The Vikings are still playing but the fans have spoken and three-year veteran Jessica is the 2009 Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders Survivor.
Special thanks for contest support go to:
PurplePride.org
VikingsFanatic69.com
photographer Steven Griffeth
The MVC organization and Ms. Tami Krause.
When the Belles Performance Team set out to produce the first calendar in the organization’s seven year history, they had their work cut out for them. For years, Colorado’s professional entertainment teams have been setting a very high standard with uniform, bikini and themed calendars. Backgrounds of Las Vegas, warm tropical paradises and new stadiums presenting Colorado’s hottest cheerleaders and dancers have been fast fundraisers for these teams and the charities they support.
As an exclusive community participating organization, independent of any one sports team, the Belles realized the familiar bikini calendar wouldn’t be a good fit with their image in the community. And although their patriotic uniforms are widely recognized in the community, so much so the Belles’ logo was revamped in 2008 to include the uniform, a uniform calendar wasn’t unique enough for the team’s first calendar. So the team looked to their business partners and to the community for inspiration.
“The Belles Performance Team 2010 Limited Edition Calendar is unique in a variety of ways,” reveals Owner and Executive Director Cher Fox. “First, we showcased the 10 dancers on the team, each dancer appears in the calendar in 6 different photos and outfits. Second, we highlighted our business partners, their themes and locations, we were honored to thank them for all the support they’ve given us over the years. Lastly, this project was 100% a team effort, once the dancers were given the overall design layout and artistic concepts, they worked together to style the scenes with clothes and accessories. Top all that planning with almost 24 consecutive hours of strong photography and creative hair and makeup, plus countless hours of editing and design, and the Belles’ first calendar came to fruition.”
The 12 month calendar features a variety of themes: Nights Out, Romance, Spa Days, Sports, Holiday and Fantasy. Each month features one dancer in a business partner inspired main shot spanning the 11 x 17 page, as well as 2 satellite photos of the same dancer, one in a Belles uniform and one inspired by a Colorado sports theme. With each page turn, scenes transition effortlessly into stories only the Belles can tell. Overall there are 53 photos in the calendar. But how did they produce a 12 month calendar with only 10 dancers?
“One of the really special qualities of the calendar is each of the 10 dancers is featured equally,” shares Fox. “All 10 ladies share the cover, each dancer has their own month, and for the 2 month centerfold we were very creative (you’ll have to purchase one to see!) The final product really showcases the team’s unity on this project. I have never seen a calendar produced in this manner before, it is truly one of a kind!”
The Belles participate thousands of hours in the national community each year, performing and donating their time. What are their goals in producing a team calendar? “This project is most of all a celebration of our organization and all we’ve accomplished over the past 7 years,” explains Fox. “As an independent organization in the community, we are rarely compensated for our time, in fact, we often make donations or pay fees to be involved in community events. We need to raise funds to continue to keep our organization actively involved in the community. We also have an additional goal to raise money for a Colorado charity, one where even our small contribution will have a huge impact. We have not chosen this charity yet, we have been approached with many great suggestions, but we will complete our campaign and then decide where we can help the most.”
The Belles Performance Team would like to thank all the partners who participated in the production of the calendar: Aesthetic Nurse Specialists, Allana’s Academy of Dance, Dubbs Design, Fox and Hound, Fox Productions Inc., Hot Shots Photography, Hpnotiq, LA Boxing, Planet Beach Contempo Spa, and Vito Pini Salon. A limited number of calendars can be purchased directly from the dancers at various signing events throughout Denver, as well as online from the team website. Several of the team’s business partners also have them at their locations. Visit the team’s website at http://www.bellespt.com for more details on how to support this unique community organization.
By Amy Deis
PioneerLocal.com
Moving to the sound of Jay-Z, Shakira and Jay Sean, Westview Hills Middle School students have been breaking it down as hip-hop dancers.
Every year the students have a dance unit in their gym class. In the past, the school hired a company to come in and teach the students ballroom dancing. This year, physical education teacher Gregg Boldman wanted to do something different.
“With hip hop, you see kids doing this stuff out in the hallways and after class,” he said.
The PTO sponsored hiring Jacqueline Howard to come and teach the sixth- through eighth-graders. Howard is a member of Chicago Rush Adrenaline dance team and a former Chicago Bulls Luvabulls. She also is a member of the internationally known hip-hop group Dance2XS.
She encourages each student not to just learn the moves but insert their own flair into the dance steps.
“You’re still adding style and expressing yourself,” she said.
During Tuesday’s session, Howard taught the sixth-graders a move they refer to as the Matrix where they move in slow motion. Moving in slow motion, Howard said, helps them understand the way the body moves, like what happens if they move their arm a certain way.
“You learn how to counterbalance your weight,” she said. “It’s all about form.”
One of the students’ favorite hip-hop exercises was standing in a circle while each student gets four beats to do four different moves. The students share ideas but still manage to insert themselves into the dance.
Learning hip-hop dance encourages the students to try new things but not feel stupid if they can’t get it the first time.
“We all embarrass ourselves,” sixth-grader Nick Curtiss said.
He prefers doing hip hop to the foxtrot.
“You don’t have to move along with the other person,” he said, demonstrating the kick-step-tap move.
For students like Nick, learning hip-hop dance was a bit easier because he has been dancing since he was 4. Sixth-grader Haley Henricksen said her cheerleading experience helped her do a handstand more easily.
Haley said learning how to transfer her body weight while moving quickly, however, has been difficult. She said Howard was instrumental in her mastering the steps.
“She’s really encouraging; I couldn’t do anything when we started,” Haley said.
One of the harder moves for Barret is a move called the six-step, which is a breakdance move where the person supports his body while his legs move around in a circle.
“It’s like Twister except you’re by yourself and it’s to music,” he said.
The sixth-graders learned how to incorporate the six-step with other hip-hop moves like The Reject (similar to the Running Man but backward) and the Pindrop.
“There’s no limits to what you can do,” Barret said.
Even if someone is a hesitant to try hip-hop dance, Willowbrook sixth-grader Camia Wright has some advice.
“Just pretend you know,” she said.
Auditions for the 2010-11 Jacksonville ROAR begin March 14th, but you must have your application returned by March 1st.
The Calgary Roughnecks Drill Crew have been named the number one MLN Sports MAJOR ATTITUDE Dance Team of 2010. Drill Crew member and head coach, Dana Murphy, was also named the 2010 MLN MAJOR ATTITUDE Dancer. Murphy was named the top dancer by the editors of MLN Sports as part of the annual MLN Sports MAJOR ATTITUDE Dance Team, the top 20 dancers or cheerleaders working in minor league or alternative professional sports appearing in the January issue of MLN Sports Zone. The cover can be seen at www.mlnsports.com this month.
Teammate Ceilynn Rothwell was named to the fifth slot of the MADT.
Seven of the top 20 dancers came from the NLL, including dancers from the Minnesota Swarm and the Boston Blazers. Five are from the NBA D-League, three from the expansion Allen Americans of the Central Hockey League, one appears from the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz of the migrating arenafootball2 league and one from Major League Lacrosse.
[Calgary Roughnecks Drill Crew]
Congratulations to the new Jacksonville Sharks Attack Dance Team who were chosen after auditions were held earlier this month.
The Attack Dance Team is managed by Kimberly Newbern. She was a competitive cheerleader for 10 years where she won over thirty State and National titles in partner stunting, individuals and quads. Newbern was a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars ROAR from 2003-2006 where she was honored to tour Greenland and perform for our troops. Newbern was also featured in the ROAR Calendar in 2004 and 2005. Newbern was cast in the movie Bring It On: In It To Win It as a Shark and Shet dancer. Newbern has been a member of the Sweet Hearts for Soldiers where in September of 2008 she traveled overseas to the Middle East and performed for our troops. In October of 2008, she became a staff member for International Spirit. Newbern currently owns and is the head coach for the First Class Athletics All-Stars and enjoys developing young talent each day!
To complement Sasha’s list NFL Auditions and Prep Classes:
American Indoor Football Association (AIFA)
Arctic Predators Cheerleaders (Sunday, January 31st)
Baltimore Mariners Cheerleaders (TBA, January 2010)
Erie Storm ERIEsistables (Saturday, January 23rd)
Fayetteville Guard Reveille (Saturday, February 13th)
Richmond Lady Raiders (Friday, February 5th and Saturday, February 6th)
San Jose She-Wolves Dance Team (Saturday, January 30th)
Arena Football One (AF1)
Milwaukee Iron Platinum Dance Team (Friday, Feb 12 & Sat Feb 13)
Oklahoma City Yawd Dawgz Dance Team (Saturday, January 23rd)
Spokane Shock Dance Team (Saturday, January 30th)
Utah Blaze Dance Team (Friday, January 22nd)
Canadian Football League (CFL)
BC Felions (Saturday, April 3rd)
Indoor Football League (IFL)
Arkansas Twisters Sirens (Friday, January 29th)
Colorado Icicles (Saturday, January 23rd)
Corpus Christi Lady Hammerheads (Saturday, February 13th)
Kent Predators Dance Team (Friday, January 22nd)
Maryland Maniacs Dance Team (Saturday, January 23rd)
Tri-Cities Fever Girls (Thursday, January 21st)
Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL)
Chicago Cardinals Dance Team (Saturday, January 30th)
Southern Indoor Football League (SIFL)
Greenville Force Danz Team (Saturday, February 6th)
Louisiana Wildcatters Dance Team (Saturday, January 30th)<
United National Gridiron League (UNGL)
Carolina Comets Cheerleaders/Dance Team (Sunday, January 24th)
Dallas Bluestorm Cheerleaders/Dance Team (Sunday, January 24th)
Miami Scorchers Cheerleaders/Dance Team (Saturday, January 30th)
Ohio Marauders Cheerleaders/Dance Team (Sunday, January 24th)
Virginia Swarm Cheerleader/Dance Team (Saturday, January 23rd)
Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chivas! Girls (Saturday, February 13th)
Other Cheerleader/Dance Team Auditions
AVP Dancers (Saturday, January 30th)
When the Philadelphia KiXX host the Rockford Rampage this Satuday at 7:05pm, the first 1,000 fans 18 and older will receive a free copy of the 2010 KiXX Dance Team Calendar
[Philadelphia KiXX Dance Team]
The Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz will hold tryouts for the 2010 Dance Team at the Bricktown Brewery on January 23-24.
Who: Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz
What: Dance Team Tryouts
When: Jan. 23-24, 2010
Where: Bricktown Brewery
1 North Oklahoma Ave.
OKC, OK 73104
Additional Information: Please see the itinerary below. Tryout information can be found by visiting www.okcyarddawgz.com.
Dance Team Auditions
January 23rd & 24th, 2010
Bricktown Brewery – Upstairs
Cost – $35
January 23rd
Registration – 8 AM
Learn Material – 9 AM – 4 PM
January 24th
Registration – 3 PM
Final Auditions – 4 PM
[OKC Yard Dawgz Dance Team Tryouts]
[OKC Yard Dawgz Dance Team Application]
