MARTY JAMES
Napa Valley Register
April 26, 2011

As a San Diego Charger Girl, Lauren O’Bryon always takes a minute or two before the game and then at some point during the game to look at her surroundings at Qualcomm Stadium.

It involves mostly just looking into the stands — which are filled to capacity on Sundays during the fall — as a way of reminding herself just how fortunate and appreciative she is to be associated with a National Football League team. It’s an honor, said O’Bryon, to be on the field with the other members of the Charger Girls, the official dance team of the San Diego Chargers.

“We’re all there for the same reason, supporting our football team and showing our love of dance,” she said in a telephone interview from Southern California last week. “It’s almost a surreal feeling. You can’t even put it into words. It’s just an honor, it’s definitely an honor.

“It’s something very special and meaningful, obviously.”

O’Bryon’s sister, Jennifer, who is also a Charger Girl, expressed the same feeling.

“Being a member of the Charger Girls is my proudest accomplishment,” said Jennifer. “I honestly love all aspects of it. I love having the opportunity to perform, get involved in the community and make lifelong friendships. It’s a life-changing experience.”

Lauren, 29, and Jennifer, 25, got their start in cheerleading and dance growing up in Napa.

Lauren is a 1999 Vintage High School graduate who was a cheerleader for three years and the team captain her senior year. She took up dance at the age of 4 with Academy of Danse in Napa and was on a competition dance team, performing jazz, ballet and lyrical dance.

“I pretty much went to school at Vintage and then had cheerleading practice after school and then drove straight over to the dance studio and then came home and did my homework,” she said. “My high school days were pretty packed full with dance and cheer. It was very structured, but I still was able to do well in school and maintain a 4.0 (grade-point average) in high school. It kept me busy, but I think it kept me on track.”

Lauren was also on the dance team in college at Sonoma State and performed at home basketball games.

Jennifer is a 2003 Napa High graduate and was a spiritleader her junior and senior year after transferring from Vintage. She was an All-American dancer both years and named as a Top All-American her junior year. Napa went to nationals in Orlando, Fla., during her senior year.

“(Coach/director) Hollie Schmidt is such an inspiration and I feel so grateful to have had her guidance in high school,” said Jennifer.

Jennifer stopped competing after high school and mostly took dance classes during college.

But in 2008 she tried out and was chosen to the Charger Girls.

Both Lauren and Jennifer are entering their second year together with the Chargers. The organization’s dance team, made up of 28 members, was formed in 1990 and has since become one of the most premier dance teams in the NFL, according to the Chargers’ website. Lisa Simmons is the team director.

“Although being a Charger Girl is a part time job, much time and hard work is devoted to the position,” the website said. “As an official representative of the Chargers’ organization, the Charger Girls are very active in the community. They have donated their time to such charity groups as the Junior Seau Foundation, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Children’s Hospital, the American Diabetes Association, and D.A.R.E., to name a few. The Charger Girls have traveled extensively, including trips to Sydney, Tokyo and Berlin. Because of their growing popularity, the Charger Girls have appeared on numerous television shows on the local, national and international level.”

The 2009 season was Lauren’s first year with the Charger Girls; her sister took that year off.

The O’Bryons are the first sisters to make the Chargers’ dance team.

“It’s incredible that we get to share this rare experience together,” said Jennifer. “We’re so close and it’s nice to be able to share that sisterly bond with the rest of the team as well.”

Over 400 women, age 18 and over, auditioned for this year’s squad at the Jenny Craig Pavilion at the University of San Diego and the Omni Hotel in downtown San Diego. Those trying out were evaluated by a panel of judges on dance ability, showmanship performance, poise, and public speaking skills. There was a cut to about 175, followed by a second cut to about 70. The team was announced on April 7.

“They’re looking for the total package,” said Lauren, who graduated from Sonoma State with a degree in economics. “The Charger Girls have a saying that it’s a part-time job but a full-time commitment. A lot of us have full-time careers outside of Charger Girls. It’s not something that we do for the money. We all do it for the experience that we gain from it.”

Lauren owns a mobile dance company, WEBBY Dance Co. of San Diego, which travels to preschool and elementary schools to teach dance and creative movement on location. The company serves over 200 students.

After graduating from college, Lauren returned to Napa and coached the junior and senior competition team for Academy of Danse for two years.

Jennifer is currently working on obtaining her state teaching credential at Cal State Los Angeles to become an elementary school teacher. She makes her home in L.A.

Game days are a full day for the Charger Girls. They are required to report to the stadium five hours before kickoff. They spend two hours rehearsing on the field, then change into their signature uniforms. Before kickoff, they are in different sections of the stadium, doing promotional work as representatives of the organization.

They perform at home preseason and regular-season games. The Charger Girls are grouped in lines of seven members and rotate around the field during games.

“I think there’s something about being on a team that you learn many values, that camaraderie that you can’t find anywhere else than within your teammates,” said Lauren, a San Diego resident. “You learn from each other, you work together. Your teammates make you work harder.

“You’re all there for the same reason — you love dance, you love performing. But you create such a bond that’s much more important than that. I think the Chargers organization does a great job of selecting the best 28 that they can out of that 400 that shows up that first day. You’ve really got great women out there.”

Charger Girls are issued a uniform at the start of the season. They are paid $75 per game.

They go through a lot of different seminars, including public speaking seminars, nutrition seminars, boot camps, and team-bonding exercises at a minicamp. They also learn choreography.

“It’s been something special that my sister and I have gotten to share, being on the team together,” said Lauren.

Lauren is confident that the NFL, which is currently experiencing a labor dispute, will play this year.

“We are continuing on as normal. We had our auditions and we’re going forward with our minicamp. We’re confident that an agreement will be reached and we will have a season. We’re excited for that coming season.”

Jessica is a student of dance and a fan of Stephen King
This is the 15th post of a weekly LA Times series that helps you get to know the Laker Girls
Mark Medina
LA Times Lakers Blog
April 23, 2011

Laker Girl name: Jessica

Hometown: Grapevine, Texas

Area of Residence: Downtown Los Angeles

College/High School: Grapevine High School and Oklahoma City University with a bachelor of arts in performing arts and a minor in history.

What prompted you to want to become a Laker Girl? My dream was always to be a dancer. When I moved out to California and began auditioning, around the same time every year the buzz around the dance world was about the Laker Girls audition. The prospect of being able to dance, be a member of the premiere NBA dance team and represent the most recognized/talented team in the league was exciting to me. I was determined to audition until I made it!

What do you think stood out to the judging panel, about you, regarding your audition? I do not know exactly what it was that made me stand out to the judges, there are so many talented and beautiful ladies who audition each year. I believe that my dance training had something to do with it and maybe that I just kept smiling the whole time.

What do you think makes a good Laker Girl? To be a good Laker Girl, it takes much more than looks and good dance ability. Professionalism is one of the most important qualities in all of us. There are many rehearsals, games and community events that we take part in that we must be on time for -– not to mention, be ready to put our best foot forward.

What is your dance experience? I have been dancing since I was 3 years old — mostly jazz, ballet and tap. I also have a degree in dance performance from Oklahoma City University, where I studied pas de deux, choreography and theater dance.

Favorite dance routine, while being a Laker Girl? “Mercy” stands out in my mind because it was a fun dance but also because it was what we performed at the audition the first year I made the team. But I think this year my favorite dance is “For Your Entertainment.”

Favorite uniform? I love wearing our Sunday whites! When we walk out and everyone is all in white it makes me feel connected to the Lakers tradition! I particularly liked the sparkly white one from last year.

Favorite Lakers Player? I would have to say that Shannon Brown is one of my favorite players. He’s such a dynamic player and always very exciting to watch. I also think he always shocks us all with how high he can jump!

Favorite Laker Girl memory so far? Of course my favorite memory as a Laker Girl was being on the floor as the buzzer announced the end of Game 7 in the Finals last year. The feeling was indescribable. Being able to share in that moment in NBA history, with everyone at Staples Center, and the whole city of Los Angeles was incredible!

What do you like most about being involved, as a Laker Girl, at local charity/community events? I like that our status in the community helps us make more of an impact at charitable events/functions. If being there as a Laker Girl helps the charity raise more funds or have more success in getting their message out, then I am happy we had the opportunity to help.

What would you say is your beauty secret? I do not really have any secrets. I would have to thank my mother for her genetics and a good diet.

What diet/workout tips do you have? I think it is important to have a well-rounded workout regime. Basic cardio and weights should be used in conjunction with Pilates or resistance training. Yoga and stretching is good for you too. When it comes to diet, I am a believer in “all things in moderation” and that you should watch out for sugar (although I admittedly have a huge sweet tooth).

What are your hobbies? I love to read, I enjoy Stephen King and am a huge Harry Potter fanatic. I enjoy puzzles and I am also learning to golf!

Career aspirations? There are so many things that I am interested in. I obviously would love to keep dancing for as long as I can and one day hope to open a studio where I can develop my own teaching method. But also, being a Lakers TV host has peaked my interest in broadcasting, public relations and the sports world in general. Who knows what will come next….

The Timberwolves have updated their dance team page. Click here to check it out!

US ‘trainer to the stars’ in West Fife link
Siew Peng Lee
Dunfermline Press
22 Apr 2011

A DUNFERMLINE entrepreneur has teamed up with a top personal trainer to the stars to bring exclusive health retreats to Europe and the UK.

Romy Wyser (32), the former boss of luxury lingerie firm ‘Silk Storm’, has gone into business with celebrity fitness trainer Ramona Braganza, whose list of famous clients includes Jessica Alba, Halle Berry and Kate Beckinsale.

Ramona is launching her ‘321 Fitness Retreats’ globally and Romy will be managing all her European retreats – and assured the Press there would be one in Scotland.

Romy met Ramona 12 years ago when the former gymnast and NFL cheerleader lived in Scotland and headed up the Scottish Claymores cheerleading team.

She said, “I’ve kept in touch with her and followed her career and how she’s done in America.

“When she started talking about what she wanted to do with the retreats, I talked about how well it would work in Europe and we discussed how I might get involved with the venture.”

Romy believes she and Ramona are a “perfect balance” to make the retreats a success, as the venture combines Ramona’s fitness and nutritional programme and her own strong background in marketing, PR and launching new business deals.

She also found the retreats appealing, as her own online business, Life Soul Vision, which launches at the end of April, looks to help people find balance in their lives mentally, physically and spiritually.

She said, “What interested me in it was that Ramona wanted the retreats to be about mind, body and soul – they’re about fitness and nutrition but also bring in a holistic element.

“That’s where I’m coming from as well – I’m very much focused on helping people work through the emotional aspects of their lives and it blends in very well with what Ramona is doing.”

The retreats, which will be run in exclusive hotels, range between three and seven days and include personalised workouts, health cooking classes, daily yoga and meditative practices and inspirational speakers.

A series of mini-retreats will be run in June in the UK, with the full retreats expected to kick off in July or August.

And with the market for retreats and fitness boot camps really taking off, Romy believes there will be a market for the ‘321 Fitness Retreats’.

She added, “The unique selling point is Ramona’s experience and credentials and she has a wonderful track record. She’s a fantastic brand.”

For more information, log on to www.ramonabraganza.comor e-mail 321fitretreat@gmail.com.

Check out the new ChivaGirls team photo! (Click to view full size)

Photos on the ABC Philadelphia affiliate

Photos on the Eagles website

The Suns Dancers are back for a repeat visit on SportsIllustrated.com! Click here to see the new photos.

Phillip Lucas
Philly.com
April 21, 2011

[Photo Gallery]

Last night, a contestant vying for one of 38 spots on the Philadelphia Eagles cheerleading squad was asked in front of a sold-out audience which reality TV show she would like to be on if she could choose.

With nine other young women standing beneath the blinding stage lights in a semicircle behind her, she calmly answered after a few seconds of internal debate.

“‘Jersey Shore’ – but not as one of the main characters,” she said in a laudable show of on-the-spot diplomacy.

It’s one of many traits women who make the squad will need, as Eagles cheerleaders participate in several community and national initiatives.

For a diverse group of 57 young women, Wednesday night was their last shot at making next year’s squad. At 2 p.m. Thursday, they will call a hot line to hear whether they’ve been selected.

A few minutes onstage at the Suzanne Roberts Theater on South Broad Street in Center City was all each young woman had after pressing through a field of 400 for a spot on the squad.

Some contestants saw familiar faces in the group – for many, it was their second or third time trying out.

Connie Chung, a 23-year-old senior at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., tried out for a second time and said the dance competition left her slightly unsure of her standing with the judges.

“I gave it my all,” the business administration and marketing student said after the competition. “I tried my best, hopefully my number is called.”

Erica Dorsey, a third-year contestant from Mt. Laurel, N.J., circled the lobby after the competition hugging friends she made in the process, and reenacting a few of the dance moves she had to learn for the competition.

“It was really, really tense,” Dorsey said, taking a break to hug another contestant wearing a cocktail dress and high heels.

“I performed, I didn’t just dance. I feel pretty confident,” Dorsey said, pausing to greet Rachel Mooney, another contestant trying out for the third time.

Mooney has been cheerleading for the Philadelphia Soul arena football team for three seasons, and was co-captain in the team’s last season, which is an experience she said served her well in the competition.

“I always say it was kind of like doing my homework,” Mooney said, surrounded by her mother Debbie, father Don and uncle Chris.

“I really, really want it,” Mooney said, adding that she would probably have trouble calming down between the end of the competition and the 2 p.m. hot line call Thursday afternoon.