Another big thanks to Dan K. (aka Pro Bowl Dan) for these photos from the Pro Bowl Cheerleaders rehearsal.
Bruce Brown
TheAdvertiser.com
Macie Brown picked a great year to join the Saintsations.
In fact, it’s been super.
As a first-year member of the New Orleans Saints dance team, the Breaux Bridge native and Teurlings Catholic graduate has performed on the sidelines for every one of the club’s home games in the Superdome.
She’s been there every step of the way for a magical season.
“It’s been an amazing experience,” Brown said. “Before the game, when they say ‘Presenting the Saintsations,’ it gives you such an energy boost. Your heart starts pumping and you feel all the emotions in the Superdome. It’s unbelievable, really.”
It’s more than that. It’s perfect.
Brown and the rest of the squad are in Miami for Super Bowl XLIV as the NFC Champion Saints meet the AFC’s Indianapolis Colts for the NFL championship on Sunday.
The Saints swamped Arizona 45-14 and edged Minnesota 31-28 in overtime to sweep both playoff games in the Dome after posting an NFC-best 13-3 regular season finish, the best in team history.
“The championship game was quite a nail-biter,” Brown said. “Each game has been a different experience.”
The Saintsations were given a send-off party at the Royal Sonesta Hotel before departing for the game, arriving midweek for what promised to be a busy week of preparations.
“We’re supposed to make an appearance at Universal Studios, and do the Ellen (DeGeneres) Show,” Brown said on Monday. “Nothing is locked down at this point. They’ll tell us as we go.
“We’ll also rehearse our routines. We didn’t know we were supposed to perform pregame, but we and the Colts dancers will both perform. That’s pretty new. But, we’re always prepared.”
Brown excelled in three areas of tryouts last April to make the Saintsations, following in the footsteps of her sister Keisha Borel, who was a member of the squad in 1998.
“I remember going to (Saints) games and watching her, and being so jealous,” Brown said. “I always wanted to do it. I thought I could, if I put my mind to it.”
Borel provided a tip or two before the auditions with 100 other aspirants.
“She always tells me to be myself, that God created me for me,” Brown said. “She told me to just go and have the best time of my life. I love it. We all get along really well.”
Each Saintsations prospect is judged not only on dance skills, but is also quizzed on football fundamentals, handles one-on-one interviews and spot questions, and is graded on public speaking ability.
With support from her husband Timothy and parents Gerald and Cindy Borel, Brown is balancing coursework at UL in business management, with a minor in dance, along with her full slate of Saintsations obligations.
Macie was a member of Teurlings Catholic’s competition dance team for four years and was nominated captain her senior year, a natural fit after attending Liz Trahan’s School of Dance in Cecilia from an early age.
She has taught at that studio for the last six years, and is experienced in jazz, tap, hip hop and lyrical. She has also choreographed competition routines for numerous junior high and high school cheerleading squads and dance teams.
“My mom started me at the studio when I was 3 years old, and I thank her every day for that,” Brown said. “Whatever I end up doing, I could never see myself not dancing.”
The Borels and Timothy Brown will be in Miami to share the Super Bowl experience, while Cindy Borel also has a ticket for the game.
The Lancaster (CA) JetHawks Professional Baseball Club is holding open auditions for the Hawkette’s Dance and Cheer Squad on Saturday February 13th at 10am. Those interested should come ready to perform! Please arrive no later than 9:45 a.m. for check in. All candidates should be in full performance hair and makeup; dress will be dance or cheer practice style. Each candidate will also need a completed application along with a full color photo of the candidate not to exceed 4×6.
This will be the second season of the re-invented Hawkette’s. This year’s class will help celebrate the JetHawks 15th Anniversary Season! If you have any questions regarding auditions please contact the Director of Promotions and Entertainment Jeremy Castillo at (661) 726-5400 or by email at Jeremy@jethawks.com.
Comedienne and former Oakland Raiderette guest stars on tonight’s episode of Ugly Betty (10pm E/PT on ABC)
From St. Tammany News:
Slidell resident, Jennifer Thomas, a New Orleans Saintsation, headed out for Miami Tuesday to cheer on the Saints to victory in Sunday’s Super Bowl.
Thomas is a member of the New Orleans Saintsations, the official cheerleading team for the New Orleans Saints.
Thomas won the competition last April to win a coveted position on the prestigious team. In addition to advanced dance technical skills, applicants were judged by area professionals in one-on-one interviews and tested on football fundamentals. The final round of competition included on the spot question and answer and public speaking skills.
Thomas is the daughter of Adam Owenton Thomas Jr. and stepdaughter of Gretchen Kay Thomas of Slidell and the daughter of Cheryl Lynn Thomas of Gonzales. She is the granddaughter of Bobby and Kathleen Waters and of the late Adam Owenton Thomas Sr. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in graphic design from Samfor University in Birmingham, Ala., and also received a minor in fine arts in the spring of 2008. Thomas graduated high school from Northshore High School in 2004.
Currently, Thomas works as the director of marketing and public relations for McDonald’s in the greater New Orleans area.
In addition to performing at NFL Saints home football games, the Saintsations have traveled to Iraq and Afghanistan to visit troops and were recognized for their community service efforts by the Louisiana Legislature. Team members recently returned from a week long NFL promotional trip to Mexico. Team members have competed in the NFL nationally televised Cheerleading championship, appeared in events surrounding the NFL Super Bowl and competed against other NFL cheerleading teams at the Super Bowl Beach challenge. Last season, the entire team was featured at the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio as well as the London regular season game in October.
The Saintsations support community projects through the “Saintsations Inspiration Program.” The primary focus of the program is to promote positive initiatives geared toward women and children.
They have worked hand-in-hand with Angel’s Place in New Orleans. This non-profit organization provides care and comfort for terminally ill children. They also work with more than 700 young girls in their Junior Saintsation program.
“The Saintsations are influential role models to the youth,” said team manager, Lesslee Fitzmorris, “ e look for young women who are committed to leading a healthy, productive lifestyle both on and off the field. Jennifer is a true representative of the youth and talent in the New Orleans area. “
The Saintsations left Tuesday for Miami. They will make an appearance at Universal Studios prior to their arrival in Miami. The team is schedule to appear on Fox and Friends, the CBS Early Show, the Bill O’Reilly show and make numerous appearances. On Super Bowl Sunday, the team will perform at pre-game.
They will be one step away from the action on game day, cheering the New Orleans Saints in their first Super Bowl game.
By Debra Braggs
al.com
Look closely at the sidelines during Sunday’s Super Bowl and you just might spot Mobile native Jasmine Smith.
Smith is a member of the Saintsations, the official cheerleading squad for the New Orleans Saints, and she’s smitten with the idea of cheering the team to victory in the Super Bowl.
“It’s so amazing to be going to the Super Bowl,” Smith said in a telephone interview last week. “This experience has been indescribable and I know it’s going to get even better.”
Cheering and dance are this 20-year-old’s expertise. At Murphy High School, the daughter of Stevie and Anissa Smith of Mobile was a member of the cheerleading squad and the track team, and maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout her high school career.
She attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham where she was a member of several organizations, such as the Co-ed cheerleading team, SOBER, NAACP, BSAC, and Alpha Lambda Delta an academic scholars program. Currently, she is pursuing a Doctorate of Pharmacy degree at Xavier University.
Smith said she is living out her dream to be a professional cheerleader.
“I’ve been dancing since age six. And I’ve always watched the Saints cheerleaders closely, hoping someday to be standing in their shoes,” she said.
Relocating to New Orleans last year to study at Xavier offered Smith the opportunity she had hoped for. She said that even though she began her studies at the University of Alabama in Birmingham, her hopes of becoming a Saintsation never died. The move to New Orleans made it all possible.
“It was a very long, hard process and the tryouts were tough. But it has been an amazing opportunity to meet so many intelligent and goal-oriented women. They are great motivators.”
While Smith is away cheering the Saints on this week, her classes will go on and she worries about the effect he absence will have on her studies.
“I know that I’m going to be behind, but I’ll catch up,” she said. “This is a once-in-a lifetime opportunity. I’ve got to be there.”
An Ellisville dance instructor who works with Saints cheerleaders will head to Miami on Tuesday for the Super Bowl.
For five years, Lora Davis has been working with the Saintsations.
She travels with the squad and helps them with choreography and public appearances.
“Once we get there, we’ll have appearances, performances and then they’ll have their big performance Sunday before the super bowl,” said Davis.
Davis is familiar with the Super Bowl. This will be her sixteenth season. She has worked for several years on the NFL’s pre -game shows.
“It’s estimated that 80 to 90 million homes will be watching the super bowl this Sunday, so no pressure on the team,” said Davis. “They have worked every day since we won our last game.”
The Saintsations have been mastering new routines and sideline cheers in preparation for the big game. Davis said she’s been busy teaching students at her studio, Ellisville Dance Arts.
“This is great for my dancers as well,” said Davis. For them to sit back and see some of the girls that I’ve worked with in addition to them gives them a feeling that there is something that they can do one day and accomplish.”
Davis said she looks forward to reuniting with many of the people she has worked with during previous super bowls.
Redskins Pro Bowl Cheerleader, former Washington Wizards Dancer, Materials and Corrosion Engineer for the Defense Department and a big fan of the blog, Heather says her week at the Pro Bowl was a blast! She was kind enough to send us a few photos form her week in South Florida.
Reader Kevin was at the Pro Bowl and he had a little trouble with the light, but still sent us a few photos of the Pro Bowl Cheerleaders.
