By Alex Garmezy
Titans Online
May 10, 2012
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Titans 53-man roster won’t be set until the end of August, but the 27 spots on the 2012 Tennessee Titans Cheerleading squad are final.
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A packed crowd at the Wildhorse Saloon in downtown Nashville watched and cheered last night as the 48 finalists auditioned for the eight celebrity judges in an event sponsored by Sun Tan City.
The panel of judges included Titans Pro Bowl safety Blaine Bishop and his wife, Cella, former Miss Tennessee USA Allison DeMarcus, Fox-17 Morning’s Kelly Sutton and award-winning country producer Michael Knox. Their vote counted two thirds of the final tally, while a previous interview with Director of Cheerleading Stacie Kinder made up the remainder of the ballot.
One of the strongest fields in the history of the event was made up of several college graduates, including 10 women with master’s degrees, and one Molecular Biology PHD candidate at Vanderbilt University.
“The talent and personal success stories in this group of 48 women are truly spectacular” Kinder said. “I think tonight was arguably the most competitive night we have had in many years because we had a pool of candidates that even starting back in the first round were excellent. We could have taken 40 contestants tonight, not just 27.”
The NFL lockout of 2011 led to an accelerated training camp and less time to prepare for last season, so for second year members like Anne P., a full off-season and summer training camp will be a whole new experience.
“I am really looking forward to this year and doing our swimsuit calendar shoot early, having our full training camp in June, and all of the typical pre-football celebrations that we didn’t get to do last summer,” Anne said.
The many long hours of athletic training and preparation, the summer boot camp, and practicing five nights a week while balancing a career is hard work, but “that first run out there on the field for that first game makes it all worth it,” Anne said.
Game day is when the public see the cheerleaders, but behind the scenes they are involved at many charitable and Titans community functions.
“I love going out in the community,” Anne said. “Nashville is a great community. It’s so awesome to be with the Titans and to be able to connect one-on-one and meet everybody that on a normal daily basis you would never get to meet.”
Some of the 2012 squad members are veterans, but just like the football team, there are always rookies to welcome in. Heather, from Birmingham, Ala., has been dancing since she was three years old and is one of the new members of the team.
“I think this year I really found myself, found my style, found what they were looking for and really grew into myself,” Heather said of making the team after missing the cut a year ago.
Becoming an NFL cheerleader is not easy. Kinder and her contestants pointed out that not every team has cheerleaders, and their team is about half the size of the football team.
The final cheerleader auditions were equivalent to the NFL combine, and draft night rolled into one. Instead of words like gamer, intangibles, and measurables thrown around by analysts, Kinder said that the difficult decisions made Wednesday evening came down to each cheerleader’s showmanship on stage.
“That’s when they dance they have that confidence, that charisma and that certain ‘it’ factor that you just can’t quantify,” she said.
2012 TENNESSEE TITANS CHEERLEADERS
Amber
Angela
Anne B.
Anne P.
Ashley A.
Ashley P.
Brintley
Brooke
Chocez
Erica
Evony
Heather
Heidi
Jalanda
Jena
Jessi
Jessica
Katy
Mariel
Molly
Stephanie A.
Stephanie B.
Stormi
Tandra
Tiffany
Whitney
Yalea
New photos have been posted on Patriots.com. Click here for dance photos. Click here for swimsuit photos.
The new squad was announced on Sunday night.
Click here to check it out!
Michelle Guerin
Discover San Diego
May 7, 2012
As we gear up for the return of football this fall, we begin a new profile series on the Charger Girls.
The Charger Girls are spirited cheerleaders for the Bolts and the City of San Diego. In addition to performing in front of 65,000 fans at Qualcomm Stadium, the ladies star in a popular swimsuit calendar, and donate their time to participate in various community events benefiting such charitable organizations as the Junior Seau Foundation, Make-A-Wish Foundation and Children’s Hospital, among others.
The Charger Girls make it look easy, but it takes great skill and dedication to represent San Diego on one of the NFL’s best professional dance teams. And it all starts with spring tryouts.
On April 15, nearly 400 women competed in the first round of preliminary auditions. Out of the top 66 finalists, 28 women earned spots on the 2012 Charger Girls roster. There are 15 returning veterans and 13 rookies on the squad, including many familiar faces with unique backgrounds.
Kara is a stand-out veteran returning to the squad for her second consecutive year. A long-time San Diegan, Kara grew up in Carlsbad and graduated from San Diego State University in 2010, where she studied public relations and marketing. Kara currently lives downtown and works in the nightlife industry. When she’s not working on or off the field, you can catch Kara running on Mission Bay, eating sushi with friends in Bird Rock and balancing a rigorous fitness regimen of cycling, cross-fit and yoga.
Get to know Kara in this week’s San Diego Charger Girls profile.
Q: What inspired you to try out for the Charger Girls?
A: I’ve wanted to be an NFL Cheerleader since I was a Jr. Charger Girl back in 1999. My first year on the squad was 2011, making this my second year with the Charger Girls.
Q: How do you prepare for the big games?
A: Every game is a big game for us. We practice twice a week, and one Saturday each month. At rehearsal we will learn and perfect routines, as well as practice public speaking and mock-interview questions. We basically prepare for everything that happens on game day.
Q: Your personal health and fitness routine? Tips for us?
A: My diet consists of foods that make me feel good and give me energy – proteins, fresh fruits and vegetables. I am hopelessly addicted to frozen yogurt so I make sure to reward myself once a week. I stay active by doing workouts and I always switch it up to avoid monotony. My favorite workouts are: running, cycling, yoga, cross-fit, and dancing of course. My biggest piece of advice: if you want to make a change, modify your lifestyle (forget dieting) and set personal goals.
Q: Most exciting part of cheering at Qualcomm Stadium?
A: The most exciting part about cheering at the games has got to be experiencing the energy from Charger fans. Seeing how passionate the crowd is about this sport really enhances the game day experience and makes it that much more special for the Chargers and the Charger Girls.
Q: Most challenging part of being on the Charger Girls squad?
A: I think the most challenging part of being a Charger Girl is time management. Some girls are students, others have full-time or part-time jobs, so being able to juggle everything can be a bit challenging at times.
Q: Best lifestyle perks that come along with the gig?
A: The organization does a tremendous job working on sponsorships for our team. We are so lucky to be able to work with companies like Diesel Salon, iTAN Sun Spray Spa, LA Fitness, San Diego Center for Health and Dr. Hagstrom with a Shop for Smiles to name a few.
Q: How often do you interact with the Charger players? Any funny behind-the-scenes memories?
A: Occasionally, we’ll do promotions and charity events with some of the Charger players. My favorite memory was at Kids News Day 2011, seeing Antonio Garay (our 6 ‘4”, 320lb defender) step out of his Hello Kitty Smart Car. I have to give him huge props for that…he’s environmentally friendly AND stylish.
Q: San Diego hair salon and stylist you can’t live without?
A: Since joining the team I’ve been with Diesel Salon, and I have fallen in love. Ly Yen was my stylist last season, she did an amazing job and she, along with other stylists, helped us out for game day and photo shoots as well. We definitely can’t live without our favorite Diesel stylists.
Q: Your personal fashion sense?
A: If I could put myself into a fashion category, I would probably categorize myself as “Comfy Chic”. I love to feel feminine and look presentable at all times, but I always manage to make sure I’m comfortable too.
Q: Favorite places to shop?
A: I like to shop at Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s for the essentials. Lululemon is a must for my workout gear and if I ever need a quick outfit I know I can find something cute at Gloss in Pacific Beach.
Q: From head to toe, what do you feel best wearing?
A: A smile. Oh, we’re talking about clothes? I feel the best when I’m wearing a loose, off the shoulder top with my skinny Joe’s Jeans, heels from Aldo, earrings, a big ring, and a bracelet.
Q: What do you never leave home without?
A: You will never see me leave my house without chapstick. My go-to purse is my trusty black and gold Michael Kors, which holds my wallet, chapstick, lip gloss, gum, mouthwash, keys, and every receipt from the last two weeks (just in case of buyer’s remorse).
Q: When you’re not cheering, what is your local profession?
A: I work with VIP clients in the San Diego nightlife industry.
Q: Your ultimate career goals?
A: My dream job is to be a TV show host. I’ve been told I can be pretty entertaining and I love people so I figure it’s a great fit. I would also love to eventually start my own business someday.
Q: Favorite things to do in San Diego?
A: During the day you can find me relaxing at the beach, or running along Mission Bay. At night I love getting together with friends and eating sushi at Station Sushi in Bird Rock.
To learn more about the 2012 San Diego Chargers Girls, visit chargers.com
The Suns Dancers are back on Sports Illustrated. Click here to check it out!
The Dallas Observer brings us more photos from this year’s Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders open call audition. Click here to go there now.
By JAY BETSILL
DFW.com
May. 07, 2012
More than 400 women from all across the planet descended upon Cowboys Stadium on Saturday, May 5, to chase their lifelong dreams of becoming a member of the world famous Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. The diverse group for the 2012 auditions ranged in age from 18-62, and came from as far away as Japan, South Korea, Mexico City, Seattle and Miami. They also came from as close as Arlington, Fort Worth and even Merkel, Texas, for the opportunity to cheer for “America’s Team.”
The first hopeful was in line Saturday morning at 5:45 and when 8 a.m. rolled around, the legendary Phil Whitfield opened the doors with the familiar words, “Ladies, welcome to Cowboys Stadium!” The preliminary auditions were under way. After registration, the ladies went through ‘Fluff & Puff’ — getting their hair and make-up ready — before heading down to Section 123 for the welcome address from DCC Director Kelli Finglass.
Finglass explained what the 14 judges would be looking for, including dance technique, poise, enthusiasm, personal appearance, figure, personality (eyes, smile and showmanship) and energy. The judges are looking for girls to take over the stage and stand out, Finglass said. They do not want “blenders.”
Then it was back upstairs to the Main Concourse West Platform to begin the process of “making dreams come true.”
With the CMT cameras rolling for the seventh season of Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team, the girls took the stage in groups of five, introduced themselves to the panel and performed a freestyle routine. “For the right girl with all the right qualities,” Finglass said in the first episode of Season 6, “those 90 seconds can change your life.”
Everyone who went before the judges was unique. One woman missed her college graduation ceremony to audition. A couple of others had moms who were DCC in the ’70s and ’80s. There was a former San Francisco 49ers cheerleader from Japan. There was also a nurse who deals with open heart surgery daily. She said she basically “fixes broken hearts for a living.”
Chelsea Chaney has dreamed of being a DCC since she was 8. She is a lifelong Cowboys fan who was a four-year cheerleader in high school, including being the captain her senior year. She was also among the 144 that survived the initial cut and returned to Cowboys Stadium for the semifinals Sunday at 8 a.m.
This day brought an entire new level of intensity as the competitors were taken down to the field to learn a new power dance routine and the signature DCC kick line taught by choreographer Judy Trammell. Ally Traylor and Ashton Torres (retiring members of the DCC) were helped the new girls learn what they would be performing for the judges in less than an hour.
With a mixture of anxiety and adrenaline, they danced to What a Feeling by Kelly Rowland and did the kick line to Part of Me by Katy Perry before the judges left the field to make their selections. When Sunday came to a close, 55 women were invited to the final auditions, which are May 19 and will include the 25 returning cheerleaders from the 2011 squad. It will be their chance to prove they belong among the best performers in the world and become one of America’s Sweethearts.
Final step for Sea Gals
By Clare Farnsworth
Seahawks.com
May 5, 2012
Who will make the 2012 Sea Gals squad?
The remaining hopefuls will find out Sunday, [TODAY!] starting at 5 p.m., when the finals for the Seahawks’ dance team will be held at the CenturyLink Field West Club Lounge. You can follow every twist and turn, every step of the way, as the 28-32 member squad is determined in a live webcast hosted by Tony Ventrella and Sheila Stampatacos here at Seahawks.com.
The finalists already have completed several stages of the gauntlet that leads to a spot on the squad, and you can read more about the process here.
“You have to be serious about it and do all the necessary things to prepare,” said Sea Gal Laura, who has made the squad the past two years. “It’s so much more than just dancing on Sundays. Obviously, that’s my favorite part. But I feel I’ve really grown as a person being on the squad.”
As for who makes the 2012 squad, the last step in the process will be completed Sunday.
