birthdays, their parents signed them up for dance studios where they honed their skills in a variety of dances from ballet to hip hop to jazz to tap. Roessler went to the Northland School of Dance and Performing Arts in Champlin for about 10 years and Hetterick was at the Stage Door of Performing Arts in Coon Rapids for 13 years.
How Roessler got here
Roessler left the Northland studio when she went to Totino Grace High School in Fridley. She had tremendous experiences at Northland, highlighted by the studio sending a team to perform for athletes from all over the world at the Olympic Village during the 2000 Summer Olympic games in Sydney, Australia.
However, she wanted to focus her efforts during her sophomore and junior year on the school’s co-ed competitive cheerleading team, which went on to win the state title during her junior year.
Roessler’s involvement in cheerleading and dance continued when she enrolled at the University of Minnesota. Roessler made the Minnesota Vikings cheerleading squad from the 2003 through 2007 seasons.
After earning a degree in elementary education in 2007, Roessler became a stay-at-home mom to take care of her son Talan.
Two years later, the Timberwolves dance team head coach encouraged Roessler to try out for the team. The same coach led the Vikings cheerleading team when Roessler was on that team.
After weighing the decision, Roessler decided to go for it. She knew a lot of the ladies on the Timberwolves dance team, she loved to performing and she figured she was still young enough to do it.
The workouts and time commitments have been the hardest for Roessler to get used to.
The Timberwolves dance team has two four-hour practices each week to work on new dances for every game. The team members sign up for one to two public appearances a week.
Roessler has been amazed at what the Timberwolves have done for different causes.
“You find out what an impact the organization can have on the community and how much they give back,” she said.
If Roessler feels she can handle the time commitment, she will consider trying out for the team again, but she is not sure what the future holds for her.
“I take it one year at a time,” she said.
How Hetterick got here
The 2008 Anoka High School graduate had no interest in being on the Tornadoes cheerleading team because she preferred concentrating her efforts on competitive dancing at the Stage Door studios.
“I was anti-cheerleader in high school. I was a dance team girl,” she said.
She found it difficult to give up a sport she loved after she graduated high school and going to the University of Minnesota.
“It’s hard to go to dancing every day and then stop,” she said.
Hetterick tried out for the University of Minnesota dance team, but did not make it. She decided to try out for the Timberwolves dance team as well, which really excited her father and brothers, who are huge Timberwolves fans.
The whole experience has been an adjustment for Hetterick. She was not used to performing in front of thousands of people who watched her team’s every move during a dance routine.
“I was very nervous, but so exited because I was finally getting to dance again,” Hetterick said.
Because she had no background in cheerleading, Hetterick was not accustomed to interacting with the crowd. She copied what other team members did and became more comfortable as more games slipped by.
Hetterick’s schedule has been packed considering all the public appearances and home games, the last one being April 14 against the Detroit Pistons.
The sophomore University of Minnesota student is also trying to figure out the career she wants for the rest of her working life. She initially thought about a career in public relations, but now is pursuing a degree in cultural studies.
Hetterick would like to try out for the Timberwolves dance team for at least the next two seasons. One of her favorite memories from her rookie season was taking a bus trip with the dance team to South Dakota.
“I just love being with the whole team,” she said.
They did it! After knocking off the 4-time defending champs, the Miami Heat Dancers, in the East Finals, the LadyCats defeated the Suns Dancers by a 2-1 margin to become the 2010 NBA Dance Team Champions!
Congratulations to LadyCats and Director Brandii McCoy!
By Sandra Colton
Dance Spirit Magazine
When talking with dancers, I’ve been known to say, “Make your mark, don’t just stand on it!” Allow me to introduce you to a dancer who made her mark and is staking her claim in the world of dance: Sara Anderson is the coach of the Lincoln High School Dance Team in Portland, OR. The Cardinal ladies under Sara’s direction are the proud champions of the 2010 Oregon State Dance Team Championship. Sara began dancing at age six, danced on the Rex Putnam High School Dance Team and performed as a BlazerDancer for the NBA’s Portland Trailblazers for four years. Committed to the community and her passion for dance, Sara interviewed for the dance team coach position at Lincoln High School, and 13 years later she says, “The rest is history.” History is right. Sara and the Cardinals Dance Team have won eight Oregon State Dance Team titles!
Sara is also the owner of Elite Dance Studio (which has been open for seven years), co-coach of the Junior BlazerDancers for the last six years and coordinates competitive teams outside of the studio along with the Cardinals Dance Team. I sat down with Sara to learn about some of the challenges and positives aspects she finds while coaching the team and how she has time to do it all.
“My biggest personal challenge is juggling my schedule,” she says. “Between my own family with two kids ages 7 and 4, my demands at the studio and the studio competitive teams schedule, as well as coaching the Junior BlazerDancers, and our rehearsal schedule at Lincoln… Whew… Everyday is a busy one! Thank goodness I’m surrounded by wonderful, helpful and supportive people. There are so many positive aspects I love about coaching. The sense of accomplishment and pride I get when I watch the dancers perform. I love watching them grow not only has dancers but as young women. I am still very close with many of the girls that have gone through my program over the years.”
Sara believes that as a coach you have to “lead by example and bring a strong work ethic and dedication for the program. A united team is a successful team,” she says. Sara creates a positive atmosphere for the girls and says, “We take time for team bonding and do fun activities outside of practice, like bowling, movie nights and team dinners. I remind the dancers we are all here for the same reason, with the same goals. I always try to finish every rehearsal on a positive note. Keeping your dancers inspired and motivated is important not only for the teams’ success but for the overall experience the dancers have in your program. Our team is rich with traditions and the dancers love that! Most importantly, help them believe in themselves, their teammates and their dance.”
After winning eight dance team titles (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010), Sara emphasizes that “your dancers will take cues from you about how to respond after a big win or an upsetting loss. We talk about winning and losing gracefully and we talk about respecting what the judges say and the scores we receive. If we are happy with our performance then we graciously accept the outcome. We talk about the will to win is not as important as the will to prepare to win.”
With more than 30 dancers on her team, the audition process can be competitive. Sara suggests that dancers “do their research before auditions. It is always good to come into an audition well trained, but some of my best dancers have started their training later in life. It is all about how bad you want something. If I select a dancer who shows raw potential, I will encourage them to get outside training as well as provide them with more guidance during rehearsals. Before auditions I always remind the dancers to show me how much they love to dance when they hit the stage. I say, ‘I can fix your feet, but I cannot fix your attitude…passion comes from inside!’”
The 2010 Oregon State Dance Team Champions are the Lincoln High School Cardinals consisting of members Alaina, Ali, Alyssa, Amanda, Andrea, Ashley, Aubree, Caroline, Casey, Cassidy, Catalina, Clare, Dorie, Emma, Eri, Hannah, Judy, Kayla, Kristy, Lexi, Lyndsey, Mackenzie, Maddie, Maddy, Maggie, Malia, McKenzie F, Mckenzie T, Natalie G, Natalie M, Rachael, Serena and Shaina. (Head Coach Sara Anderson, Assistant Coach Shelly Misevch and Team Manager Phyllis Zeck). Congratulations, ladies!
Okay, so I was at the Wings game on March 27th. But I had trouble with one of my CF cards, so I ended up with only half the photos I shot.
Then I returned a week later for the April 3rd game. But because the Sixers game went into overtime, the start of the lacrosse game was delayed and the Angels pre-game performance was sacrificed to speed things up.
(more…)
The Bandettes perform to Janis Joplin’s Piece of My Heart:
Head on over to the The Buffalo Pro Cheer Blog for more.
The United Football League continues to ramp up for the 2010 season.
The search is now on for a Cheerleader Director for the new Sacramento Mountain Lions.
The season will run from September through November and there will be approximately 5 home games.
Interested candidates should have a bio/resume and head shot, two letters of recommendation and a video reel of their choreography.
Interviews are scheduled for April 21st.
Anyone interested in scheduling an interview or would like more information, should contact Peggy Williams at peggy@procheerleadersalumni.com or 407.625.8014.
No Fooling! Back on April 1st the Bethesda Theatre was the site of the 2010-11 Washington Redskins Cheerleader Final Auditions. Nearly 300 women had turned out the previous Saturday at FedEx Field for a chance to be one of The First Ladies of Football. Successive rounds of cuts reduced that number to the 53, who would compete on stage in front of friends and family.
Come audition to be a part of the most beautiful, talented, and exciting squad in the NBA, the Washington Wizard Girls!
The Wizard Girls have the opportunity to perform at all Wizard home games, travel to exotic locations for the annual swimsuit calendar photo shoot, and participate in promotional and charity appearances throughout the DC metro area. Experience the glamour of photos shoots, the excitement of game night, and the chance to give back to your community.
Minimum Qualifications
• Must be at least 18 by July 31, 2010
• Have a full-time job, attend school full-time, or have a family
• Have a High School Diploma or G.E.D.
• Have transportation
Appearance Requirements
• No minimum or maximum height/weight requirement, but must look physically fit
• Tattoos must be covered with make up at all times
• Hair should be worn down
• Tryout outfit must show midriff, dance shoes/sneakers or boots with non-marking soles
Details
• Closed to the public
• June 12th and 13th 8-5 PM
• Cuts are made both days and you must attend both days
• You do not need to make up your own routine
• Judges are looking for dance ability, appearance, showmanship, personality
• Bring your tryout application form and a non-returnable full-body swimsuit shot (unless you’ve already mailed it, recommended!) and the $20 registration fee (waived if you attend at least one prep class).
Expectations
• Rehearsal 2-3 times a week, evenings at Verizon Center
• Performance at approx 35 home games
• Overseas travel to shoot the 2010-11 Swimsuit Calendar
• Completion of at least 10 community appearances
• Wizard Girls are paid for rehearsals and games and some promotional appearances
• Uniforms, boots, poms, warm-ups, practice attire are supplied to each Wizard Girl
Prep Classes
Learn what it takes to become a Washington Wizard Girl at one or all four prep classes to be held at Vida Fitness at Verizon Center. Prep classes will teach you the fundamental dance moves you will need to master for tryouts and techniques for impressing the judges. Prep classes are run by current and former Wizard Girls and the coaches and include a Q and A session where you can learn tips for making the team! Get a head start on tryouts by learning what to wear, the dance styles you can anticipate at auditions, and how to speak in front of the judges. Prep classes are two hours and cost $20. Take a prep class and waive your audition registration fee.
Prep Classes are:
Saturday, May 8th 2-4
Tuesday, May 11th 7:30-9:30
Saturday, May 15th 2-4
Tuesday, May 25th 7:30-9:30
Special Wizard Girls Glamour Session Sunday, May 23rd 2-3:30, Forestville, MD
• Open to anyone interested in learning about the Wizard Girls or just looking for a good dance class
• Do not require a tryout registration
• Each prep class teaches different choreography
• Opportunity to talk to current Wizard Girls and coaches
• Are highly encouraged, but not mandatory, for anyone interested in trying out
