Marla Payne
DallasCowboysCheerleaders.com
October 13, 2010
It is a brand new season for this wildly popular reality show, and once again, hundreds of beautiful, talented women are vying for only a handful of vacant spots. Every year, Kelli Finglass has a big responsibility: To select girls for the team who will be the right ambassadors for the Dallas Cowboys Football Club.
These ladies are often the only face and voice to represent the Cowboys organization and she does not take her job lightly. For the past 20 years, she has been making decisions about each and every new squad. For her, each year of auditions is a little like having a new classroom of kids, and she is still very passionate about teaching.
The DCC brand belongs to Charlotte, Kelli, and Judy and they guard that image very closely. As executive producers of this renowned squad, they know what they can produce and what will not be good for prime time. First call is often a girl’s last look, but no one is discouraged from trying out for this world famous team. On the first day of auditions, everyone is a “DCC hopeful” and everyone is part of the cast of the season premiere for Making The Team. But as we all know, on every reality TV show on the air today, someone is eventually given a rose or voted off. So, which training camp candidates will be one dance short of earning their equivalent of a mirror ball trophy – the star spangled uniform?
This year, the odds are even slimmer with 26 seasoned veterans returning to reclaim their uniforms. At first glance, you might be momentarily confused into thinking this is a MMT rerun when you see at least 8 familiar faces from previous seasons in the crowd of contestants. Which girls have returned for another chance at a tribal council with Kelli and Judy? These returning candidates might have a leg up on the kickline this season, but they are still going to have to get past the new judge in town who is not quite as forgiving as Ellen DeGeneres.
Tune in to CMT on Friday, October 15th at 7:00 p.m. CST for the exciting season premiere of Making The Team 5. Every year brings new dramas, challenges and adventures for this world famous team. You are definitely in for the most exciting season yet!
This is Sierra, an adorable 8 year old from San Diego:
Sierra is a busy girl, and one of her most recent activities is participation in the Jr. Charger Girls program. (Her Aunt Marissa is a rookie on the team this year, so the experience is extra special for both of them.)
The Junior CG program raises money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Chargers Community Foundation. Each participant is required to raise $175 in sponsor pledges in order to participate in the halftime performance at the Chargers home game on October 31.
Philanthropy is nothing new to Sierra. She has been involved with Operation Shoebox and the American Heart Association, as well as other organizations through her Girl Scout troop. Knowing how many kids benefit from the Make-A-Wish Foundation has motivated Sierra to set her sights high. She wants to raise $1,000 for the organization, and she has until Saturday to do it. She’s well on her way!
Click here to read a note from Sierra. Maybe you can help her reach her goal. 🙂
This week, the NFL website features dance teams from the Redskins, Cowboys, SF 49ers, Ravens, Panthers, Bills, and Colts. Click here to go there now!
Click here to check out the latest Baltimore Ravens Cheerleaders game day photos on BaltimoreSun.com!
By Stacie Kinder, Titans Online
Sep 15, 2010
Four Tennessee Titans Cheerleaders who comprise the band, DLS, sang a patriotic medley during halftime of the Titans-Raiders game on September 12th. Cheerleaders Jessi, Bri, Clair, and Dani, brought the crowd to a standing ovation after their stirring rendition of America the Beautiful, The Battle Hymn of the Republic, and God Bless America in honor of our troops who have been in active conflict since the terror attacks of September 11, 2001. Over one-hundred members of our Armed Forces stood at attention behind the Cheerleaders as they sang.
DLS has been performing together for nearly a year, and they will be releasing their first single, “Quarterback Crush” this fall. The group is headed to Fort Lewis, Washington in November and will be featured during another Titans game this season. To hire DLS for your corporate or entertainment function, phone 615-565-4172.
Click here for video, audio, and photos.
By Jay Betsill
DFW.com
10/8/2010
So it’s a beautiful fall day in North Texas and what better place to be than the amazing pool on the seventh floor of the swanky Cirque Luxury high-rise in Victory Park. Not only does it provide for some of the most breathtaking views of the downtown Dallas skyline reflecting off the infinity pool, but it is the chosen location for a “prelude to the season” Dallas Stars Ice Girls photo shoot.
Pics: Dallas Ice Girls photo shoot]
The Ice Girls are so much more than cheerleaders who can skate. The NHL mandates that the ice surface be cleaned during the three TV timeouts each period in four designated areas, including in front of the goal. By removing the loose ice, it can help speed up the pace of the game and increase scoring chances. Therefore, the Ice Girls have a direct impact on the game. The league put this policy into play eight years ago and while some teams have ice ‘crews’ (translation: dudes!), the Stars know that this is the South and beautiful women and Texas go hand-in-hand. And they have two minutes to get out on the ice with their snow shovels, plows and buckets, clean up the ice and get back into the tunnel.
How does one become an Ice Girl? The team held auditions in early August and 81 hopefuls showed up. That group was narrowed to 22, before the final squad of 19 was selected. Of the 19 girls that comprise the 2010-11 Ice Girls, they all either work full-time or go to college. Kamwin, in her rookie season, does both.
I chatted with a few of the girls during a break in the photo shoot and asked them what was the most exciting part of being in this exclusive group. I got everything from “Getting to perform in front of thousands of people” (Whitney, rookie), to “I joined a family with 18 new sisters” (Christina, rookie). Another rookie, Robbyn, grew up in Fort Worth and loved hockey after attending her first Fort Worth Fire game. She instantly became a Stars fan and has great memories of watching the 1999 Stanley Cup run.
The Ice Girls do not just skate and dance at the Stars games at American Airlines Center. They make appearances at TCU and SMU football tailgating, do charity work and take part in the Veteran’s Day parade. One of their biggest off-the-ice events is the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light The Night Walk.
When they’re on the ice, Rachael, a five year veteran, says, “It’s definitely intimidating to share the ice with professional athletes. But your adrenaline just takes over.” She grew up in Maine, and has followed hockey all her life. Her dad was a coach and her brother played. And now, as an Ice Girl, “I get front row seats to every Stars game,” she says, with a smile. “And I get paid for it.”
The 2010-11 Dallas Stars Ice Girls are made up of four veterans (Meagan, Rachael, Kaime and Erin) and 15 rookies (Andrea, Alisha, Candace, Christina, Robbyn, Kamwin, Carolina, Danica, Katharina, Shanelle, Shahriela, Laura, Whitney, Jamie and Megan).
Wendy Dutton, in her third year as the team’s oordinator, says: “watching the rookies and veterans bond into a sisterhood is very special. It’s only adding to the excitement of the upcoming hockey season.”
The Stars home opener is Thursday, Oct. 14, at 7:30 pm at American Airlines Center. They play former Stars legend Mike Modano and the Detroit Red Wings.
http://www.baltimoreravens.com/People/Cheer.aspx
Last month I had the opportunity to sit in on the photo shoot for the Los Angeles Clippers’ various entertainment teams. (And when I say “opportunity,” I mean I begged, and Director Audrea Harris gave in. This is because she is a wonderfully kind and generous human being.)
She is also out of her mind.
[Sidebar: Remember that time Michael Jackson went to court in his pajamas? They showed him on the news, shuffling around in his slippers and I felt so bad for him, because this clearly was a person with no real friends. I know Michael Jackson had no real friends, because friends do not let friends go to court in their jammies. A real friend would’ve pulled him aside and said “Look here, buddy, I know you’re comfy, but this thing with the pjs is not going to happen.” A real friend would’ve thrown him/herself across the doorway and refused to let the man leave the house until he was dressed in a nice pair of pants.]
My point is this: if you really like a person, you ought to tell him when he’s acting crazy. This is why, when Audrea told me she’d scheduled the photo shoots for ALL of her entertainment teams on one single day, I told her straight up that she had lost her marbles. The dance team shoot alone could last from sunup to sundown. Audrea planned to tackle the kids team, the stunt team, the dunk team, the crowd crew, and Lord only knows who else in one else in a single day? Shyeah, right.
Then again, this is a woman who managed to pull off interviews, open calls, and final auditions for three of those groups over a 4 day period in July. This is a woman who is not afraid to tackle a big job. But she always manages to pull it off, so no wonder she laughed off my objections. When she continued on to tell me that the dance team was staying afterward for rehearsal, I rolled my eyes, but kept my mouth shut.
I guess I’m the dumb one, because not only did she do it, she finished EARLY.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: if I ever have to go into battle, I want Audrea as my general. She gets things DONE.
Anywho, when I got there in the morning, things were already in full swing. I snuck (sneaked?) in the back while the Jr. Jam kids were in the middle of their shoot. Those kids are freakin’ adorable.
It’s crazy how much they grow from one year to the next.
All of the parents were lined up along the wall, capturing every moment on video, and urging Bobbie and little Suzie to smile bigger. When the shoot was finished, Audrea let the kids do a couple of fun shots, and then the parents had a chance to snap a few photos of the group.
Next up was the Crowd Crew. This is the group that gives away shirts and prizes and goes up in the stands during the game. Audrea herded them into place, the photographer did his thing, and it was over, just like that.
After that came the Dunk Team, the Drum Squad, and the Fast Break Crew. I don’t have any photos of them because I went looking for the Spirit dancers. This was the first time I’d see them since auditions. I wanted to see if there had been any crazy makeovers. I was praying for a redhead.
I looked into the makeup room, where Liz was being beautified. No redheads in here…
…and I peeked into the hair room, where Brittany was getting her hair did. No redheads here, either
These were the only two photos I took in there.
[sidebar: It took me over a year of photographing various teams to learn a valuable lesson. Taking a lot photos sans hair and makeup is not a good way to ingratiate yourself with people. In fact, it’s just bad policy. Some people have their own cameras. And if you shoot them looking like aitch-eee-double-hockey-sticks, they tend to want revenge. And since I generally wander around looking like I was dragged backwards through a hedge, I can’t have people pointing their camera phones at me.]
While I was back there, I found out the girls had new costumes for their individual photos. Nothing fascinates me like fluffy animals and sparkly costumes so I immediately ditched the dancers and went looking for the new outfits.
Aha! Found ’em!
O.M.G. ruffles!
Oh boy, I loves some ruffles. If it has a ruffle, or a bow, or a puff sleeve, I’m all about it.
(In moderation, of course. One mustn’t go around dressed like Little Bo Peep.)
I don’t ever wear ruffles, bows, or puff sleeves, because I look like a fool in them, but I luuuuv them.
Other things I love include: windy days, rainbows, tree houses, bendy straws, and the color magenta. (In case you were wondering.)
The blonde girlie is Andi and Anasheh is the brunette.
One important thing: you need to know how to pronounce Anasheh.
It sounds like Onna-shay. First syllable rhymes with “Donna.” Second syllable rhymes with “Day.” Ana-sheh. Got it?
I assume you know how to pronounce Andi, yes?
(Note to self: find out if her name is really Andrea or something.)
The individual shots were quick. All that prep time for two minutes in front of the camera. But it was worth it, because everyone sure looked purty.
[Sidebar: I think one of the things you have do when you join a pro dance team is find a shade of red lipstick that doesn’t terrify you.]
The photographer let the girls have a peek at their shots.
I cornered Brittany in the hallway
Audrea gives Chelsea a last minute fluff
Jocelyn danced for the Utah Jazz for three years, so she’s a pro at this.
Recee with straight hair. Oooh la la!
Anasheh, Justene, Mandi, Brittany, Kellie, and Andi waiting for their turn
I caught a couple of the girls practicing their poses in front of the mirror.
Smile!
(That’s Chelsea, Bianca, Brittany, Kellie, Katrina, Anasheh, Andi, and Mandi)
Then I had an idea. There I was, with a roomful of dancers, a backdrop, and a camera. Hot diggity – a chance to play professional photographer! I am determined to conquer this photography thing, so I maneuvered them over to the backdrop, one by one.
I love these girls. They always play along.
Mandi
Bianca
When I had a whole bunch of them together, I started calling out orders like I knew what I was doing. It was kind of like playing barbie, but with human beings. I wanted to load them up in the camper and go over to the dream house for a BBQ with Skipper and Ken.
Everyone turn to the right!
Now face front!
Do “sexy face!”
Bwah ha ha ha!
Now do two lines!
How cute are they, seriously?
After all the girls had done their individual shots, then did a quick group photo with the new red and white uniforms. Then they had a break while the Fan Patrol girls took their turn.
Justene and Jessica are sorority sisters
Drea fixes Jessica’s hair
Marquita
(FYI: It’s Mar-KEE-ta, not Mar-KWEE-ta)
[Sidebar: FYI, the Fan Patrol gals were also wearing new outfits. Cha cha cha! Audrea took a liking to the outfit Nina wore for auditions, and decided it would work well for the entire team. (The girls, anyway. The guys, not so much.)
Audrea tweaked the color combination a little, and voila!
(This little number comes from our friends at The Line Up.)
Melek
Stephanie
Summer is a longshoreman.
So. Awesome.
I also managed to corner most of the Fan Patrol boys.
(Arturo, Luis, Hasani, Craig, James, Brian, Ryan, and Vince)
I asked them to do “sexy face” but their sexy faces were more like “huh?” faces.
Remember how I said I have a thing about sparkly outfits and fluffy animals?
Enter Toddi: Beloved pooch of Brian from the Fan Patrol
Who’s a widdle cutie pie? You are! You are!
Brian says his dog is part lizard, because he’s got the longest tongue you’ve ever seen.
(The dog, that is. Not Brian. Then again, I don’t believe I’ve ever seen Brian’s tongue…)
The man is telling the truth.
Anyways, back to the Fan Patrol girls
Summer, Marquita, Jessica, Julie, Stephanie, Jacquelyn, and Melek
Melek was wearing a particularly fetching ensemble
Audrea and Brian’s dog direct the shoot
The Fan Patrol had to do something a little different this year. Usually they put a few of the girls up on the guys’ shoulders, but the ceilings were kind of low, so they had to change it up a little.
Standing guys (L to R): Nate, Luis, Craig, James, Ryan, and Hasani
Standing girls: Summer, Marquita, and Julie
Kneeling guys: Arturo, Monte, Brian, and Vince
Seated girls: Nina, Jacquelyn, Shea, and Stephanie
Girls in front: Melek and Jessica
Not pictured: Greg, Mandy, Cortlin (Couldn’t be there that day. Bummer),
and Tami (who up and retired on me. No, I’m not over it yet.)
While the Fan Patrol was shooting, the Spirit girls changed outfits for their team photo. I wanted to get a photo of all the Fan Patrol girls and Spirit girls in their blue outfits, but by the time I thought of it, half the Fan Patrol girls had already changed back to their street clothes. Drat.
(Justene, Bianca, Brittany, and Teresa)
I felt bad for the girls perching on the stools. That has to hurt your tush.
I wanted them to put this one on the website.
Or this one!
These are the ones they went with.
[Click here to view full-size]
And then it was all over. It was only 3 o’clock and the whole thing was done. All the teams, everyone – DONE. The Fan Patrolers split, the Spirit girls went to grab lunch, and Audrea went off to call the choreographer (former Clippers Spirit member Ashley) to see if she could come early.
As for me, I went home to take a nap. A whole day of doing nothing can really wear you out!
Later, as I was looking at the photos [which you can see right here], I started thinking maybe I could make a wallpaper or something. (I’ve been learning some new things in photo shop.)
After a needlessly lengthy conversation with a friend about the movie Xanadu, I was inspired to create this masterpiece (cliquez ici, s’il vous plaĂ®t):
Considering it’s my first attempt, I don’t think it totally sucks.
It’s not as “glow-y” as the movie, but that would’ve been overkill, don’t you think?
They sure don’t make movie musicals like they used to.
That peek-a-boo thing Olivia Newton-John does is pure cinematic magic.
Hurray! The Buffalo Jills website has been updated with individual profiles and uniform photos of this year’s team. Click here to go there now.
Amanda F., Omarlla, and Anna
By Kristin Foley-Gura
Philly.com
10/6/2010
Philadelphia Eagles cheerleader Lauren Keeley Mazza has just one request – show her your spirit!
Whether it’s on or off the football field, the Northeast resident and local schoolteacher encourages passion and enthusiasm, along with a will to get things done, from her fans, her students . . . pretty much everyone she meets.
The 24-year-old Mazza has made her second home on the Eagles’ sidelines over the past four years, but her association with the team also has earned her some worldly expeditions.
She has traveled the globe. She has soaked up the sun in exotic hot spots like Riviera Maya in Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Aruba for photo shoots.
In 2009, she ventured to Japan during the National Football League’s Goodwill Tour and performed for American troops who were stationed there. She experienced the rich Japanese culture and enjoyed her celebrity status in the land.
“They had so much respect for NFL cheerleaders,” said Mazza, who also was selected to perform at the 2010 Pro Bowl at Sun Life Stadium in South Florida. “A lot of women from Japan – they come over, especially on the West Coast – and they audition and then they cheer for a year or two. Then they go back (to Japan) and get these amazing jobs as talk-show hosts, TV stars. They go back and they’re like stars.”
Even with her impressive travels as an Eagles cheerleader, Mazza seems to be making the most difference in the vicinity of her Lawncrest neighborhood.
TEACHING IS HER CALLING
The 2003 graduate of Cardinal Dougherty High School works as an autism support teacher, special-education teacher and therapist at the Wyncote Elementary School, located in Wyncote in the Cheltenham School District.
“I think I was born to be a teacher,” she said.
“We had Our Lady of Confidence at Dougherty, and that was a life-skills program for young adults who were ages sixteen through twenty-one,” she continued. “I helped out the teacher who worked there, and I really enjoyed it and felt like I could do the job well.”
The benefits of being an Eagles cheerleader have helped Mazza expand her involvement in what she is most passionate about – helping children with autism. Along with aiding the Eagles Youth Partnership, an outreach project that teams with community health and education programs for youngsters, Mazza took part in the inaugural “Huddle Up for Autism” Family Fun and Awareness Day that was held at Lincoln Financial Field on April 11.
The free event included autographs, field and locker-room tours, arts and crafts, games and face-painting. Mazza was especially happy to be part of the event.
“It was such a nice experience, probably my favorite because it had the most meaning for me, but there are so many charities that the Eagles are involved with,” she said. “Each one is exciting.”
Mazza joined other Eagles cheerleaders to serve meals at homeless shelters last Thanksgiving, then took part in a Christmastime visit to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
“It has been much more than I ever thought there was,” Mazza explained of the NFL’s charity work. “I always knew the NFL was huge and it was an American icon and there was a lot to it, but the experience has been amazing. It has really shaped me as a person in a lot of ways, too.”
HEY, IS EVERYBODY HAPPY?
On game day, motivating a crowd of 65,000-plus Eagles fans at Lincoln Financial Field can be another uplifting experience. Mazza and her cheerleading colleagues have the task of keeping those fans in high spirits, especially when things aren’t going their way. And in Philadelphia, that takes more than memorizing a few cheers and dance moves.
“It can be really overwhelming,” Mazza said of the raucous stadium atmosphere. “You kind of get used to it a little bit, but it can still really overwhelm you because there is so much going on – whether you are dancing or watching the game to know what’s going on – but it’s so exciting.”
Philadelphia, or course, is known for its diehard and demanding fans, and every year, drama seems to be a staple of the football season at Lincoln Financial Field – whether it’s the explosion of Terrell Owens’ ego, coach Andy Reid’s efforts to help his two sons through drug troubles and stints in jail, or this year’s huge quarterback debate – Team Vick or Team Kolb?
Of course, that became less of a debate when Michael Vick suffered a serious rib injury and turned the ball over to Kevin Kolb during Sunday’s 17-12 loss to the Redskins. During an interview a few days before that game, Mazza liked the vibe she was feeling from the stands.
“I think the fans are excited about the momentum and how they’re playing right now,” said Mazza. “I’ve been an Eagles fan my whole life. My parents have had season tickets since I was little. It’s pretty much been all that happens on Sunday. That and church, I guess.”
Mazza started her cheering career at 4, eventually teaming up with the grade-school squad at St. William’s School and also taking part in the cheerleading program at the Lawncrest Recreation Center. She took her pep and pompoms to Cardinal Dougherty High School and later to Gwynedd Mercy College, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary and special education. She’s currently studying at Arcadia University for her master’s degree.
And 20 years after her introduction to cheerleading, she is living the dream with the Philadelphia Eagles.
“I’m hoping that we make it really far in the playoffs, and possibly get to the Super Bowl,” said Mazza. “I haven’t cheered at a home playoff game, so I’m hoping we can get there. Not for myself to be selfish, but I think the fans are ready, too, and waiting . . . .”
