By Sophie Braccini
Lamorinda Weekly
November 7th, 2012
Cathy Corsi, owner of Moraga’s Si Si Caffe and C.C. & Co. Hair Designs, danced in the center of the Oakland Coliseum Sunday, October 21, in front of thousands of Oakland Raiders fans during a recent halftime show as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the Raiderettes. “This is how something you do at 14 and a half can impact you for the next 50 years of your life,” says Corsi with a broad smile.
Corsi joined the very first group of Raiderettes in the early 1960s, which started in San Francisco. At age 14, Corsi accompanied her childhood friend JoAnn Stooksberry, who had been asked at her dance studio to a Raiderettes tryout. “At the time they (the Raiders) were not as popular as today; they recruited a group of cute young girls to attract more spectators,” she jokes.
Stooksberry is still her friend, and she also came to the reunion. “It was a very well organized affair,” says Corsi. The ladies worked on the new routine for five hours the day before their performance to the music “These Boots Are Made For Walkin’,” had dinner together, then rehearsed again on Sunday with the other age groups all together.
“The announcer presented the ladies by age group,” says Corsi. “We were in the very center of the stadium, the very first Raiderettes.” Corsi said that some 400 women from the different age groups came – 28 were from the ’60s. Corsi plans to stay in shape for the 60th reunion.
Heads-up Arizona girls. The Arizona Rattlers dance team, the Sidewinders, has added some additional prep class dates. One of them is TONIGHT! Click here for details
The Clippers website has been updated with head shots of this year’s edition of the Spirit Dance Team. Hopefully individual profiles will follow. Click here for a little more about the ladies on the team!
Congratulations to 6th year veteran Melissa! Melissa will represent the Minnesota Vikings at the Pro Bowl at the end of January. The big news was announced last night at the Vikings Cheerleaders annual Holiday Show.
ArenaRush.com
11/01/2012
Being involved in a professional dance environment can be challenging both physically and mentally. Without much pay, dancers sacrifice financial stability because of a love and passion for performing. For one woman, the opportunity to blend her extensive dance background and work for the Rush has provided an outlet for her to continue living her dream.
As a former Luvabull and Adrenaline Rush Dancer, team coach and choreographer Gloria Esposito certainly doesn’t lack the experience. She began dancing at the age of five, but it wasn’t always her strong suit.
“During my first dance recital I ran off the stage and my mom told me she would never let me do that again, so I had to convince her to let me do cheerleading and pom in high school and I just fell in love with it.”
Gloria finds it exciting to try new things and says that nobody should be afraid that they aren’t skilled enough to pursue doing what they love. She says there is much more to dancing professionally than just technical skills and that it should never hold someone back.
As for being the coach of Adrenaline Rush Dancers, Gloria says she never would have dreamt it when she was younger. But being the leader of the team now, she finds inspiration for dance in almost everything she does.
Gloria was a Luvabull from 2001 to 2003
She also mentions watching “So You Think You Can Dance” and other dance teams to help get ideas flowing. What she says she finds most interesting about watching other dances is how one song can be interpreted in many different ways and used for different styles of dance. Aside from music and movies, Gloria says she will often go to her team captain Mekial for some help.
Gloria was a member of the Adrenaline Rush Dance team from 2004 to 2007
She welcomes ideas from all of her girls and appreciates their input on song choices and choreography. In order for the music to make the cut, she says that it needs to excite her and it should be able to touch an audience. While she likes to remain open minded, it can be difficult to choreograph a dance that doesn’t have a clear vision so she’ll sometimes have to reluctantly decline.
“We can try anything, but I did have someone ask us to do a Maringa routine and I said ‘no’. Typically the routines the fans like are the ones with head whips, kicks, and jump splits.”
Despite the long hours Gloria puts into brainstorming and choreographing dances, she still manages to find time to dance on her own.
“My neighbors think I’m crazy. I live on the first floor and have a big screen door and I am always dancing. But seriously, I will take some classes here and there, it is always good to go and learn from someone else.”
Whether or not she’s dancing, her mind is always on bettering the team. With the prep classes and auditions approaching, one thing is certain: she remains very busy solidifying the team’s reputation as one of the best in the league.
Their stipends can’t pay rent, but many see it as an opportunity to make dance a priority.
Tiney Ricciardi
Pegasus News
November 2, 2012
DALLAS — For the love of the game — that’s what we typically consider to be the attitude of our most skilled athletes. But history would prove that theory incorrect. Between the 2012 hockey lockout, which is still in full force, Lance Armstrong’s title revocations, the NFL referee strike, and the 2011 basketball lockout, money truly makes the sports world go ’round.
The Dallas Mavericks dance team, however, is an exception. First-grade teacher and Mavs Dancer Rachel Harpe calls it a “huge commitment” — one that isn’t rewarded with big bucks.
Dallas Mavericks Dancers are required to hold another part-time or full-time job, or be in school. They are paid a flat, undisclosed rate per game and appearance. They are often required at up to nine hours of practice a week.
“I’m a radiology administrative assistant at The Cooper Clinic in Dallas,” said Grace Sells. The 22-year-old former figure skater works at the clinic from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. every weekday and then heads to dance practice at night.
“I actually quit my last job [at Michael Kors retailer] because my schedule often conflicted practice,” she said.
The Mavs dancers’ first game is Saturday. About half of the team will be eligible to dance each game, based on internal auditions for half-time routines.
“We practice at least three nights a week; sometimes we’ll have three games a week; sometimes you’ll have an appearance … it’s a lot to take in, but not because I enjoy it so much,” said Harpe, a first-grade teacher in the Plano Independent School District.
Watching the Mavs dancers at a game is like watching the movie Bring It On in fast forward. The team is distinguished by strong, fluid dance moves that are sharp like a cheerleader, but playful like a poms performer. Their specialty ranges from hip-hop to jazz; basically anything that is fast paced and exudes a lot of energy.
Ten to 12 girls dance in two routines per game, which means only some get paid during any given week. While intuition (or reality television) would say that makes for a highly competitive team dynamic, the girls interviewed by phone attested otherwise.
“You would think that in an environment where 20 girls are competing for 10 spots things could get ugly, but it doesn’t,” Harpe, a three-year veteran, said. “Everyone is very, very supportive.”
When the National Basketball Association went on hiatus for half a season in 2011 because of monetary feuding, so did the Mavs dancers’ main source of cash flow. The girls spent the days in boot camp, boot camp, and more boot camp. Were they bitter? Hardly, explained Lauren Gibler, whose rookie season ended in the Mavericks’ first franchise championship win.
“We were disappointed because it was our championship year,” said Gibler, also a full-time dance teacher at Royalty Dance Academy in Rockwall. “Thankfully, we got half a season after it was worked out.”
Though money is tight in this business, Gibler said there are other perks to the job. For instance, the dance team just got back from Barbados where they shot their babelicious 2013 calendar. Gibler said the NBA flew her and five teammates to Europe on behalf of the Mavericks to bring American sports enthusiasm to teams and crowds overseas. She has also visited Berlin and Barcelona during her tenure as a Mavs dancer.
While no dancer is able to pay rent with this endeavor yet, the consensus is that, hopefully, one day dance will provide a livelihood. Gibler aspires to own a dance studio of her own so she can intermix her love of dance and working with children. Harpe sees herself coaching cheerleading or dance on the elementary level in the future. And Sells said that if an opportunity to pursue dance full-time arose, she would take it, no questions asked.
“I just want to dance as long as I can,” radiologist Sells said. “It’s a passion, and I feel like when you find something you’re passionate about, it automatically takes priority.”
Chiefs Cheerleaders hosted a Halloween party for the Angels program on Tuesday evening
Rachel Santschi, Chiefs Reporter
KCChiefs.com
11/1/2012
As each young Angel, ages three to five, entered the facility, they were captivated by the large bounce house and slide near the entrance, the stations for games that stretched the field, a puppet show on the far side, and Disney princesses in the middle of it all. It was an evening for these young girls to trick or treat, play games, and spend time with their role models – the Chiefs Cheerleaders.
“All 33 of the Chiefs Cheerleaders, the Angels and their families are here to spend an evening with us,” Stephanie Judah explained, Director of Chiefs Cheerleaders. “Everyone is having fun jumping on the bounce house, getting their faces painted, and meeting some Disney princesses. It’s a great safe place to celebrate Halloween.”
The Angels program is in its seventh year and is an opportunity for young cheerleaders ages three to five to participate with the Chiefs Cheerleaders in monthly practices, a picnic outing, and of course, a Halloween party.
“Kids from ages three to five come to an Angel Chief Cheerleader class once a month for about an hour,” two year Cheerleader, Dionne explained. “At practice, we teach them dances and cheers, as well as little life lessons on how to eat healthy, how to share, and be a nice friend. We also have a picnic with them in September.”
The program begins in June and the Halloween party is the finale. The cheerleaders appreciate the time they get to spend with these young girls, and for some, it’s a highlight of being a part of the cheerleading team.
“It’s one of my favorite events of the year,” Chiefs Cheerleader, Dionne commented. “There are games spread throughout the practice facility for them to participate in and win prizes. It’s a great event and a great time for us to interact with some of the children and their families.”
The Angels were all smiles at the event as they played games, won prizes, and danced with the Chiefs Cheerleaders.
“We’re proud of our Chiefs Cheerleaders and we value the importance of making a difference and being a good influence on these young girls. It’s great to spend time with them, teach them, and have fun.”
The Angels left the event with buckets filled with candy and prizes, autographs from some of their favorite cheerleaders, and an evening full of memories.
Registration for 2013 will be available at kcchiefs.com in May 2013.
