By Lorne Chan
Spurs.com

Stefani Montiel may be a Grammy-nominated Tejano star, but for 16 years, she’s been upstaged over and over again by the same person:

Zavala is Montiel’s daughter, and even as a toddler she would wander on stage during her mother’s shows, striking poses and hugging fans in the front row. Zavala may be the youngest of the Silver Dancers at 18 years old, but she’s played to crowds for almost her entire life.

“She would pretty much take over the show starting all the way back to when she was 2,” Stefani Montiel said. “She grew up around performing, and it was like she was destined to do what she’s doing now.”

Mother and daughter will be on the AT&T Center court together on Sunday for Los Spurs day, when the Silver and Black face Chicago. Montiel will be singing, while her daughter provides backup.

Montiel has performed the national anthem at Spurs games before, and her cover band Lush also has played at the AT&T Center’s Overtime after games. Montiel will be back to perform at Overtime on April 3. Her daughter, meanwhile, is in her first season as a Silver Dancer.

“I’ve gotten a little better at dancing since I was 2,” Zavala said. “Once, I did a pose during a game that someone noticed looked exactly like my mom’s pose on a CD cover. I didn’t plan it or anything, it was just natural.”

Montiel has won numerous Tejano Music Awards and has been nominated for three Grammy Awards and three Latin Grammy Awards. But she said performing in front of 10,000 fans doesn’t compare to watching her daughter dance in front of a packed crowd at the AT&T Center.

“I’m so proud,” Montiel said. “It’s surreal, because even when she’s on the court, she’s still my little girl.”

When Montiel goes to Spurs games, she ends up watching the dancers more than any of the action on the floor.

“She has a dance background too, so she’ll record our routines,” Ileah said. “I think my mom notices more with my dancing than any coach ever has.”

Ileah grew up on the road, following her parents as they were on tour for about 200 days a year when she was young. Ileah’s father and Stefani’s husband Gabriel Zavala also is Stefani’ producer.

Stefani said she never wanted to push her daughter into performing, but Ileah always ended up dancing anyway. Ileah said she may follow her mother into singing some day, but for now, she’s “living a dream” as a Silver Dancer.

By the time Ileah was 16, she officially became one of Stefani’s backup dancers. She still performs with her mother sometimes, although life as a Silver Dancer has become the priority. In January, Zavala missed a game to perform with her mother on a “Tejano Legends” cruise trip to Jamaica.

When Ileah was 17, she was captain of dance team for the San Antonio Talons, an Arena Football League team.

But Ileah, who graduated from Brennan High School last year, said she still didn’t think she would make the cut for the Silver Dancers when she auditioned over summer.

Her mother had no doubt.

“I’ve been performing for years, but I’ve never seen anyone as naturally comfortable as Ileah when she’s up there,” Stefani said. “She has these big dreams, and you could always tell she was a budding superstar.”

[Ileah and Stefani Gallery]

The BC Lions Felions Dance Team host an audition for about 100 dancers Sunday at the Scotia Dance Centre in Vancouver. About 55 will be selected by the end of the audition, with follow up interviews Monday, whittling the total to 40 finals for the Felions Dance Team 2015.

[FeLions Audition Gallery]

[Sussex Stags Dance Team]

[Stags Dance Team Auditions on Facebook]

A Baltimore Blast Cheerleader

By Joe Burris
The Baltimore Sun

Emily Haskell, a college student from Bel Air, auditioned for the first time, eager to reach what she called “the final step everyone wants to get to in their cheerleading career.”

Terri Confair, a government accountant from Washington, was auditioning for the second time, a self-proclaimed nerd by day and dancer by night.

The two were among 150 women and men that took part in Ravens cheerleader tryouts Saturday at the Downtown Merritt Athletic Club. The throng took up the entire downstairs gym during an afternoon of dance moves, high-kick twirls and gymnastics jumps, with each participant vying for one of 50 roster spots on a squad entering its 18th season. The Ravens had anticipated 100 to 200 participants would audition.

The Ravens cheerleading squad comprises a dance team and a co-ed stunt team. On Saturday, the women outnumbered the men by about 10-1. Even veteran cheerleaders auditioned, as officials said roster spots need be earned each year.

Call-backs and additional tryouts will be held Sunday, Ravens officials said.

“The girls have become more glamorous, the guys have definitely gotten stronger and more talented,” said Stokes. “As the skill level has increased in high school and colleges, the level has also increased professionally.”

Ravens officials said that cheerleaders must be 18 by April 1. Stokes said the average age of a squad member is about 24. There is no height requirement; the average is around 5 feet, 4 inches. There’s also no weight requirement.

“We just make sure they have a fit, athletic look,” Stokes said.
Ravens Rally in Timonium
Ravens cheerleaders, the marching band and fans turned out Friday morning for a rally at Hightopps Backstage Grille in Timonium. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

Saturday’s tryouts included men and women of different ages, shapes, heights and ethnicities. But nearly every woman had one thing in common: hair to the shoulders and below. Ravens officials said that’s not by accident; short hair is not preferred, they said.

Stokes said that Ravens cheerleaders practice twice a week, show up for games five hours before kickoff and do appearances during the week. He said cheerleaders are paid on an hourly basis but didn’t know how much per hour.

Ravens officials only release the first names of cheerleaders, citing security reasons.

“The first year I tried out, I didn’t go to any clinics, and I didn’t know what to expect,” said Jessica, who works in marketing at a bank. “After the first year, I only made it to the second day, but each year after that I got further.

“They don’t really give you feedback until you get further in the tryout process because there’s too many [participants] at this round. My fourth year, I made it to the last round, and I was able to get some very specific feedback, and I worked on those things.”

Whitney J., 22, also of Baltimore, is a third-year squad member who happens to be from the West Virginia town Ravenswood. Currently attending Marshall University online, she said she made the team after her first tryout.

“Mine was a spontaneous decision I made after my sophomore year of college,” said Whitney. “I did some research, and I knew the Ravens were where I would fit in.”

Haskell, 18, a student at Harford Community College, said she cheered at Patterson Mill High School in Bel Air and became interested in becoming a Ravens cheerleader five years ago, when one of her coaches was a member of the Ravens squad.

Having tried out for the first time, she said, the difficulty of the dance moves was a surprise, as was tumbling on a gym floor.

For Confair, making the team would mark the second time she would perform for a local squad. She previously cheered for the Maryland-based Bay Area Shuckers of the American Professional Basketball League.

Confair said that when she tried out for the Ravens cheerleaders last year, “I felt prepared, but with the number of judges and the set up of the judges, I got a little case of last-minute nerves. But I know what to expect this year, and I feel I’ve prepared extensively.”

[Strikers Cheerleaders on Facebook]

A New York Lizards Dancer

Pistons Dancer Kathryn hits a half court shot at halftime of the Pistons vs Knicks

From StLouisRams.com

G’day mates! I was fortunate enough to spend Super Bowl XLIX weekend in the Outback of Australia with our U.S. Service men and women! While away for a week I kept a journal to bring back and share all of my favorite experiences with my fellow Rams fans. Enjoy!

Day 1:
After 27 hours of traveling I have finally arrived in Australia and in none other than the beautiful city of Sydney! Fortunately we had the entire day to ourselves to relax and do some sightseeing. Joining me on my Military ProTour are fellow NFL Cheerleaders and Players from around the league! Darrel Young #36, Shawn Lauvao #77, and cheerleader, Tiana are all here representing the Washington Redskins, Karen is here representing her hometown, Minnesota Vikings, and Heather is here for the Tennessee Titans. Together the 6 of us explored Sydney all day in the warm, summer weather Australia currently has to offer. Typical tourist we are, our first stop had to be the famous Sydney Opera House! After having lunch on the Sydney Harbour, we took a scenic ferry ride to the Taronga Zoo. I’ve only been Down Under for 12 hours and I can already say I’ve seen koala bears and kangaroos! (Fun fact: koala bears sleep 17-22 hours of the day.) I’ve had such an incredible experience already, and it’s only day 1. Wheels up again tomorrow, we’re headed to Alice Springs!

Day 2:
I have officially seen what Australians refer to as the Outback! Alice Springs is located in the very center of Australia, where the weather is about 20 degrees warmer and the flies here know no boundaries. We got to spend the day with the Australian Army, where they took us off-roading in their heavy duty vehicles and sightseeing at Anzac Hill Lookout. This city completely differs from Sydney, but scenic-wise it is just as beautiful, with mountains, hills, and desert covering every angle. Have I mentioned I’ve gotten the Aussie lingo just about down already? The Australian Army men were kind enough to give us some vocabulary to use while we’re here so we’re not completely lost during conversation and I’ve been dying to share with fellow Rams fans! Take a look below:

breakfast = brekky
hungry = peckish
photos = happy snaps
the bush = the Outback
maccas = McDonalds
‘straya = Australia
joey = a baby kangaroo

 

Day 3:
I know yesterday I said I had officially seen the Outback, well I OFFICIALLY saw it again today! Our U.S. Air Force showed us today what it’s really like to go off-roading in the bush. After about 20 minutes of nothing but bumpy rock roads we made it to the top of a plateau overlooking Alice Springs’ Outback. From that point, as far as the eye could see was desert from every corner. I even saw a full grown kangaroo hopping it’s way through the wild! After about ten minutes of taking in the incredible view the flies won and we got right back into off-roading and doing some more sightseeing of this quaint city. The Air Force men even showed us a little of the work they do and a gave us a tour of their base. While there, I felt home away from home after I found a signed football on display by our very own Marshall Faulk and Tory Holt! They had visited that same base this past summer!

Day 4:
We spent today doing what we love – interacting with fans! We made sure today was all about the 70 U.S. service men and women that are apart of the Australian base. Although no one was from St. Louis or even Missouri for that matter, I did end up meeting a man who had completed his basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood, a base that I had recently visited with the Rams and NFL’s Play 60 this past summer – what a coincidence! Later in the evening we had the chance to meet with our military’s families. It was a blast! Myself and the 3 other cheerleaders taught dance routines and cheers to girls ages 5 and up while the players ran drills and workouts with anyone else who wanted to participate. The kids all did so great! It was so much fun getting to know everyone, I also learned all about the different places these families have lived just to serve our country. The people there were the sweetest and made tonight one I’ll never forget! They even bought us all our own Tim Tams, a famous Australian cookie/biscuit brand that Americans are crazy about. Among Tim Tams, I can also say I’ve tried kangaroo steak during my time here in Aussie. (Another fun fact: Australia is the only country that eats and serves their national animal in just about every restaurant!) When in Australia…

Day 5:
Happy Super Bowl Monday! We made it to the Alice Springs Cinema at 9am to watch Super Bowl XLIX live along side our U.S. Military. After getting to know everyone yesterday, it made watching the big game fun and feel like I was back at home watching it with a big group of friends – only difference, it was Monday morning and I’m 9,000 miles away from home!

We ended our time in Alice Springs with a trip to the Kangaroo Sanctuary. A place where Brolga Barns created to raise orphaned baby kangaroos. He gave us all a personal tour of his grounds and we even got to meet some of his furry friends! It was the absolute perfect way to end our time in Australia, all thanks to Master Sgt. Dover, our personal history teacher and tour guide all in one for the last few days!

From Sydney to Alice Springs I got a true, once in a lifetime, incredible Australian experience and I am so honored have represented the St. Louis Rams along the way!

Xoxo Rams love,
Alicia

[Gallery of Alicia in Australia]

[Tri-State Bull Dolls]