Paul Franklin
NJ.com
July 01, 2012
TRENTON —Chastity Manning’s many skills are hard to trace.
Perhaps some of her athleticism comes from her biological mother, a softball player who died when she was in second grade. Perhaps her artistry comes from her biological father, whom she never has met.
Or maybe Manning, raised in Trenton and now a member of the Philadelphia Eagles cheerleading squad, is simply a creation of her own, someone who first began to hum and twirl in a foster home, and later enrolled in dance classes where she would pirouette, tap and choreograph her way into a world of self-expression.
The 23-year-old never envisioned where that would take her, but at some point during the upcoming National Football League season, the country might catch a glimpse of her cheering for the Eagles, with whom she qualified earlier this year.
The graduate of Trenton Catholic Academy entered this year’s cheerleading competition on a bit of a whim. Now, however, she’s committed to her new role; and every Tuesday and Wednesday she heads to Philadelphia to practice for the upcoming season.
Workouts are balanced by coaching her own cheerleading team at TCA.
And then there’s her day job, where she works in communications at the Boys and Girls Club of Trenton.
Still out there, however, is the dream.
“My passion is in the performing arts,” she said recently, taking her lunch break at the Trenton Marriott. “My biggest goal is opening a performing arts school in Trenton. That’s something I missed out on growing up here. I would have loved attending a performing arts school.
“With my own school, I could work directly with kids and mentor them and build them into the artists they want to be — whether it’s acting, dancing or even cheerleading — and really help them. I feel there are so many talented kids here.”
She was one, raised on the love and support of her adoptive parents, Charles and Mildred Manning. Her discipline in dance came from Carolyn Watson-Johnson, her first dance teacher at the Watson-Johnson Dance Theatre in Ewing Township. There she took ballet, jazz and tap.
“I was hooked,” she said. “I practiced in the kitchen, all around the house. I guess ballet is my favorite because it’s very technical, and emotional, depending on how you portray it.”
Her talents and interests led her to cheerleading as a sophomore in high school. In college at Rider University, she joined the dance team, and while there as a student, she was hired by her alma mater TCA to be its cheerleading coach.
That was six years ago.
“I love my girls,” she said with a big smile. “They’re my babies.”
The Mannings had taken in Chastity when she was 4, but when foster care officials informed them she had to return to the hands of the state, they officially adopted her. That was when she was 10.
Chastity and her four birth siblings — she’s the oldest — were all adopted. “I was one of the lucky ones,” Chastity said. “A lot of kids jump from house to house. My mom was still around when I was in foster care, but she passed away when I was 7. I remember her. I remember what she looks like, how she sounded. I didn’t see her a lot but I have vivid memories of her.
“I never met my dad. He could be some random guy walking around town right now. I’ve been looking for him.”
She speaks highly of her adoptive family, and says they took the sting out of not having her natural parents around.
“They’re great people. I call them grandma and grandpa,” she said. “They were in their 50s then. I think my mom is 78, and my dad is 72. He still works part-time.
“My grandpa gave me a great example of how a man should be. He’s a provider. My grandmother is such a genuine person, so sweet. Anything I learned about being genuine and being selfless and humble was from her. She taught me the best life lessons I could ever imagine. And my parents are really centered in church, so we grew up in church. I feel they created such a great foundation.”
Watson-Johnson, who has known Chastity since age 9, agrees.
“Even though there was a lot of adversity, there was always love and support as well,” she said about Chastity’s upbringing. “She was always grounded. She was a wonderful dancer and a wonderful student and is now a wonderful young lady.
Chastity had an opportunity to try out for the Eagles’ cheerleading squad a year ago, but fear of failure got in the way. This year she promised herself to go for it. If nothing else she would have the experience and could tell her girls they, too, can aspire to similar goals.
“I never thought I would make it,” she said about being selected. “When I got the e-mail congratulating me I literally looked at it for about 15 minutes. I didn’t call anyone, I didn’t say anything.
She’s now aware of how great her potential could be. “Hopefully this will open up a lot of opportunities to do more for myself, so I can eventually do more for others.
In the meantime, though, getting out on the sports field and being a cheerleader is an adventure that’s just getting started.
“I’m not a flashy person,” she added, “but every girl enjoys getting dressed up and everything, and I get to do that through the Eagles. I can get all ‘glammed up’ for the games and appearances and that’s like my alter ego. It brings out the inside of me that I can’t show off in everyday life when I’m being a coach and being a role model.
“Plus I love football. It’s exciting.”
Think you have what it takes? Click below for details!
Kelsey, a Tulsa Talons dancer back in 2006
A member of the Grand Rapids Rampage Rage dance team, circa 2006
What I really want to know is who is that dude kneeling in the background?
A member of Sea Pearls, dance team for the (short lived and now defunct) Hamburg Sea Devils (NFL Europa 2007)
NFL Cheerleaders Hold Their 50th Reunion in Washington D.C.
Inaugural Reunion of Former NFL Cheerleaders Hosted by the Washington Redskins Cheerleaders Alumni Association will be held on July 28.
By AnnMarie Baranik
Studio City Patch
June 26, 2012
Alumni Kris Coleman and AnnMarie Baranik
The WRCAA is proud to host the inaugural reunion of former NFL cheerleaders, including teams past and present. More than 350 ladies and their guests, representing as many as 17 NFL teams, will descend on our Nation’s Capital for one summer weekend, kicking off with an evening “Meet and Greet” on July 27.
“We are honored and excited to host the first reunion of NFL Alumni cheerleaders. We look forward to rekindling old friendships and establishing new ones,” says Terri Lamb, WRCAA President.
On July 28, the ladies will embark on a VIP tour of FedEx Field and notable Washington, D.C. landmarks. That evening, the premier cheerleader alumni reunion dinner/dance will be held in the Cherry Blossom Ballroom of the Gaylord National Resort. Keynote speakers will include Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell; the First Lady of Virginia and WRC Alumna Maureen McDonnell; Larry Michael, Sr. VP, Washington Redskins; Redskins legend Mark Moseley, and Stephanie Jojokian, Director/Choreographer, Washington Redskins Cheerleaders. Current recording artists (formerly NFL cheerleaders) and the 2012-2013 Washington Redskins Cheerleaders will entertain guests with live performances.
Founded in 1984, the WRCAA was the first professional cheerleader alumni association in the NFL. Current membership totals more than 800 women throughout the United States and Japan, who carry out the mission of supporting local and national charities through volunteer efforts.
At press time, the WRCAA is still considering adding event and interview opportunities. Please send sponsorship opportunity inquiries to redskinscheeralumni@gmail.com attention, Terri Crane-Lamb. They are still looking for sponsors, see the attached asponsor page.
The Kings announced their 2012 team last night. 15 dancers have been selected to the team.
The announcement: Photos | Video
Top row: Carly, Moira, Lauren, Andrea, Heather, Katerina, Ariana, Becca, Roxanne
Bottom row: Isela, Megan, Brittney, Lynsi, Angela, Tammier
Special congrats to the three dancers who received the most votes from fans: Brittney, Angela and Becca.
Brittney
Angela
Becca
By Raven Dahlstrom
Titans Online
June 25, 2012
Tennessee Titans Cheerleaders recently put on newly designed uniforms for their annual portraits to prepare for the 2012 season.
Photographers Erick Anderson and Donn Jones took more than 2,000 photos of the team during the course of the eight-hour afternoon that included hairstyling by The Edge Salon and makeup application by artists from Visage Bella.
The photographers snapped individual photos of the cheerleaders in new uniforms that were created by Titans director of cheerleading Stacie Kinder and The Line Up. With the updated look, the ladies are preparing for another great season at LP Field. [FYI – last year’s uniforms looked like this]
There were also fun opportunities for group portraits that displayed the multiple alternatives the ladies wear for routines and appearances.
The new portraits and video interviews will be posted to www.titansonline.com soon.
To see a sneak peek of some behind the scenes pictures from the shoot, click here.
By Jay Betsill
DFW.com
June 24, 2012
DALLAS — Following the preliminary and semifinal auditions the first weekend in May and the finals auditions two weeks later, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders welcomed the remaining 45 candidates to their 2012 training camp. The training camp, which will run through the summer, will determine which of the ladies earns one of the coveted spots with America’s Sweethearts.
We recently attended a training camp practice session — with CMT filming the upcoming season of Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team, — at the South Side Music Hall inside Gilley’s Dallas. Gilley’s was chosen to give the ladies a different setting to perform their routines away from their studio at Valley Ranch or the field at Cowboys Stadium.
Photo Gallery: Pics 06.20.12: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders training camp at Gilley’s
Prior to taking the stage, the ladies were separated into four groups mixed with returning veterans clad in navy blue attire and the incoming hopefuls wearing a hot pink uniform. The newcomers were lined up at the front of the stage with their routines critiqued under the watchful eyes of DCC Director Kelli Finglass and choreographer Judy Trammell.
In addition to learning the new dances, the rookies are quickly adapting to the time demands of becoming a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader. Kelsey Lauren has a full-time job that she leaves at 5 p.m. every day to head to Valley Ranch for practice at 7 p.m. “I actually got in a car accident last week. During my drive, I mentally transition from work to practice and the stop and go traffic is tough,” she said. “But I still made it to practice on time and that was all that mattered.”
The veterans may actually have it tougher than the rookies because they know what’s at stake and what they have to lose. “Training camp is a competitive atmosphere,” said returning veteran Lauren Williams. “You are competing to keep yourself in the game and keep your own spot.”
With the CMT cameras rolling, the cheerleaders are not the only ones who must deal with pressure. Finglass and Trammell are in charge of putting together the best possible group of women to ensure the DCC remains the standard for which every other squad is measured.
“I think the cutting process has become harder for me over the years,” said Finglass, who is putting together her 22nd squad. “There are very serious conversations. I am more mature in my career now, I’m a mom and I have more traffic going on in my head about breaking hearts than when I was 25 years old.”
You can see the dreams come true and the broken hearts when the seventh season of Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team premieres on CMT on Sept. 7. The show has become so popular that this season will expand from eight episodes to 13 weeks of behind the scenes with the DCC.
