Rattlers Announce New Dance Team: MyFoxPHOENIX.com
My Fox Phoenix
1/29/2011
PHOENIX – They keep the crowd energized during the games. The Arizona Rattlers have just announced their new dance team.
On Sunday, the 2011 Arizona Rattlers Sidewinders were chosen at Casino Arizona. The Sidewinders are the official dancers for the arena football team.
Auditions were held, and 18 of the best dancers were selected. Fans of the Rattlers and the women’s families came out to support them.
The Arizona Rattlers Sidewinders is one of the longest running dance teams in the arena football league.
The St. Augustine Record
January 30, 2011
The new ABA basketball team, The Jacksonville Giants, has held auditions for their official dance team.
Many St. Augustine residents are members of this new team called The Jacksonville Jewels. Ages average between 18 and 24. They also have a junior dance, Jacksonville Gems, that includes dancers from 7th through 12th grade.
These new teams are coached by Pamela Masters and practice weekly for their weekend games. They perform new halftime routines at each game, dance to sideliners during the entire game, and perform center court between media timeouts and quarters.
The Jacksonville Jewels have the following girls on the team:
Hannah Perry, a member of Showtime USA and former cheerleader at Crescent City High School.
Summer Worthington, a former member of the Ja’Quettes dance team at SAHS and currently attending St. Johns River State College.
Katie Morris, technique teacher at Showtime USA, she danced for the semi-pro Orlando Predators AFL dance team along with for her college UCF Knight Moves dance team where she was a captain for two years — Katie also graduated from UCF with a degree in finance.
Ali Oliver, former St. Joe cheerleader and MHS Magic dancer.
Allie Schmidt, a former MHS Magic dancer, SAHS Ja’Quette, and a current Showtime alumni who recently graduated from UNF with a degree in communications.
Rhiannon Kirkland, former Sunbeams dancer for the Jacksonville Suns and Middleburg cheerleader.
Rachael Slayman, a member of Showtime USA and former MHS Magic dancer.
Michelle Woods, a member of Showtime USA and former MHS Magic dancer.
Taylor Brown, a member of Showtime USA, former member of MHS Magic, currently a track and field athlete, and gymnastics athlete.
Saniece Anderson, a former student from Douglas Anderson School of the Arts.
Shelby Mayo, a member of Showtime USA, former SAHS cheerleader, and former MHS Magic dancer, she is currently a track and field athlete and teaches at Island Gymnastics.
Every home game is televised on CW 17.
The Jacksonville Giants are undefeated.
Call 794-2284 for team information or go to www.jacksonvillegiants.com.
Katherine Johnson
Fox16.com
1/28/2011
LITTLE ROCK, AR – They’re not cheering in the Superbowl but they’re happy to host. The Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders spent Friday afternoon spreading big smiles to fans at Little Rock’s new Walmart on Shackleford.
Ben Harrod is only in elementary school, but he plans to be a professional football player. He has all the right skills already.
“I’m a pretty fast runner and I like to throw a ball,” said Harrod.
But, after meeting the cheerleaders, he Harrod plans to go straight to the big leagues.
“Probably play for the Cowboys, first,” said the 8-year-old.
He’s one of hundreds who met the cheerleaders in Little Rock, today, a moment literally shaking die-hard fans to the core.
“My hand is shaking,” said Larry Lambert after his meet-and-greet. “My hand doesn’t shake at all! I ride a motorcycle. I never shake! But seeing the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders – it’s… What can I say? I got a memory!”
“We have to stand in a long line, but it’s better than being at a register!” said another fan after waiting about an hour for the autographs.
Walmart estimates at least 300 people showed up to meet the cheerleaders.
The long running hit game show Wheel of Fortune is running a contest to find someone to fill Vanna White’s shoes for a day. Former Jacksonville Jaguars Cheerleader Shenette has been chosen as one of the top five finalists. Click here to help vote her to the top!
Katie Warchut
TheDay.com
Jan 29, 2011
Though the end of the Patriots’ season was disappointing for some sports fans, it had a larger meaning for one local woman.
Brittany Bonchuk, of Griswold, ended her three-year career as a Patriots cheerleader with the football team’s unexpected loss to the N.Y. Jets earlier this month.
“After the two-minute warning … there was a little bit of hope,” recalls Bonchuk, who watched from the sidelines of Gillette Stadium. “I looked around the stadium, and a lot of fans had left. I started to realize that was it.”
When the game finally ended, Bonchuk and two fellow cheerleaders who were leaving the team were recognized on the JumboTron.
“We all hugged each other and shared a moment,” she says. “It was really emotional at that point.”
Bonchuk, 27, a 2001 graduate of Griswold High School and a social worker at a child guidance clinic in New London, is leaving the team, which only allows members a maximum of three years.
“It’s just my other world, my other passion,” Bonchuk says.
But Bonchuk still has one more game before her cheerleading career comes to an end: she was chosen to participate in Sunday’s Pro Bowl, NFL’s all-star game in Hawaii, in which one cheerleader from every NFL team is chosen to attend.
Bonchuk grew up with a love of dancing and sports. Her parents made sure she and her two sisters were “involved in every activity from T-ball to softball – everything we could do to stay active,” she says. The loyal New England family followed a sport for every season: the Pats, Red Sox, Celtics and Bruins.
She also took classes at area dance schools, but Griswold High School didn’t have a dance team. With a little pressure from friends, she decided to give cheerleading a shot and found it a natural fit.
Bonchuk remained a cheerleader through college at Central Connecticut State University, and tried out for dance squads for every sports team she could in a state not known for its sports teams. She had stints on the Connecticut Sun’s Solar Power Dance Team, the AHL Hartford Wolfpack Cheer Squad and the Mohegan Wolves Arena Football Dance Team before trying out for the Patriots’ squad.
“My first (professional NFL) game was when I stepped on field on Gillette Stadium,” Bonchuk says. “I don’t think I’ll ever forget that feeling.”
Performing in front of 70,000 fans is the best part of the job, she says.
“Before every game we stand in the tunnel, and I think it’s just as exhilarating and as much as a rush for us as it is for (the players), getting pumped up for the game,” Bonchuk notes.
They also get to watch just about every play.
“We get into it,” she adds. “You’d be surprised, even during practice and after we’re e-mailing and texting each other… we’re the biggest Pats fans.”
People are also surprised to learn Bonchuk has a master’s degree and a career. But to those who assume cheerleaders are less than intelligent, Bonchuk says the majority of her teammates are in college or are college-educated.
“Anyone who has that sterotype hasn’t met a cheerleader before or has based their opinion on one experience,” she says.
Being part of the team does mean cheerleaders find themselves scantily clad, in photos and videos on the team website and calendar, but Bonchuk believes the photos are “very tasteful” and says the team “makes sure everybody feels comfortable.”
And on the field, Bonchuk says the cheerleaders are “bundled up just as much as every other fan.” They wear layers, and have hand and feet warmers and are standing and dancing the entire game to keep warm.
Between games, she’s also gotten the chance to reach out to the community and has traveled overseas to eight different countries to entertain and support U.S. troops.
After the Pro Bowl, Bonchuk hopes to work full-time and pursue coaching opportunities along with a doctoral degree.
“(Dancing) has helped me in feeling out who I am as a person, being versatile in my life, and finding a balance between my passion for my career and dance,” she says. “After 10 years dancing professionally, it’s nice to have an ending I can feel good about.”
I thought this was really cute, especially considering how many dancers are also teachers~ sasha
Peter Hartlaub
SFGate.com
Jan 25, 2011
Let me start by warning you that the post is kind of long. To summarize: my son’s former preschool teacher is a Warrior girl and was really nice to him at Friday night’s game. If you’re one of those people who just reads the headline and goes straight to the comments, please be kind.
I took my almost 6-year-old to his first Warriors game on Friday night. We had attended a few practices. But much like his first trip to AT&T Park to watch the Giants, I waited until he asked before taking him to his first real game. That’s him on the right in the sweet Chris Mullin rookie year replica jersey.
My awesome wife, who bought me a four-pack of Warriors tickets for Christmas, called me when we were on the road toward Oracle Arena.
“Remember Theo’s teacher Michelle from preschool? She’s a Warrior girl! She might stop by and see him.”
Honestly, I found the conversation impossible to process. Other than the 50-something supervisor, all of my son’s preschool teachers were teenagers dressed in hoodies and the occasional “My Chemical Romance” T-shirt. I would have definitely remembered someone in knee-high boots and a sports bra.
I questioned the logic of her coming up into the stands as well. We were sitting in the upper reaches of the arena, and the Warrior girls presumably had to work. It would be like a concert cellist from the San Francisco Symphony leaving in the middle of Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 2 to hang out with someone who bought a $20 seat in the second tier balcony.
I was also considering the demographic differences between the lower level seats and the 200 section at Warriors games. I’ve sat in both, and while everyone is sharing the same oxygen and watching the same game, it’s a completely different scene. Put bluntly, the floor seats are mostly the Garibaldi’s/Bay Wolf/Miss Pearl’s Jam House crowd, while the balcony has much more of a Hooters vibe. For the Warriors’ purposes this is fine — both demographics are knowledgable fans who cheer loud — but I couldn’t imagine a Warriors girl thrown into the mix. The 200 section can barely contain itself when a T-shirt is shot into the stands. A lone Warrior girl walking into this scene wouldn’t stand a chance.
My son spent much of the first half standing up and looking for Michelle. I was still very skeptical, told him to temper his expectations, and made sure he cheered extra loud when the Warrior girls did a high-energy “Proud Mary” themed dance.
I was 99.8 percent sure no one would be coming into the stands … until my wife called at the beginning of halftime and told me not to move, because Michelle was headed to our seats.
There are men who aren’t going to believe this next part, but I don’t perv out on young attractive half-naked women. While I’m completely guilty of ogling a hot mom at the park (yes, that was me), I consider most dancers/cheerleaders/hot young bartenders to be someone’s daughter, not a sex object. I think middle aged guys who drop double entendres on 20-year-old waitresses are pretty much the saddest thing in the world, and it’s my nightmare to be mistaken for one of them. So when I found out a Warrior girl was headed to my seat, my overwhelming emotion was worry in anticipation of the awkwardness of the moment. She was probably a minor last time I saw her, and I didn’t want to accidentally check her out. “Maintain eye contact and don’t be a pervert” became my mantra for the next 10 minutes.
My son, the little badass, was still looking for Michelle but otherwise acting completely cool. It occurred to me that as a first timer, he probably thought this is what happens at every Warriors game. Stay in your seats during halftime! The dancers will come to you and give you big hugs!
Michelle showed up — with a friend — and I immediately recognized her as one of his more engaged student teachers, albeit dressed in white knee-high boots and construction sign yellow short shorts. I didn’t see her much because I did the preschool drop-off, and I’m pretty sure Michelle was there in the afternoon. But she was one of the student teachers who organized his graduation and my wife said she was amazing with the children. I brought him down the stairs and Michelle gave him a huge hug, telling him she missed him and asking about kindergarten. As cute as he was with her, she absolutely lit up when she saw my son. And due in part to a strategically worn Adidas tracksuit jacket, my expected moment of awkwardness (“eyecontacteyeconacteyecontact”) was brief.
The crowd was stirring almost immediately after the pair arrived, with guys from the stands gravitating toward them like horny zombies. Michelle and her friend posed for photos with my son, and politely deflected most of the grown men who were trying to move in on his action.
“Take a picture with me and my friend,” one of the sadder cases kept pleading. “It’s his biiiirthday!”
By the time we walked back up into the upper reaches of Oracle Arena, more than half the section was staring at my son. He was happy, but in a just-had-a-fun-time-at-recess kind of way.
“You don’t even know what a rock star you are, do you?” I asked him.
I’ll show him the pictures when he’s older.
(More photos below. Thanks Michelle and Samantha! And thanks to the Warriors — my son’s first game was an overtime victory against the Kings.)
By Darren Rovell, CNBC.com
Yahoo Sports
Jan 27, 2011
This year’s Super Bowl features the Green Bay Packers against the Pittsburgh Steelers. But there will be no cheerleaders. The Packers and the Steelers are just two of six teams (along with the Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears) that don’t field a pom-pom waving squad.
Although their seasons are over, cheerleaders are an important part of the NFL off-season for the 26 teams that do have them. Why? Because, when executed well, they provide endless clicks for Web surfing fans and additional revenue in appearances (teams usually charge between $100 and $500 per hour per cheerleader) and swimsuit calendar revenue.
In fact, with plenty of women to audition and money to be had (most cheerleaders make less than $100 a game), the number of cheerleaders has increased exponentially in recent years.
In 2010, 15 teams each dressed more than 30 cheerleaders for games and have found ways, especially online, to generate revenue from their top squads. However, as valuations go, NFL teams are hesitant to put a dollar figure on their cheerleading squads, but the use of these cheerleaders as a vehicle for marketing is certainly in the public eye.
You probably expected to find the Dallas Cowboys on the top of this list, but no team has a more extensive of a library of cheerleader photos than the Indianapolis Colts. You can sort through over 2,000 shots that not only can be looked at, but also ordered. No other team in the league allows fans to do that.
The Colts are also the only team in the league to post a photo gallery of some of the favorites to join the squad next season. Fans can look at 65 candidates for the team and vote for who they think should join the team next.
Here is the ranking of the top teams that take the most monetary advantage of their cheerleaders.
10. Denver Broncos
While it’s not the greatest cheerleader site, the sponsorship revenue the Broncos cheerleaders bring in is pretty impressive. There’s a company sponsoring tanning, yoga and spa services.
The Broncos are also the only cheerleading squad that has a breast augmentation sponsor, Dr. Ben Lee. They’re also one of the only teams, if not the only team, to sell cheerleader packages for events.
9. New England Patriots
Video is the major theme. The Patriots were smart in that they have video pre-rolled, so once you click on a cheerleader’s bio, you’ll automatically see video of them. They also have an extensive gallery of photos sorted by cheerleader and are one of the few teams to keep previous squad galleries up on their site — why delete them?
8. Oakland Raiders
After the Cowboys, the Raiderettes get the most press in the league. Given the team’s performance in recent years, it’s one of the few redeeming aspects of going to their games. The Raiderettes have among the most sponsors including Euphoria Nail and Body Bar, MAC makeup, Betsey Johnson swimwear and 365 Teeth Whitening.
As for appearance fees at events, Raiders cheerleaders cost a planner $400 each, per hour, to show up, with a minimum of two cheerleaders required at an event.
7. Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs also understand that static pictures of cheerleaders aren’t going to create buzz in 2011. The site features great videos of the cheerleaders, sponsored by Sprint, where fans can get to know the girls. But if you want to meet these cheerleaders in person, it’ll cost you $250 per hour, per cheerleader for their appearance fee.
6. Tennessee Titans
To find some of the best cheerleader video, you’ll have to go to the Tennessee Titans Web site. There, you’ll find Swimsuit calendar video of all the entire team, which at 24 women is actually the smallest in the league.
However, if you want these cheerleaders to show up at an event, it’s going to cost you. The Titans charge $300 per hour, per cheerleader for performances and $200 per cheerleader per hour if you’re hosting a meet-and-greet.
5. Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles have the only cheerleader Web site that makes you click “continue” because of mature content ahead, click continue, it’s worth it (for some people) . The Eagles have a really well organized roster section with easy to click video and photo galleries of each woman.
4. Miami Dolphins
NFL teams have a 53-man active roster throughout the season. The Miami Dolphins field a league – high 41 cheerleaders, which translates into a lot of offseason clicks throughs on their Web site. There are plenty of ‘Cheerleader of the Week’ videos, photo galleries and calendar shots.
3. Dallas Cowboys
There’s no doubt that this legendary group, with a history that spans 50 years, had to make this list. The team has its own Web page, has the most extensive schedule of off-the-field appearances and has a fully clickable roster with pictures of every group dating back to 1961.
There’s no doubt that the Cowboys cheerleaders generate the most money of any squad in the league, not only from appearance fees but from exclusive sponsorships, including hair (Tigi Bed Head), Boots (Lucchese) and Tanning (Palm Beach Tan), but as far as online marketing goes, they’re only number 3.
2. Houston Texans
The Houston Texans were better than the Dallas Cowboys on the field this past season and they’re better at exploiting their cheerleaders — at least online — than the Cowboys are.
The team has big bio pictures of the squad and is one of the few that offers screensaver wallpaper of every woman. The Texans are also the only team that offers fans the chance to see the girls in the gym as they give you their workout advice — brilliant.
1.Indianapolis Colts
I know, you expected to find the Dallas Cowboys on the top of this list, but no team has a more extensive of a library of cheerleader photos than the Indianapolis Colts. You can sort through over 2,000 shots that not only can be looked at, but also ordered. No other team in the league allows fans to do that.
The Colts are also the only team in the league to post a photo gallery of some of the favorites to join the squad next season. Fans can look at 65 candidates for the team and vote for who they think should join the team next. There’s also a voting leaderboard for the candidates and the top vote getter, Lindsey K., has more than 1,000 votes.
CG Cal 2010 from Mike Nowak on Vimeo.
CG Cal Cover 2010 from Mike Nowak on Vimeo.
Photographer Mark Ramelb has some great photos from an autograph session in Honolulu this week. Click here to check ’em out!
Second-year member of Colorado’s Wild Bunch Dance Team wins this week’s voting
NLL.com
1/26/2011
NLL.com: Where did you go to school?
Alexis: I graduated from Grandview High School! Go Wolves! I studied Special Education at The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.
NLL.com: Where do you currently reside?
Alexis: In Denver, the best city in the WORLD!
NLL.com: What dancing experience do you have? How did you get started?
Alexis: I started dancing when I was 13 years old at Dance Intensity! I was trained in Hip-Hop, Jazz, and Poms. Hip Hop is my favorite style of dance. I was also on the Poms squad in high school.
NLL.com: What do you do when you’re not cheering on the Mammoth at the Pepsi Center?
Alexis: I also Volunteer at the Johnson Adult Day Program, a program for individuals who have neurological changes and physical disabilities. It is so much fun! I get to dance and sing songs all day and be a goof ball with some amazing people!
NLL.com: How would you describe yourself? How do you think friends would describe you?
Alexis: I would describe myself as very outgoing and hardworking. My friends would probably describe me as very energetic and say that no matter where I am or if there is music or not I am always dancing!!
NLL.com: What is your biggest pet peeve?
Alexis: My biggest pet peeve would probably be rude people. I believe that having a kind heart and a genuine attitude is worth far more than a pretty face.
NLL.com: What is your favorite part of cheering on the Mammoth?
Alexis: The energy from the fans. We really do have the best fans in the league. Hearing them cheer the Wild Bunch and the team on really makes all the hard work preparing for the games worth it!
NLL.com: Who is your favorite Mammoth player? Any reason in particular?
Alexis: I would probably pick Mac Allen because he is in Law school, and a professional athlete. I think the fact that he is able to balance both is a really admirable accomplishment. It’s really awesome, we have such a well-rounded group of guys out there. However, Brian Langtry does come in a close second because of his “sick flow.”
NLL.com: What’s the best part of the NLL?
Alexis: The fan loyalty! NLL games are much different from other sports because the same fans show up every game to cheer us on. We get to know the fans, and they get to know us. It’s a much closer bond I feel than some of the other sports get. Sort of like a big, huge, loud rowdy family. I love it!
NLL.com: If you could say one thing to the fans in Colorado, what would it be?
Alexis: You are the absolute best! You are the reason I show up every single day! I appreciate every single fan that voted for me, and that comes to the games! I love you guys!! Go Mammoth!
NLL.com: Finish the sentence. The Wild Bunch is…
Alexis: Not as wild as you would think! We actually are all very professional at practice, and work very hard. We have a great group of 14 talented, beautiful, smart and loving girls! We all get along so well, and really help each other out. I am so proud of the girls I work with out on that field!
NLL.com: My perfect day is…
Alexis: With my family!
NLL.com: My role model is…
Alexis: My step-mom Kathy. She is the most amazing person in the world!
NLL.com: One day, I hope to be…
Alexis: An international volunteer!
NLL.com: You may be surprised to know that I…
Alexis: Wear glasses 98% of the time. When I am not dancing the “specs” are on my face!
