Boston Bruins: BOSTON, MA – The “Bruins Beard-A-Thon” is underway and fans are invited to grow their own playoff beards for the duration of the team’s 2012 Stanley Cup playoff run. The “Bruins Beard-A-Thon” gives Bruins fans the opportunity to show their support for the team and raise money for the Boston Bruins Foundation.
The hockey playoff beard is an age-old tradition for players participating in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Fans can join in on the tradition by “growing one for the team” and inviting family, friends and business associates to make a pledge towards their playoff beards.
Fans can create their “Bruins Beard-A-Thon” profile by uploading their photo at www.beardathon.com/bruins. Participants can choose to grow their own beard and update their growth throughout the playoffs or they can grow their beard virtually by choosing the ‘Build-A-Beard’ option, giving women and children an opportunity to get h
Beard growers may pledge themselves by making a donation and their friends and family can also support their efforts at anytime by making a one-time pledge (minimum $10). Throughout the playoffs, participants who raise the most money will have the opportunity to win playoff tickets and a grand prize will be awarded to the overall top fundraiser.
The “Bruins Beard-A-Thon” has raised $160,000 to date and was the NHL’s top raising team during the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs will mark the fourth year of the Beard-A-Thon program. Since its inception, more than $1,000,000 has been raised for individual team charities from over 16,000 participants league-wide.
Kimberly Davidow
WFMZ.com
4/9/2012
SOUTH HEIDELBERG TWP., Pa. – One woman from our area is in the running to become a Philadelphia Eagles cheerleader. She’s made it all the way to the final round of tryouts.
Jamielee Panghulan said she has many goals she wants to accomplish in her lifetime. With her background in dance, Panghulan, 22, of Sinking Spring, said she has already achieved what hundreds of dancers dream of.
“I’ve danced at the R-Phils for about four years and I decided to try out for the Eagles. I went, tried out for my first time… I made it,” said Panghulan. “I didn’t expect that at all coming into it.”
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Like most free agents, many cheerleaders have one-year contracts, so Panghulan is trying out again. She said she has made the cut to the final round on Tues., Apr. 24.
The former Eagles cheerleader said her biggest fans are in the classroom. Panghulan works fulltime as an early elementary school teacher at Spring Rose ChildCare in South Heidelberg Township.
“I work here from 7 to 4 and then I leave straight here to go to Philly to practice every Tuesday and Wednesday. I don’t get home until 11, 12,” said Panghulan.
Before Jamielee became an Eagles cheerleader, she’d never been to an Eagles game, but like most fans, she is hooked.
This time around, Panghulan said the audition process is leaving her with butterflies in her stomach, because out of the 600 who try out, only 38 cheerleaders make the team.
“I think you always have to be prepared for rejection. I mean, if I don’t make the squad, yes, I’ll be upset, but I’m just going to give it my all,” said Panghulan.
1. Aleena – 3rd year veteran
2. Alexa – rookie
3. Alexandria – rookie
4. Ali – 2nd year veteran
5. Antonia – 4th year veteran
6. Audrey – rookie
7. Bria-Chantel – rookie
8. Carianne – rookie
9. Carmen – 6th year veteran (2011 team captain)
10. Chelsea – rookie
11. Christi – 2nd year veteran
12. Christina – rookie
13. Christine – 3rd year veteran
14. Courtney – rookie (former Charger Girl)
15. Daisy – rookie
16. Francesca – rookie
17. Ileri – 2nd year veteran
18. Inna – 2nd year veteran (returning after a year off)
19. Jennifer – rookie (former Charger Girl)
20. Jessa – rookie
21. Kayla – rookie
22. Kelsie – 3rd year veteran (2011 team captain)
23. Lyndsey – 2nd year veteran
24. Maria – 3rd year veteran
25. Melissa – 3rd year veteran (2011 team captain)
26. Myka – 2nd year veteran
27. Priscilla – 2nd year veteran
28. Rachel – 2nd year veteran
29. Syndi – rookie
30. Taylor – 2nd year veteran
31. Tina – 2nd year veteran
32. Tyesha -2nd year veteran
By Paula Sanders
Jacked and Gorgeous (blog)
3/30/2012
One week ago today I walked in to a room of 29 other former Knicks City Dancers from the first team in 91′-92′ to little me, who is the newest and youngest alumni to be chosen to be a part of this team of KCD all stars.
When I received word that I was going to be a part of the 20th anniversary team and performance with hip hop legend Rob Base I was of course ecstatic and flattered. However I had no idea that going back to Madison Square garden with some KCD legends was going to be one of most inspirational experiences of my life to date.
Being a Knicks City Dancer will always be one of my proudest accomplishments- if not my proudest, so to be given an opportunity to grace the court one more time was a huge blessing. But an even bigger blessing was meeting the women who paved the way for what the KCD are today. And let me tell you- these women STILL have it! Not just the looks and bodies but these girls can still throw down on the dance floor!
After leaving my first rehearsal for our performance I felt so excited to perform again KCD style but I couldn’t stop talking about the other former KCD I had met. How stunningly gorgeous every single one of them was, how talented they all were and how IN SHAPE these ladies were (half of them have toddlers! I was in shock and awe! Six pack abs everywhere!)
It was so funny to hear all their stories and it was even better to hear all their stories about life after KCD and where their careers have taken them– even more inspiration! These girls STILL work in the industry! All though I’m not surprised because each and everyone of them are so talented.
I am so happy to be a part of this sisterhood of strong, talented, independent and beautiful women! Once a KCD always a KCD and these women have inspired me to keep working hard.
This industry has some of the highest highs and the lowest lows. But I will willingly take each low because nothing compares to how it feels to wake up everyday and do what you love. With all of that said- I would just like to thank everyone I met last week for inspiring me to keep on keeping on in this industry we all love! Also to inspire me to stay strong and healthy for life because you girls are HOT!
Cheryl Makin
My Central Jersey
Mar. 22, 2012
Like many little girls, Sara Reynolds had a dream of tutus, plies and grand jetes when she grew up. Only unlike many, Reynolds turned that dream into a reality, both professionally and personally.
The co-owner of Across The Floor, a dance studio with locations in Woodbridge and New Providence, Reynolds spent two seasons dancing professionally as a Knicks City Dancer at Madison Square Garden. On Saturday, Reynolds again will take the court at halftime as the Knicks City Dancers celebrate their 20th anniversary.
“I am fortunate. I was able to make the little girl’s dream of doing dance come true,” said Reynolds, 41. “In fact, our very first recital was called ‘Dreams become Reality.’ ”
Reynolds juggled growing her business, which opened in 1996, with rehearsals two or three times per week and Knicks home-game performances two or three times per week.
“Practices would start before the season started, and then after the regular season, there were playoff games. Even after that, we would dance for the WNBA Liberty team during their season,” said Reynolds, who participated during the 1997-1998 and 1999-2000 seasons. “Being a Knicks City Dancer was an amazing experience. It’s where I got my feet wet. We were like mini celebrities. It was a fantastic experience where I got to work with all different choreographers and people in the industry.”
Reynolds, who now lives in Union, credits the support of her best friend and studio co-owner, Cheryl Corej, as a huge factor in realizing her dream.
“She let me go off and audition and dance professionally,” said Reynolds, who first met Corej as 4-year-olds in dance class. “She held it together here while I was out auditioning and out there dancing. I always wanted to have the studio and have a dance career. It is because of her I was able to do both.”
Reynolds and Corej started as toddlers at Miss Ruth’s School of Dance, a Woodbridge staple until it closed a year ago after 40 years.
“Cheryl is like my sister. We have always been together. We have been friends since we were 4 years old,” Reynolds said. “We grew up together in dance and built on that friendship and our love of dance. In college, we both taught at Miss Ruth’s. I became a nurse, which comes in handy when at a dance studio. Then we opened our school and got rid of other career jobs and made this our career.”
As a dancer, Reynolds said, her forte is ballet, which is the “foundation for all dance.”
“My professional career was not in ballet, though,” Reynolds said. “That was more jazz, hip-hop and contemporary dance.”
On Saturday, Reynolds and about 29 other former Knicks City Dancers will perform a three-minute hip-hop dance routine to a mash-up of Rob Base’s “Joy and Pain” and “It Takes Two.” Only 30 of more than 110 Knicks City Dancers alumni have been chosen to perform at the anniversary celebration game, which also features the Knicks hosting the Detroit Pistons.
“I am really very excited. I’m pumped about it,” Reynolds said. “It’s been really great. The dancer who teaches us the routine was my captain when I was on the team. It’s so interesting to come back and see where everybody is in life — all the different places. We started rehearsals, and it went very well. I have to say I don’t see much difference between us and the current Knicks City Dancers.”
This is not Reynolds’ first time back on court to dance. Last week, she was asked to perform a salsa routine during a Knicks halftime show.
“That was my first time back in about 12 years,” Reynolds said. “It was exciting. I was curious to see all the slight changes in the arena. And the experience was very different because I was performing a different kind of dance.”
Keeping dance in the family, Reynolds’ mother, Soledad Reynolds, recently auditioned for and made the senior dance team for the WNBA Liberty.
“We are very happy for her. She auditioned for the Liberty Timeless Torches, which is a dance team for women 40 and over,” Reynolds said. “We just found out she made it a couple days ago. I guess it runs in the family.”
The next generation already is putting on ballet slippers. Reynolds’ daughter, Leilani Wiggins, 4, is at home on the dance floor.
“She is always here,” Reynolds said with a laugh. “What choice does she have? She is in four ballet, one tap and two gymnastics classes and will be in about nine routines at the recital.
“Dancing keeps you young,” added Reynolds, who no longer dances professionally. “I’ll always dance.”
This year’s auditions for the San Francisco 49ers Cheerleaders kicked off on Saturday, March 31. There’s lots of good stuff on the 49ers website. Click here to watch the video. Click here to check out some photos.
Charger Girl fans will recognize two veterans who are returning to their Northern California roots this year, and are hoping to join the San Francisco squad. Courtney and Jennifer were with the Chargers for 2 and 3 years, respectively.
Courtney
Jennifer
Buccaneers.com
April 6, 2012
Hundreds of talented women tried out and 34 were eventually chosen to form the most impressive cheerleading squad in team history
Over the next 12 months, they will learn and perform dozens of intricate dance routines, make countless appearances in the Bay area community and perform at numerous important team functions.
Most importantly, they will – as their name suggests – lead hundreds of thousands of Buccaneer fans in cheering for the home team.
On Friday, the 2012-13 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders were revealed, officially ending the two-month tryout process and begin what is sure to be a rewarding year for 34 very talented women.
The newest Buccaneers cheerleading squad was painstakingly chosen from a field of several hundred candidates and includes exactly 17 newcomers and 17 returning veterans. (Scroll down to see the entire list.) Buccaneers Cheerleading Coordinator Cathy Boyd conducted the auditions and was once again impressed with the overall strength of the candidates. That led to the formation of what Boyd believes will be the team’s finest cheerleading squad yet.
“Choosing 34 women out of all those who try out just gets more difficult every year,” said Boyd. “Of course, that’s an indication of how sought-after these spots on the team are, and how hard all these women are willing to work to follow their dreams. That’s why I want to thank every single person who tried out this year – there was so much enthusiasm and so many deserving and talented women. In the end, we believe we’ve made the right choices to form the best possible squad.”
Buccaneers Cheerleaders devote countless hours to practice, performances, charitable appearances and team functions, and in some years even take part in worldwide military support tours. These hardworking women balance those responsibilities with schoolwork and/or full-time careers. Second-year veteran Rebecca is a nurse, for instance, as is newcomer Manouchcar. Several are teachers by trade, from high school social studies (Jessica J.) to middle school science (Monica) to kindergarten (Kendell). Many, of course, have performance backgrounds and/or occupations, such as Busch Gardens show performer Katrice.
All 34 of the selected cheerleaders are already finding ways to divide their time between rehearsals, schoolwork and office responsibilities. The official announcement came on Friday but the new cheerleaders have spent a week coming together as a team.
The 2012 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders
| Name | Status | Occupation | |
| 1 | Amanda | Rookie | Concept Development Coordinator |
| 2 | Amber | 2-yr. Vet | Student Finance Planner |
| 3 | Antasia | Rookie | Student |
| 4 | Ashlee | 3-yr. Vet | Estimating/Bus. Development Coord. |
| 5 | Cassie | 2-yr. Vet | Dir. of Marketing & Commun./ MBA Grad. Student |
| 6 | Darla Faye | 2-yr. Vet | Hair Stylist |
| 7 | Elisa | 2-yr. Vet | Student |
| 8 | Emily | Rookie | Student |
| 9 | Geneva | Rookie | Student |
| 10 | Jacqueline | 2-yr. Vet | 1st grade teacher |
| 11 | Jeanne | Rookie | Student |
| 12 | Jessica B. | Rookie | Student |
| 13 | Jessica J. | 2-yr. Vet | High-School Social Studies Teacher |
| 14 | Jessie | Rookie | Busch Gardens Show Performer |
| 15 | Julianne | Rookie | Student |
| 16 | Kara | 3-yr. Vet | Adoption Specialist |
| 17 | Karen | 2-yr. Vet | Group Fitness instructor |
| 18 | Kari | Rookie | Student |
| 19 | Kasey | 2-yr. Vet | Student |
| 20 | Katie | Rookie | Busch Gardens Show Performer/ Student |
| 21 | Katrice | Rookie | Busch Gardens Show Performer |
| 22 | Kendell | 2-yr. Vet | Kindergarten Teacher |
| 23 | Lauren | 5-yr. Vet | Chief Operations Officer/ Mother |
| 24 | Manouchcar | Rookie | Registered Nurse |
| 25 | Miwa | Rookie | Teacher |
| 26 | Monica | 2-yr. Vet | Middle School Science Teacher |
| 27 | Norie | 2-yr. Vet | Student |
| 28 | Paige | 2-yr. Vet | Medical Assistant |
| 29 | Rebecca | 2-yr. Vet | Registered Nurse |
| 30 | Samantha | Rookie | Student |
| 31 | Stephanie | Rookie | Mother |
| 32 | Sydney | Rookie | Social Media Specialist/ Student |
| 33 | Taylor | 2-yr. Vet | Marketing Analyst/ Student |
| 34 | Tricia | Rookie | Student |
FYI: Kari was an Orlando Magic Dancer during the 2009-10 NBA season.
This year’s tryout process began in February with several weeks of optional classes and workouts in various locations around the Bay area. These classes were designed to help cheerleading candidates prepare for the audition process. Class attendees were given an overview of dance techniques and NFL-style choreography so they could have a better idea of what to expect when auditions began.
After those voluntary classes, the formal auditions began on March 17 and were held exclusively at team headquarters. Callbacks came a week later, on March 24, and that was followed by a two-day training camp on the evenings of March 27th and 28th. The final auditions took place the following day in the form of a final dance audition. During the three-day process, candidates were assessed on the basis of personal interviews, fitness, choreography and a kick line.
From the original field of new candidates, 100 women were tabbed for callbacks, at which point they were joined by returning veterans and those who had received a pass to that round by attending pre-audition classes. From there, the group was again narrowed down to 55 finalists. Paring those 55 down to 34 was a tough process, as it is every year.
“We didn’t have a set number when we began, but we eventually went with a 34-person squad just because it was so hard to narrow it down even that far,” said Boyd. “Over the course of several weeks, you find out a lot about these women who are trying out and see talents and strengths that you know could help the team as a whole. It was a very difficult decision, and there were some women who weren’t chosen that were extremely close. I hope we will see them again next year at the tryouts.”
“The ladies were informed last Friday,” said Boyd. “We’ve begun team meetings and are already working hard to get ready for our first performance of the new season.”
Click here to check out Sports Illustrated’s new photos of the Oklahoma City Thunder Girls in action!
To say things are heating up for the Clipper Nation is a major understatement. This is a crazy exciting time in the team’s history, and this is your chance to be a part of it. Check out the videos below to see the Clippers Spirit Dance Team tear it up for a full house at the Staples Center. These ladies know how to WERK!
(Major props to whoever decided to post these videos online. Muchas gracias on behalf of Clippers Spirit fans everywhere.)
Sidebar: This dance is an extended version of one of their 2011 audition routines. Just so you know what you’re in for.
