By Jay Oza
North Andover Patch
January 31, 2012

[Photos]

Two amazing journeys started in the football season of 2001.

A young quarterback by the name of Tom Brady buttoned up his chinstrap after hometown favorite Drew Bledsoe went down with a severe injury.

The same season, a young dancer named Melissa Amershek moved to North Andover and joined the Patriots cheerleading squad.

The adventure that ensued will forever live on in the hearts of New Englanders, and it would also help Amershek open up a dance studio in North Andover that was recently voted the number 1 dance school in Andover and North Andover in each of the last two years.

For Amershek, the owner of Just Dance in North Andover, that journey began with a test.

Amershek joined the cheering squad in 2001 with only a basic understanding of the game. “They make you take this five page test,” Amershek told Patch. “You’re not allowed to be on the field until you pass the test and you know your stuff,” she continued.

And with that, a seed of passion for football was planted. “By the second or third game we were so into it we could make calls ourselves,” she recalled.

As Brady gained confidence and wins, Amershek and her cheerleading teammates had a phenomenal view from the field.

“It’s intense being on those sidelines,” she said. As the playoffs approached, the intensity increased.

In the divisional round of the 2001 playoffs, the Patriots hosted the Oakland Raiders in what is unanimously known as one of the most dramatic, picturesque, and exciting football games of all time.

The “Tuck Rule” game was played in almost blizzard conditions and it was the last game played at the old Foxborough Stadium. In the waning minutes, the game was almost lost when Brady appeared to have fumbled the ball.

Amershek and her teammates held their breath on the sidelines until the final ruling declared that the Patriots would retain the ball.

“Thank God for that call, it’s made history,” Amershek recalled.

After winning the AFC Championship in Pittsburgh, Amershek, Brady, and the Patriots moved on to Super Bowl XXXVI in New Orleans.

“To be there for the Super Bowl, it was unbelievable,” Amershek said.

When asked which experience was more memorable, Amershek replied “It was the first successful Super Bowl so that would have to take the cake.”

“The Snow Bowl was a close second; that was the last game in the old stadium,” she continued.

Amershek now runs one of the Merrimack Valley’s most successful dance studios, Just Dance.

“This is my passion; it’s what I love to do,” she said.

“I had over 100 customers on day one of opening my doors, and it’s grown every year,” she continued. “Right now we’re at about 300 students and it’s still growing.”

Amershek also credits the town of North Andover for fostering a good attitude toward businesses. “When you’re trying to open a new business in this area, the town works with you so much,” she said. “It’s business friendly, its family friendly, and it’s just a nice, safe area.”

Just Dance offers competition and recreational programs as well as a popular boutique. “We have something for everyone,” Amershek said.

As for her beloved Patriots, there is a big game on Sunday, in case you needed a reminder.

In Super Bowl XLVI, Amershek, like many of us, is hoping for another Patriots victory. “I don’t want to jinx us, but I’m thinking Welker as MVP,” she said.

The adventure continues this Sunday as Brady and the Patriots hope for a fourth Super Bowl win and Amershek and her students continue to dance their hearts out.

Here they are, the 5th, 6th, 7th, or 8th edition of the Pussycat Dolls. (I have completely lost track by now.) The new line up includes Laker Girl alum Vanessa Curry, and Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader alum Erica Jenkins.

Back: Chrystina Sayers, Lauren Bennett, Vanessa Curry, Erica Jenkins
Front: Paula Van Oppen

FYI: the other three PCDs might look a little familiar to you too.

Chrystina was a member of “Girlicious,” the girl group created as a result of the reality show “Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious.” Girlicious was a sort of spin-off of “Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search For the Next Doll,” which has its own pro-cheer connection. The winner, the one selected as “the next doll” was New York Knicks City Dancer Asia Nitollano. (She won, but never actually joined the group. The whole thing seemed kind of shady, but I digress.)

Lauren was a member of the “Paradiso Girls,” the first PCD spinoff group created by Robin Antin, with one or two of the also-rans from “Search for the Next Doll.”

Paula was a contestant on So You Think You Can Dance, season 6. She auditioned for season 5, but got cut. She auditioned for season 6, and made it to the top 20, but then dropped out to be in a movie (“Burlesque, ” according to the grapevine.)

ou of which was “PussycatThe new PCD will make their big debut during the Super Bowl, in a commercial for GoDaddy.com. Watch it here:

By Joshua Love
Titans Online
Jan 24, 2012

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Mission Accomplished! Titans Cheerleaders Brintley, Jalanda, Jessi, Stormi, Tanzye, and Titans Cheerleader Alumni and 2007 Pro Bowl Representative, Jennifer, have made it home safely after a weeklong goodwill trip visiting military bases in Kuwait.

Photos: Gallery 1 | Gallery 2

Sponsored by the Morale, Wellness, and Recreation (MWR) department of the military and accompanied by Pro Sports MVP, the six ladies visited Camp Arifjan, Camp Virginia, Camp Buehring, Camp Morrell, Ali Al Salem Air Base (The Rock), and Camp Patriot. On each stop, our very own Titans Cheerleaders treated the troops to a one-hour variety show performance, which involved singing, dancing and interactive skits.

“Being able to bring a smile to the troops and let them know that Americans still support them was the highlight for me,” said Titans Cheerleader Stormi. “If Stacie (Director of Cheerleaders) said she needed people to go to Iraq next week, I would be the first one to volunteer. I would never pass up an opportunity like this again.”

Stormi is also the wife of an active duty officer stationed at Fort Campbell, who will be deployed this coming summer. Additionally, she works for the USO on base, serving as one of the Titans most military-involved cheerleaders.

Each day in Kuwait was accompanied with a new adventure, a new exciting task, and meeting new wonderful people who are serving our country. Among the numerous incredible activities in which the cheerleaders participated were visiting a K-9 unit and assisting a few Airmen in building a temporary hanger. They also flew in a Blackhawk helicopter with the 1-108th AV Brigade, and ate dinner each night alongside U.S. troops. Additionally, the ladies visited the wounded in the military hospitals and were able to meet our own Tennessee National Guard Unit in Camp Arifjan.

“I knew that this experience would be enlightening, however, I was not prepared for the emotion that came with you standing face to face with the men and women that sacrifice their time with their families to protect our country,” cheerleader Tanzye said. “As a teacher, I have a special place in my heart for the soldiers that left their children to serve. I will forever be in their debt and they will forever be in my prayers.”

The goodwill trip was an effort to show support, appreciation and love to our men and women serving in Kuwait by offering a small piece of home to our fellow Americans on the other side of the world.

Titans Alumni Cheerleader, Jennifer said, “I didn’t want to come home. It was an extraordinary, life-changing experience, one that I will remember forever. Our military is, without a doubt, filled with our nation’s finest individuals.”

“It is amazing to visit our troops when they are serving our country,” said Stormi. “I think we each got something different out of the trip. It brought comfort to me knowing when my husband deploys to Afghanistan this summer, hopefully someone will be able to bring a piece of home to him while he’s there.”

Click here and check out the latest NBA dance team gallery on SportsIllustrated.com!

In the meantime, watch the dancers strut their stuff for the judges at Tuesday night’s final audition.

Tonight, a truly outstanding group of dancers will put it all out on the dance floor, in the hope of making the team. I’ll provide photos, etc in the next couple of days. But for now, I want to wish each and every young lady the best of luck.

Here they are (minus Whitney and Sherra, who I didn’t get photos of at Sunday’s interviews. My bad.)

BIGTIME thanks to Will for sending the link the this video he produced the year before last.

Looks like fun, doesn’t it?

TitansOnline.com

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Arriving in Kuwait this past Saturday after a marathon 14-hour flight, Titans Cheerleaders Brintley, Jalanda, Jessi, Stormi, Tanzye, and Titans Cheerleader alumni and 2007 Pro Bowl Representative, Jennifer, are more than halfway complete with their week-long goodwill tour of Kuwait Army Bases.

• Photos

The goodwill tour is sponsored by the Moral, Wellness, and Recreation (MWR) department of the military. The tour includes greeting and dining with troops, learning day-to-day duties of certain departments and performing a variety show created specifically for this trip.

Having performed at Camp Virginia, Camp Buehring, and LSA, Brian Lee, tour director with Pro Sports MVP, said everything has gone very well so far.

“The girls have had great turnouts and the troops love the shows,” he said. “The shows with the interactive skits, Jessi’s singing and the great dance routines are a big hit!”

In addition to performing, the ladies are enjoying their time greeting soldiers and a K-9 unit, along with visiting wounded veterans. They also helped a few Airmen build a temporary hanger!

The Cheerleaders are currently beginning a show at Ali Al Salem Air Base (The Rock) today and undoubtedly, these troops are sure to enjoy it as well.