BlazerDancers Michelle and Veronica along with Performance Teams Manager Michelle attended the 2011 Pro Action Dance Intensive at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas. The conference brings together dancers from many pro teams such as the Celtics, Kings, 76’ers, Hawks and Nuggets as well as strong college dance programs like Ball State, USC and of course University of Oregon to name a few.
Dancers learned routines to songs like Sandman, Born This Way, Vertigo, Shake Senora and We Got The Beat with talented and renowned choreographers Mina Ortega, Tony Gonzales, Marina Ortega, Andy Vaca, John Peters and Shandon Kolberg. We were able to learn some really fantastic routines that we’ll be able to teach our teammates next month when practices begin.
We can’t wait to share our new routines with the fans in the Rose Garden!
The Daily Telegraph
August 03, 2011
IN any other circumstance switching allegiance from the Sea Eagles to the Cowboys would border on heresy.
But cheerleader Angela Nicoteri isn’t heading to Manly ‘s northern NRL rivals – she’s made history by becoming the first Australian woman accepted into the world-famous Dallas Cowboys cheer squad.
The 26-year-old, from Sydney’s northern beaches, survived an intense eight-week program to secure a spot in the final 34 cheerleaders of America’s iconic NFL club. About 540 women tried out for the squad, nicknamed America’s Sweethearts.
Ms Nicoteri, who recently completed a bachelors degree in chiropractic science, has been a cheerleader for the Manly Seabirds for nine seasons.
“I am beyond proud and beyond excited,” Manly Seabirds director Monique Carroll said.
From Manly to Dallas ... Sea Eagles cheergirl Angela Nicoteri.
The Denver Broncos Cheerleaders’ 3rd Annual Race to Keep Kids on Track and 2012 Calendar Release Party to benefit Tennyson Center for Children
August 19th, 2011
6pm-10pm
The Track at Centennial
The Denver Broncos Cheerleaders will host their 2012 Calendar Release Party and 3rd Annual Race to Keep Kids on Track and this year, Tennyson Center has been chosen as a beneficiary! The fundraising event will feature the highly anticipated unveiling of the Denver Broncos Cheerleaders 2012 Calendar, autograph and photo opportunities, and a chance to interact with all 26 cheerleaders as they race in go-karts at speeds of 60mph! Funds raised through ticket sales will benefit abused and disadvantaged kids. All admission tickets include a 2012 DBC Calendar, Wahoo’s Fish Taco, complimentary beer and cocktails. The event is open to the public; racers must be at least 18. The event was created to bring Broncos fans together in a fun event to support the critical needs of at-risk youth within our community.
100% proceeds benefit at-risk youth from the Denver Metro area through Tennyson Center for Children and Boys & Girls Clubs.
Tickets and more information available at www.keepingkidsontrack.org or at http://www.facebook.com/#!/keepingkidsontrack
by Michelle Homer
khou.com
July 21, 2011
Finalists for the 2011-12 Rockets Power Dancers squared off Wednesday night at the House of Blues in downtown Houston. The women performed several routines before judges and a crowd of fans, friends and relatives. The judges later named the 18 women chosen to add to the current squad that included four captains who had already been named.
Patrick Lane
Hill Country News
July 19, 2011
The first round of auditions for the 2011-2012 Texas Stars Ice Girls was held on Saturday, July 17.
Ice Girls Coordinator Kristin Ditto said 11 ladies were selected to advance into finals week with the final squad announcement later this week.
Stay tuned for the FINAL photo of the new Ice Girls team which will be performing this hockey season at Cedar Park Center.
The Atlanta Hawks have selected their 2010-11 Cheerleaders. Congratulations, ladies! Click here to learn more about the squad.
By Julian Hernandez
West Kendall Today
Miami Herald
8/1/2011
Now that the NFL players are back to work, we turn our attention to — the cheerleaders, of course!
The next time you watch the Miami Dolphins cheerleaders, say perhaps for the first preseason game on Aug. 12, you may just be watching six West Kendall residents.
That’s right. The girl next door may just be one of them. Most people would have trouble imagining that some of the 42 women cheerleaders on the team we watch every Sunday during the Dolphins football season could really live that close. But it’s true.
West Kendall Today spoke to all six of them for this story. Their last names are not used, per Dolphins policy. Meet:
Jessica N., 21, is studying meteorology and broadcasting at Miami Dade College. She is a second-year member of the team. She described it as more than just being a dancer; to her its more like being a role model for young girls. All Dolphins cheerleaders have to work or study full time to be on the team. In addition, they practice three times a week for three hours. Jessica started dancing in high school and always wanted to go pro. Now through her hard work and discipline she said she has realized her dream. As to her role as West Kendall resident, she said it’s great to live in West Kendall and she loves it especially because she feels it’s a safe place.
Kellie, 25, is from Anchorage, Alaska and came to Miami to study. She balances a job as a recreation specialist for Marriott hotels, a student earning bachelors degree in English and a cheerleader. She described being a Dolphins cheerleader as the “opportunity of a life time.” She aspires to start her own charitable foundation, and thanks to the many charitable events the Dolphins cheerleaders organize and attend, Kellie has received some unique experience that she said will help her in her quest to start a foundation. She said she has made great connections that probably would not have been available to her otherwise. These benefits have not come without a lot of work, but she said: “When you want to do something you find time to do it, and I want to be a Dolphins cheerleader.” When asked about her opinion on West Kendall, she said that “it’s awesome because it’s a good, quiet, and safe neighborhood and its well worth the hour commute.”
Mariela, 29 , is an alumna of Florida International University, where she received bachelors and masters degrees in educational leadership. She has since returned to her alma mater as an instructor and coordinator of student activities. This is her third year with the cheerleading team. Mariela became a cheerleader at an early age and, like many other cheerleaders, dreamed of going pro. Here in Miami, the only chance she saw to fulfill that dream was to cheer for the Dolphins. Her journey, however, required perseverance. Mariela was rejected the first time she tried out for the Dolphins. Looking back, she said: “I was not embarrassed by failing.” Her third attempt proved to be the charm as she was finally accepted and thus fulfilled her dream of going pro. Mariela now has a new goal, to establish a charitable organization that is run by college students. In the meantime she’ll continue her work with the Dolphins, which she described as inspiring because of the attention they bring to many good causes. When asked what she thought about living in West Kendall she answered: “It’s nurturing and peaceful, very homey, and it never gets old.”
Natalie D., 20, is currently studying Mass Communications at Miami Dade College. She was born and raised here in Miami and, like many of her teammates, had an interest in cheering and dancing. She was a cheerleader all through high school and at the suggestion of her sister tried out for the Dolphins as soon as she was eligible at the age of 18. Her story with the Dolphins has been one of personal growth. She said her experience with the Dolphins helped her transition out of high school: “You grow and learn from it, you learn about yourself and how to help others. It helped me become more outgoing and charismatic.” As for living in West Kendall, she described it as “very homey,” with people her age and lots of things to do.
Samantha, “Sam,” 22, balances a job, studying communications at Florida International University, and being a Dolphins cheerleader. Before joining the team, Samantha said she had no cheerleading experience. For her, becoming a Dolphins cheerleader was an opportunity to combine her two passions, dancing and the Miami Dolphins. Being an avid fan of the football team, the opportunity was too good to pass up when a friend encouraged her to tryout. This will be Samantha’s third year with the team and she is now a captain. She said “game day is still my favorite part of the job since it’s a rare opportunity to cheer on the team I love so much.” She hopes to one day open a dance studio and said the people she has met and the experience she has gained with the cheerleading team has been extremely valuable. Samantha described West Kendall as a “melting pot where everyone is nice and overall it’s a great neighborhood.”
Vanessa, 22, is a full-time college student who was born and raised in West Kendall. She got her start in cheerleading for the West Kendall Dolphins. For Vanessa, being a Dolphins cheerleader is a hobby. She said it’s an opportunity to have a lot of fun and relieve some stress. “It’s an opportunity to have a lot of fun and relieve some stress,” she said. “It is a truly unique experience and it’s something I can look back at and be proud of.” As she studies radiology at Kaiser University and looks forward to a career in the medical field, Vanessa said she is proud to say that she is a Miami Dolphins cheerleader. Having grown up in West Kendall, she describes life in her neighborhood as laid back and said she truly loves it.
Overall, these women confirm the notion that ordinary people can do great things, and that sometimes people you think you’d never meet could be just around the corner.
The first round of 2011-12 Warrior Girl Auditions took place on Saturday, July 30, at ClubSport San Ramon. More than 200 aspiring dancers attended the audition, and that number will dwindle down before the final team is announced in August. Take a look at the audition process in the photo gallery [here].
Work it, Angel!
Click here to check out scenes from this year’s San Antonio Spurs Silver Dancer auditions on MySanAntonio.com.
By JAY BETSILL
Special to DFW.com
Jul. 30, 2011
With the temperatures in North Texas at a sweltering record pace, the heat was on inside Elevation Fitness for the Dallas Mavericks Dancers Training Camp that was held July 25-28. The gathering was all about who would be a part of the ‘Hottest Dance Team in the NBA’ in its second season under Mavs Dancers Director Mallory Mills.
The Mavs Dancers auditions began Saturday at the Hilton Anatole with over 200 girls arriving to the Coronado Ballroom with dreams of joining the world champions. Sunday brought the final auditions that featured the returning veterans from last season’s amazing squad and the survivors from Saturday’s preliminary tryout. Many of the girls had actually been going full force for the past few weeks as the Mavs Dancers offered prep classes leading up to the big weekend.
The 30 girls who remained from the weekend event simply advanced to the training camp portion of the auditions that took place from Monday through Thursday evening from 7:00 to 9:00. In Mills’ first campaign, there were only five returning veterans which translated to a wide-open competition for a spot on the team. On the heels of the franchise’s first NBA championship and with most of the squad returning to the audition process, the job of selecting the upcoming season’s team was much more difficult. In addition to the solid two hours of practice each evening, the girls went through interviews with Mills and other Mavs front office personnel on why they wanted to be a Dallas Mavericks Dancer and how they would handle the responsibility that comes with the honor.
The 2011-12 Dallas Mavericks Dancers are:
1. Lauren Castillo (veteran)
2. Whitney Foster (veteran)
3. Paige Jones (veteran)
4. Helen McDaniel (veteran)
5. Lauren Gibler (veteran)
6. Rachael Harpe (veteran)
7. Meghan Hodge
8. Chantel Jones
9. Natsuki Kaito (veteran)
10. Shameika Kirklin
11. Savannah McElveen
12. Kenley Menchew (veteran)
13. Sequel Molina (veteran)
14. Emily Morales (veteran)
15. Bonnie Ohlig (veteran)
16. Paige Phillips (veteran)
17. Grace Sells
18. Ashley Wade (veteran)
19. Jenna Zmolik (veteran)
20. Paula Tabares (veteran)
