(Click here for audition details)
Don’t forget!
The team is offering a Pre-Audition workshop on June 26.
Click here for registration information!
ChrisD.ca
May. 02, 2011
The Winnipeg Football Club held open auditions on Saturday for its 2011 Blue Lightning Dance Team.
About 65 ladies came out to show off their moves in an effort to be chosen to dance on the sidelines at this season’s Blue Bomber games.
The competition at McPhillips Station Casino was tough this year, and only a handful of those who tried out will actually make the cut to fill the 18 to 20 spots available.
But it wasn’t all about looks — inner beauty was also being judged. As the Blue Lightning dancers will have to be ambassadors for the Blue Bombers’ brand, people skills were also a factor in the vetting process.
View the photo gallery [here]
By NEIL JOHNSON
The Tampa Tribune[Photos]
There wasn’t much time to impress the judges – just a few seconds of pulsing dance music and spinning steps for nearly 200 women who want to be cheerleaders for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this season – even if there isn’t actually a season.
The team needs to find as many as 34 cheerleaders and held open tryouts today, saying the Bucs will field a cheerleading squad even if a labor dispute snuffs out the 2011 season.
The dispute could eliminate all or some of the National Football League’s games in 2011, meaning the cheerleaders wouldn’t have a stadium to cheer in on Sundays or a crowd to watch their performances.
But game-day performances are just part of a cheerleader’s job.
“Game day is such a small portion of what you do,” said Lauren Spires, who at 26 is trying for her fourth turn as a Bucs cheerleader.
Though known for their dance moves on Sundays, cheerleaders make appearances at charity or private events two or three times a week.
“You can’t say it’s just game day. It’s the whole package,” said Spires, who was on the Bucs cheerleading squad in 2003, 2005 and 2006 and has used her experience as a cheerleader to help establish a dance studio with her husband that features sport dancing.
Cheerleaders are required to perform 50 hours of charity work during the season, said Catherine Boyd, a five-season cheerleader who is now the Buccaneers’ manager for cheerleading and mascots.
The ongoing labor dispute has cast a lot of uncertainty onto the upcoming season, whose fate now rests with the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which will hear the NFL’s appeal of a lower court ruling that lifted the lockout last week.
While the lockout bars teams from doing things such as talking to players, the Bucs are moving forward with peripheral moves, such as getting the cheerleading squad in place.
“It’s a busy time for the team. We’re going to move forward as planned,” said Boyd, one of five judges who watched the women’s freestyle dancing and hip-swaying, shoulder-swinging, hair-flinging struts across the stage, called “jazz walks.”
Becky Hedblom isn’t worried about the prospect of a shortened season. The 31-year-old from Minnesota would have more to think about, if she made the squad, such as moving to Tampa.
“I try not to let that affect me,” said Hedblom, a former Minnesota Vikings cheerleader who didn’t make that team’s squad this year. She decided to try out for the Bucs because the dance style here is similar to what the Vikings cheerleaders do.
Canceling or shortening the 2011 season would affect those who make the cheerleading squad – cheerleaders only get paid for home games.
Out of the 200 women who tried out today, 100 will find out by Monday if they will move on to the next round of competition, on Saturday.
They’ll join about 20 members of last year’s squad and about 30 from practice and conditioning sessions asked to come Saturday.
The final auditions will be May 12.
Congratulations to the 32 talented ladies selected to the Sea Gals! Click here to see their individual photos.
Brittney recalls emotions surrounding Lakers’ 2010 NBA championship
This is the 16th post of a weekly LA Times series that helps you get to know the Laker Girls
Mark Medina
LA Times Lakers Blog
April 30, 2011 
Laker Girl name: Brittney
Year on Squad: second
Hometown: Laguna Niguel
Area of Residence: Ventura
College/High School: Alumni, Chapman University 2010, business administration with an emphasis in marketing
What prompted you to want to become a Laker Girl? It’s been in my head since I was a little girl sitting on my grandpa’s lap, watching the Lakers games. I think I was a fan of the Laker Girls before I could really understand the game of basketball! Also, I love to dance. When you can mix your favorite sports team with your No. 1 hobby, you can’t go wrong.
What do you think stood out to the judging panel, about you, regarding your audition? Definitely confidence. Even though I was trembling inside, I feel you absolutely need to exude confidence in your abilities, or you won’t make it past the first few rounds.
What do you think makes a good Laker Girl? I feel a good Laker Girl is responsible. Also, she should have great time-management skills, a warm personality, care for herself — as well as others and “live in the moment.”
What is your dance experience? I was a song leader in high school. I danced on dance teams and in dance studios. I majored in dance for a little while in college, but I figured I’d switch majors to something a bit more practical for myself.
Favorite dance routine, while being a Laker Girl? We’ve had some great routines, but I would have to say that my favorite so far is “On The Floor” (a song by Jennifer Lopez). The choreography feels great to my body — very natural.
Favorite uniform? It’s a two-piece called “Purple Fringe.” Think a cross between Tina Turner and Laker Girl. It’s so darn cute!
Favorite Lakers Player? I would have to say Pau Gasol. His size and presence both dominate the court. Yet, he is able to move with so much agility and speed for a “big man.” He’s a great asset to the Lakers.
Favorite Laker Girl memory so far? Game 7 versus Boston! I went through such a roller-coaster of emotions. There were so many great highlights of that game. I remember after we won, Magic [Johnson], who was on stage, leaned over to us [Laker Girls] and said, “Congratulations ladies, this championship belongs to you too.” It really struck home for me. We got to be an integral piece of this historical moment and it was so special.
What do you like most about being involved, as a Laker Girl, at local charity/community events? Some people are really affected by the Laker Girls simply participating and supporting their events. I feel like such a normal, everyday girl you would see on the street — yet, when I’m in uniform and at a charitable function, the Lakers fans are so excited to meet us (it’s neat)! I just love seeing a smile on people’s faces. The thought that I was able to brighten someone’s day just by smiling, or talking, to them gives me a warm feeling inside.
What would you say is your beauty secret? I drink a lot of water. I don’t really like soda or juice. I’ll have a coffee on occasion, but I usually just stick to water. Also, I’m a fanatic about washing my face and moisturizing every morning and night.
What diet/workout tips do you have? When you feel like you need to work out, go work out. Try not to make excuses. If you feel like you’ve eaten too much junk lately, eat better. I think your body will tell you when you’re doing a good job and when you’re not. Listen to your body — and it will reward you.
What are your hobbies? I really like sewing — more specifically, clothing design and construction. I like making costumes and fun clothes to wear out. Going out with my friends is always fun as well — to the beach, to the movies, downtown, out to lunch, wherever. I also have a beach cruiser bicycle that I like taking down to the boardwalk/pier. In addition to those things, I’m kind of known for quoting movies way too much. People kind of laugh at me for my movie references.
Career aspirations? I really feel like I could go in so many directions. There’s so much I would love to learn. Right now, I think I want to go into managing property investments. Design and engineering are of great interest to me too -– and if I can incorporate aspects of that into my career, that would be great. If I can do something I love, I’ll be happy.
Click here to check out the latest action photos of the Thunder Girls on SportsIllustrated.com.
Click here for more photos from the first day of Sea Gal auditions!
Akio Harada, Staff Writer
Asahi.com
April 29, 2011
Twenty-two-year-old Kisato Nishimura will become the youngest Japanese NFL cheerleader after she earned a spot on the Oakland Raiders cheerleading squad for the 2011-12 season.
Nishimura has been cheerleading for 10 years. She served as vice captain and captain of the cheerleading squad at Tokyo’s Tamagawa University, where she graduated last month, and led her team to second-place finishes at the U.S. national collegiate competition two years in a row.
She was the only Japanese woman trying out for the Raiderettes. More than 300 women tried out for the 41-member cheerleading squad. The tryouts included tests in speech, dance and other topics in addition to an interview.
Of the 16 Japanese women who have served as cheerleaders in the NFL, Nishimura is the youngest.
“I had some job offers lined up for me (noncheerleading jobs in Japan), but I wanted to take on this challenge while my body was fit,” Nishimura said upon her return to Japan on April 21. “I would like Japanese people to know more about the NFL through dance.”
Nishimura will return to the Bay Area and the cheerleading squad as soon as her visa is issued.
BY MATT KAKLEY
The Sun Chronicle
April 29, 2011
NORTON – A Norton High School graduate who honed her skills cheering on the Lancers has been named a captain of the New England Patriots cheerleading squad.
Kayla Vernaglia, 21, a 2007 Norton High graduate, was named one of four captains of the squad for the 2011 season, capping off her three-year career with the team.
“I had always hoped for it,” Vernaglia said of being named captain. “But really, I just feel very fortunate that I can be a part of such a great team.”
Vernaglia, who still lives in Norton, first decided to audition for the Patriots’ cheer squad three years ago to use her dance skills in a new environment.
“It just seemed like a really fun job,” she said.
Since then, she has enjoyed every minute, whether it’s helping out in the community or cheering on the team from the sidelines on Sundays. “It’s the best seat in the house,” she said.
The 2011 season will be Vernaglia’s last. The Patriots only allows cheerleaders to serve for a maximum of three years.
“You definitely don’t realize three years flew by,” she said.
As she enters her final year with the team, Vernaglia said she’s hoping to cap her career with a trip to Indianapolis next February for Super Bowl XLVI.
“I’m 100 percent sure (the Pats) can do it,” she said.
