Someone else I ran into at the Eagles Cheerleaders Alumni Reunion was Michelle ‘Jersey’ Maniscalco.
Here’s an story on Michelle by Jen Jones writing in Dance Spirit back in 2007
When Michelle “Jersey” Maniscalco arrives at our cover shoot in Malibu, it’s clear that she’s come a long way since her days on MTV’s “Dancelife.” Gone is the clunker car that could barely get her to auditions; now her jazzy new ride sports gold rims and tinted windows. Her recent gigs have included a European tour with Rihanna, a role as a backup singer in the upcoming film Alvin and the Chipmunks, and a trip to Portugal with Jennifer Lopez for the “New Seven Wonders of the World” extravaganza performance. No doubt about it—Jersey has arrived.
Garden State Beginnings
Though Jersey now resides in sunny L.A., most of her dance training took place in her hometown of Runnemede, NJ. Starting at age three, she spent her time in ballet, tap, jazz and tumbling classes, and at 11, she decided to take her dance future into her own hands. “My teachers told me I wasn’t ready for pointe, but I was dying to wear the shoes,” Jersey says. “So I went on pointe by myself. I wound up being better on pointe than off! When there’s something I want to do, I put my all into it.” Although DS doesn’t recommend putting yourself on pointe, in Jersey’s case the gamble paid off. She was soon cast as Clara in Ballet South of New Jersey’s The Nutcracker (a role she filled for two consecutive years).
Though on a promising path, Jersey began questioning her involvement in dance when she entered high school. “I had put a lot of pressure on myself, and when I turned 15, I needed a break from that whole world,” she remembers. For the next several years, Jersey stepped away from her dance training, but continued to perform as part of her high school cheerleading squad.
But she couldn’t resist dance’s magnetic appeal for too long. After seeing some underground dancers freestyling at a club, 18-year-old Jersey took a job dancing at several nightclubs, including Donald Trump’s Taj Mahal nightclub in Atlantic City. “[Working as a freestyle dancer] gave me more confidence and made me more of a performer,” Jersey says.
Along with her nightclub gigs, Jersey also successfully auditioned for the Philadelphia Eagles dance team. But halfway through her second season with the squad, she got some life-changing news. “Some dancers I knew told me about an MTV show called ‘The Wade Robson Project,’” she says. “I’d always dreamed of being a professional dancer, so I cleaned out my bank account and flew to California for the auditions.”
Once in Los Angeles, Jersey’s freestyle skills came in handy. (“At the auditions, I just showed off with what I would do at work,” she says. “I was totally fearless.”) After surviving two cuts, Jersey was chosen for the show and asked to fly back to L.A. one month later. Though she was ecstatic, her family wasn’t quite so sure about the opportunity. “When I told my parents I was going to L.A., my mom was like, ‘You’re crazy!’ My dad warned me, ‘These people can spin on their heads; they’re amazing.’ I said, ‘You know what, Dad? I’m amazing, too.’” Wade and friends agreed—Jersey was selected as the show’s first runner-up.
Hollywood BoundAfter nabbing Wade’s second-place spot, Jersey decided to stay on the West Coast permanently. “The show had been such a good experience and a huge stepping stone toward my dreams,” she says. “I didn’t want it to end.” Once in L.A., Jersey started taking up to five dance classes every day and feverishly hitting the audition circuit. Soon Wade came calling with an offer for her first professional gig: an industrial in Las Vegas for BellSouth Atlantic. “Wade used four kids from the show, and it was really fun to get the opportunity to work with him,” says Jersey. “He’s a genius.”
Wade’s offer opened the floodgates for Jersey, who began working steadily as a dancer. Along with a Target commercial, an Asics print spot and an appearance in Bring It On: All or Nothing, Jersey took a six-month gig in the then-new Pussycat Dolls Lounge at Caesar’s Palace.
Then, in May 2006, she got an unexpected call from MTV. “The producers wanted me to do an interview to talk about a friend who was auditioning for ‘Dancelife,’” says Jersey. “It turned out that my friend got a job in Germany, but the producers liked me and I wound up getting the job!”
Executive produced by Jennifer Lopez, the show followed the triumphs and trials of six dancers trying to make it in Hollywood. Now in talks for a second season, the show was a bona fide success. “I feel so blessed because the show took me to another level in my career,” says Jersey, who toured with Rihanna shortly after the show wrapped.
Now that she’s setting her sights on acting along with dancing, is Jersey destined to follow in J.Lo’s footsteps? “Jennifer is such a hard worker; she doesn’t even stop to pee!” laughs Jersey. “She’s a woman who knows exactly what she wants, and so am I. Ever since I was little, my dream has been to be a star. I didn’t know how I would get there, but I’ve always known one day I would make it.” This “Jersey from the block” is well on her way.
She’s still in LA working as an dancer, actress and model. She’s dancing for the LA Pussy Cat Dolls and is featured on the cover of the PCD’s new workout DVD coming in December.
Follow ‘Jersey’ on twitter, myspace, imdb
The party is canceled! 🙁
See more photos from previous parties here.
Do you have what it takes to be a professional cheerleader? Does the thought of performing in front of 5,000 fans get you excited? Do you have the skills and talent to be a role model on and off the field? If you have a passion for dance, the Austin community, and sports… you might just have what it takes to be a member of the Lady Cats dance team.
The Austin Turfcats will be holding auditions for the 2010 Lady Cats dance team over the weekend of October 24-26. The first two days of auditions will be held at Austin Cheer Factory, while the Monday night finale will be held at a location to be announced (and open to the public).
There will also be 4 prep classes held before the tryouts to help you learn some dance moves and get to know the other ladies. They will be held October 12, 14, 19, and 21 from 7 to 9 pm at the YMCA Southwest of Austin. Cost is $20 per class. If you attend all 4 of the prep classes you will be able to attend auditions for free.
In addition to providing entertainment at the Turfcats’ home games and cheering on the team, the Lady Cats are called upon throughout the season to make a number of Turfcats promotional appearances. These appearances range from community and charity events to performing in and around the Austin metro area and Central Texas.
Phil from the Buffalo Pro Cheer Blog was at the Jills open practice early this week:
NFL Cheerleaders didn’t just start out in the pro ranks. Most pro cheerleaders don’t even wait until high school to start cheering and start out in grade school. To reach out to the young cheerleaders in Western NY, the Jills staged their 1st Open Practice on Tuesday night and the event was a bigger success than most expected. Well over 100 young girls came to the Buffalo Bills Fieldhouse to learn from the pros along with their parents and, in some cases, their coaches as one squad even sent a busload of their cheerleaders to learn from the Jills.
After check-in, the Jills led their young charges through some stretching exercises before splitting off into groups around the Fieldhouse where 2-4 members of the dance squad worked closely with groups of girls to teach them a cheer. While this was all going on, the Jills Ambassadors walked around to sell raffle tickets and talk to parents about the Jr Jills program and about what they wanted their children to get out of the experience.After training with the Jills dancers, it was time to perform and each group performed with their squad leaders before a large cheer with all of the young cheerleaders. But that wasn’t it as the Jills had a special treat for their young charges as they put on a performance to show off a lot of what they do on gamedays in pregame and at the 3rd intermission of the game. The session finished off with photographs and autographs for the kids before the Jills finished off their night with their customary closed-door practice.
Photos and Video at Phil’s Blog
By Roy Waggoner
OA Online
Give me a C-H-E-E-R.
OK, the routines may be a little tougher than that for former Odessan Ariana Garcia who is in her first season with the Houston Texans cheerleading squad. That would be the National Football League’s Houston Texans.
It’s already been an experience Garcia can’t get over.
“Walking out on the field is amazing. You feel the wind out of the tunnel and hear the screaming so quickly,” she said.
Garcia said she didn’t decide to try out until a week before the tryouts in April and ended up staying for two weeks instead because of the multiple steps in the tryout and practice process. To get on the team, she went through interviews and rigorous performances.
In addition, she got to go on Univision’s morning show to dance on the program with a few other people on the squad who can speak Spanish.
“That was one of the most exciting things, national television that my family got to see,” Garcia said.
She said her grandfather was particularly shocked since he didn’t know she was going to be on television when he watched the appearance.
Once she made the team, Garcia had to rush home to take finals at Odessa College and then went back for a team photo shoot, spending a great deal of time in the car before she moved to the city over the summer.
Now a student at the University of Houston, she spends much of her time either practicing for cheerleading or doing appearances. The team is required to do 40 a year, and Garcia said she thinks that is just one of the misconceptions about cheerleaders.
“We have to be a full-time student, mother or worker. We are young people who are more than just cheerleaders. It’s a second job,” she said.
Though Garcia hasn’t had experience cheering before she tried out for the team, she was a dancer both for the Ector Junior High team and the OHS Showgirls for three years before she graduated in 2007.
“I knew I wanted to dance, and I wouldn’t have had the skills I have had I not been a part of the Showgirls. It’s where I got my dancing skills and the ability to push myself to produce more,” she said.
Since moving to Houston, she said it’s been hard being away from family, but the support of family and friends makes the difference.
“I want to thank everybody for supporting me,” she said.Her mother, Martha Garcia, said she took Ariana down to Houston several times, coming herself to a draft party and then to another game recently against the Jets.
She said the OHS grad’s time as a member of the Showgirls really helped her grow.
“She was kind of shy at first but then got confidence to really reach goals,” mom Garcia said.
Mom said was originally against Ariana trying out, but she changed her mind when she saw how looked serious her daughter was about trying out.. Now, she has high hopes for what it could mean for the future.
“It could open doors. Very few get to accomplish this. She can learn and grow from it,” Martha Garcia said.
The Swarm have announced that tryouts for the Swarm Performance Team (SPT) will take place at CorePower Yoga in Minneapolis on Saturday, Oct 24. Ten women will be selected to the team and join Head Coach Tami Krause and new coach Allison Drusch for the 2010 season. Registration begins at 6:00 PM.
Krause enters her sixth season as Head Coach and Coordinator for the Minnesota Swarm Performance Team. For the past 12 years, she has also held that same role for Minnesota Vikings Cheerleading. A mother of three boys, Krause was a dance major from the University of Minnesota and is a former professional cheerleader.
Joining Krause on the coaching staff is first year coach, Allison Drusch, who brings her prior experience as a three-year member of the SPT and guest choreographer.
“We have so many new and exciting things going on with the Swarm this year and bringing Allison on board is another addition to the list,” stated Krause. “I can’t wait to see which 10 amazing women will gear up for the 2010 team.”
A mother of two girls, Drusch is also a former Vikings Cheerleading Captain and Pro Bowl Cheerleader. She also serves as a UPA Judges Coordinator for National Dance and Cheer Competitions.
“I’m looking forward to coming back to the Swarm in this new role. I loved every year of dancing with the SPT and am honored for the opportunity to share my passion and expertise as a coach,” explained Drusch.
Go here to register and for complete audition information.
NLL Dance Teams
Minnesota Swarm Performance Team (Saturday, October 24th)
AIFA Dance Teams
DC Body Armor (TBA, November)
Harrisburg Stampede Spirit Cheer/Dance Team (Saturday, October 3rd)
Reading Express Smokin’ Hot Steam Team (Saturday, October 10th)
IFL Dance Teams
Austin Turfcats Lady Cats (Saturday, October 24th)
Wichita Wild Things (Saturday, November 1st)
UNGL Cheerleaders
Ohio Regional Auditions (Ohio, Miami, Virginia & North Carolina) (Sunday, October 18th)
By Matthew Desousa
The Minaret
On a hot, end-of-summer Saturday afternoon, Hope Donnelly, the new Head Cheerleading Coach for The University of Tampa, completed the third and final day of tryouts with candidates in a chilly Cass Gymnasium.
Pleased with the strong turnout of almost 50 candidates for an approximately 18 member squad, Coach Donnelly was impressed with the core skill levels present in the candidates.
Hope cheered for the Buccaneers the year they won the Super Bowl.
Many had been all-star cheerleaders, with a diverse background in dance, from high school and other colleges. Others brought technically advanced skills from gymnastics.
Also having to compete for the limited roster positions were 11 returning veterans.Although no minimum requirements existed for entrance to the tryouts, each of the three mandatory days became progressively advanced for student evaluations.
Performances in basic spirit displays and entertainment of chants and jumping began each day, with additional tests of tumbling and stunting introduced in the second and third days.
No matter what skills an individual begins the squad with, Donnelly noted that a set goal for each member would be to perform a standing backhand spring.
“They’ve all worked really hard and showed their commitment to the team, so we’re really going to have a great group,” said Donnelly of the candidates she has evaluated.
At the time of the interview 36 students were remaining in contention, with the final team roster to be determined by Sept. 21.
Donnelly is the only UT staff member instructing the team, but has the aid of three student leaders on the team.
Two are returning veterans and the third to be determined at a later time.
Swimsuit Photo from the Tampa Bay LightningAfter a respectable professional background in performance, Donnelly returns to collegiate cheerleading in her first season as a coach.
A dancer since the age of three, the Panama City Beach native started organized cheerleading at seven and continued throughout high school and college.
As a co-captain of the Eckerd College cheerleading team, a fellow member of UT’s conference, she went semi-professional in her last year in attendance and performed as a captain of the Tampa Bay Storm’s cheering squad.
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and visual art, she expanded her professional career with seasons cheering for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Orlando Magic and the Tampa Bay Lightning.
With the Lightning, she achieved the position of Entertainment Manager for the St. Petersburg Times Forum and spent the past four years improving the fan experience. Some of which are noted in her UT Athletics web site profile.
Hope with the Orlando Magic DancersGil Swalls, UT’s Associate Athletic Director, said that Donnelly possesses “an excellent combination of previous cheerleading experience, both in our [Sunshine State] conference and as a professional; she had the best experience for our needs.”
For her future plans Donnelly said, “fans at games are going to notice an increased level of interaction and the entertainment value the team brings.”
She also expressed an interest in possibly having the team formally compete in the upcoming spring season of cheering events.
Auditions for the 2009-2010 season will be held on Saturday, October 3, 2009!
If you have a passion for the Harrisburg Stampede, dance, the community, and football, then this is the perfect opportunity for you! The Spirit Dance Team will be the hottest dance team in Central Pennsylvania! Currently going into their 2nd season in 2009-2010, team members will perform at all home Harrisburg Stampede Games and appear at events in and outside of Central Pennsylvania.
Open Call Audition – Saturday, October 3, 2009 – Registration at 9am:
• Audition is closed to the public, family, and friends.
• Must be 18 yrs of age or older (high school diploma or equiv)
• All participants must be prepared to stay as late as 12pm (no exceptions)
• You will not need to prepare your own performance routine.
• We recommend that you bring snacks, a water bottle, a towel, and items to freshen up.
• Participants will be judged on appearance, fitness, dance ability, style,
strength and completion of movement, energy, projection, and potential.
What we’re looking for:
• Showmanship, personality, energy, and enthusiasm!
• Professionalism and maturity
• Dancers who are well spoken and can represent the Harrisburg Stampede in a professional manner at all times
• Dance technique and style
• Ability to pick up dance choreography quickly
• Consistent positive attitude
• Strong teamwork skills
• Physical fitness and personal appearance
• Ability and desire to commit for ONE FULL YEAR
• A maximum of 16-20 team members for the 2009-20010 season
Attire:
• Dance or athletic half-top (stomach must be showing)
• Hot pants, dance trunks, or shorts (no full or capri length pants)
• Dance sneakers, tennis shoes, or jazz shoes with non-marking soles
AUDITION INFORMATION:
When: Saturday, October 3, 2009 (9am.— 12pm)
Where: Nee Danse Company, 2040 Derry Street, Harrisburg, PA
Time Registration & Stretching— 9-9:30am
Tryouts begin— 9:30am
Note: Will learn a 60-90 second cheer/dance routine
Must bring registration forms, copy of ID, recent full-length or headshot photo.
For more information please email: stampedespirit@harrisburgstampede.com
