Eighteen dancers have been chosen for this year’s team. Click here to watch the selection show!
A special shout-out to former ChivaGirl Serena. Congrats!
Bios, videos, and profile photos of the 2010-11 Oakland Raiderettes are now online. Click here to go there now.
Boston.com: The New England Patriots Cheerleaders focused on terriers instead of touchdowns at the MSPCA parking lot in Jamaica Plain.
At the “Paw Wash,” pet owners could get their furry loved ones a bath as well as a photo with the cheerleaders. Proceeds went to the MSPCA’s Boston Animal Care & Adoption Center and Law Enforcement department.
Pictured, left to right, cheerleaders Athena Lazo, Patricia Fox, Stephanie Petronelli, and Tracy Sormanti, scrubbed a shaggy dog.
Click here for more photos.
KCChiefs.com: Join the Chiefs Cheerleaders at the 810 Zone in Leawood on Tuesday, July 27th
Chiefs fans are invited to an exclusive evening with the Chiefs Cheerleaders on Tuesday, July 27th as the squad officially unveils the 2010-11 Chiefs Cheerleader Swimsuit Calendar at the 810 Zone in Leawood, Kansas. The event kicks off at 6:00 PM as the Chiefs Cheerleaders will be joined by Sports Radio 810 WHB radio personality Steven St. John, who will serve as master of ceremonies. Admission is free to the event and all ages are welcome.
Members of the Chiefs Cheerleaders will conduct special performances throughout the evening. For the first time, fans will have the opportunity to purchase the new 16-month 2010-11 Chiefs Cheerleader Calendar and have it personally signed by their favorite Chiefs Cheerleaders.
Fans can enjoy food and drink specials all evening at the 810 Zone. Conveniently located at the corner of 119th Street and Roe Avenue, the 810 Zone will be the hottest spot in the area on Tuesday, July 27th when the Chiefs Cheerleaders host this exclusive event.
By Kerry Eggers
The Portland Tribune
Jul 20, 2010
When I was asked to judge tryouts for the Trail Blazers’ dance squad for the first time this year, it wasn’t one of those decisions you wrestle with for the longest time.
It’s a rough job, for sure, but somebody has to do it.
My dance expertise fizzled out years ago on the disco floor, but I have spent the past 15 years watching the Blazer dancers do their thing at the Rose Garden.
I figure I’m as qualified as anyone to cast a vote in the selection process of 16 women to dance at the team’s 41 home games next season.
I saw a lot of strong candidates during Sunday’s finals in the Winningstad Theatre at the Portland Center for the Performing Arts.
There were 33 finalists who went through five routines, spanning nearly four hours before a packed house in a performance that was televised and will be used as an eight-episode reality series on Comcast SportsNet later this summer.
Several of the 11 judges who sat in the balcony Sunday hold significant dance experience. A few of us did not. That didn’t faze Todd Bosma, the Blazers’ director of game operations, or Michelle Woodard, the Blazers’ performance teams manager.
Bosma sought a panel of judges who represent a cross-section of the fans who cram the Rose Garden every night and watch the dancers perform. In his instructions to the judges, Bosma offered this: “If you’re not a technical dancer, don’t try to judge on technique. Judge on what you think is important. Just be consistent. Whatever you see in dancer No. 1, look for the same in dancer No. 33. Score what you see.”
Of course, technique and dancing ability matter. So does appearance, at least to me and a majority of the males who cast an interested eye on the dance squad during Blazer games.
But there’s more to it than that. Bosma and Woodard are looking for “the best overall representatives of the Trail Blazer organization,” he said.
“They’re not just dancers, they’re ambassadors,” Bosma said. “We send them out for appearances all throughout the year. We ask them to promote our brand and our team and our organization.”
It doesn’t hurt to have a little charisma and some personality in front of a crowd.
“The ladies on the team work really hard at what they do,” Woodard says. “They’re excellent athletes and dancers and performers. You don’t make it because you’re cute. They just happen to be cute as well as talented.”
The judges’ votes mattered, but not ultimately. Bosma, Woodward and other Blazer representatives met with the 33 finalists earlier in the week for interviews that were graded and figured into the overall selection process. Our votes figured into the formula that decided the winners, but the Blazer reps had the final say.
The tryouts began a week earlier, with 77 women performing during preliminary sessions at Portland State’s Stott Center. I attended one of the sessions, and while I respect those with the courage to get out there and try, some of them weren’t qualified to be a member of the dance team.
I can’t say the same for the finalists – 22 from the tryouts, joined by 11 from the 2009-10 team who gained an automatic pass to Sunday’s show. Every one of them was good enough to become a member of the Blazer dancers.
“That’s true,” agreed Mark Mason, the KEX (1190 AM) disc jockey who doubles as the Blazers’ public-address announcer and has judged dance-team tryouts for many years. “But you have to pick the best of the best.”
Mason said he was looking for “the wholesome look, the girl next door.”
“That’s the kind I enjoy watching,” he said. “I try to imagine them dancing in a Blazer dancer uniform. How they look, their eye contact, if they engage the audience. You have to communicate with the dance. It comes from their pores. They love dance that much.”
I didn’t have any real pre-set criteria. I’m not sure what all goes into making for a good Blazer dancer, but I think I know one when I see one.
The tryouts are open by design, and the television coverage adds a transparency to the process.
“We want people to know how we do it, that we’re fair to everyone who is trying out,” Bosma says.
The 11 returning dancers weren’t identified to the judges or the audience. Mason and I agreed that we recognized some, but not all, of the returnees.
“We don’t stack the odds in their favor,” Woodard says. “A lot of the judges don’t know any of the girls on last year’s team. The one advantage (for returnees) is they know what’s expected of them. Someone new maybe doesn’t quite know how to perform. But it’s what you do out there that counts.”
I should say here, there were no bribes offered to the judges by the competitors. Or if there were, I was excluded from the gratis list.
Judges were asked to score, from 1 to 10, each of the dancers’ five routines – three in small groups, a fourth solo and a fifth “hot timeout” number they were told of only an hour before Sunday’s show.
Nobody was out of sorts Sunday. Voting is very subjective. One judge’s taste doesn’t necessarily match another’s. It struck me that Bosma, Woodward and company had some tough decisions to make.
“I don’t sleep this week,” Woodward said. “I worry about getting it right. Judges’ scores help guide us to the final decision, but I went home Sunday night and didn’t have 16 girls on the team in my mind. There were more than 16 who could do a good job.”
On Monday night, Bosma and Woodward gathered 31 of the 33 finalists (two couldn’t make it) at the Rose Garden. With the TV cameras rolling, they entered the Blazers’ locker room, where name plates for the 16 winners were set up.
All 11 returnees made next year’s team. So did the two with previous Blazer dance team experience but weren’t members of last year’s squad. There were three new dancers who made it, including one who was trying out for the fifth straight year.
The survivors returned to bedlam in what Bosma calls “the Happy Room” in the Courtside Lounge to sign an agreement to work next season.
“There was so much screaming and yelling, I felt like I was at an American Idol concert,” Bosma said.
For those who didn’t make it, it wasn’t quite like that.
“There were tears on both sides,” Bosma said. “The happy tears are fun to see. The ones who don’t make it, those tears I completely understand, too. I respect every single girl who tried out.”
I do, too. They had a lot of guts to get out there and perform in front of a big crowd and a TV audience. They put a lot of work into preparing for the routines. I’m sure many of the ones who didn’t make it were crushed.
For the ones who did, exciting times are ahead.
“We have a couple of appearances scheduled for this weekend,” Bosma said. “The (2010-11) season will be here before we know it. This past week was hard, but now the real hard work happens.”
As for the judges, we take a ribbing for doing something a lot of guys would kill for.
“I’m pretty proud that I get to do this,” Mason offered. “If anybody razzes me, deep inside, they’re jealous.”
It’s hard to believe it’s that time of year again. This is my fourth year covering the Clippers Spirit auditions, and I have to tell you, it never gets old. Wanna hear about it?
For those who said NO! I will provide the photo link right up front. I know some of you who are routinely bored to tears by my rambling. Click here to go right to the pictures.
Clippers Spirit auditions usually take place at the Spectrum Club, where the basketball team trains. This year the Spectrum wasn’t available, so the open call took place at GMT Studios. I gather this is a place where they shoot tv shows, videos, commercials, and that sort of thing. It’s a big empty place with high ceilings and giant access doors for equipment, vehicles, extremely tall people, etc.
“Big” and “empty” were the attributes most useful for our purposes.
They also had a couple of dressing rooms which was a nice bonus. It beats the crap out of elbowing your way up to the bathroom sink.
Amanda
You’ll notice that all of the walls are painted black. It looks a little cave-like in some of the photos, but I assure you, these auditions did not take place in a cave, a coal mine, or underground bomb shelter. I’m pointing this out because the tryouts could very well be here again next year. I don’t want you to be too frightened to come to auditions. I assure you, there was plenty of light and fresh air to be had. And – except for the panel of judges scrutinizing your every move – there was absolutely nothing to be nervous about.
Trivia factoids:
Fear of caves = Speluncaphobia
Fear of nuclear bombs = Nucleomitiphobia
Fear of dark places = Lygophobia
Fear of the color black = Melanophobia
As for me, I have my own issues. My clumsiness, fear of strangers, social awkwardness, etc have all been well documented in other posts, so there’s no need to go into all that again. However, for those of you keeping track, I am happy to report that I survived the day uninjured and relatively unembarrassed, which makes me 2 for 5 so far this year.
I was feeling pretty good going into auditions this year, because I had a heads-up on the retirees. Nothing harshes my mellow on audition day like running into a bunch of veterans retiring from the team. This year, I had the scoop on most of the girls and I’d had plenty of time to cry it out in advance:
- Ariel has conflicts with her schedule for school. She’s a ChivaGirl now, so we haven’t lost her entirely. (Chivas has a more flexible schedule than Clippers)
- Nikki moved to Colorado and was chosen for the Denver Broncos Cheerleaders.
- Esther moved back to the Bay Area and rejoined her old teammates on the 49ers Gold Rush.
- Shannon is moving to Texas. (Listen up, Texas! Be nice to Shannon. Or Else.)
- Lauren and Jessie and were selected to the San Diego Charger Girls
- Melissa is taking a shot with the Laker Girls. Good luck, Melissa!
That’s seven. That leaves me with nine Clipper Girls. Nine is an ok number. It means I’m keeping most of my girls and there’s room for a few new ones. I can live with that.
Michelle and Ariana
(Ariana is a San Francisco 49ers Gold Rush alum)
Destiney danced for the Atlanta Falcons and the Atlanta Hawks.
This year’s audition followed the usual format: three rounds (across-the-floor, jazz, and hip-hop), with a cut after each round. Lizzy Richardson (former Charger Girl who currently choreographs the Clippers Fast Break Hip Hop team) choreographed the first two combinations. Lizzy is up to all sorts of interesting things, career-wise. You may have seen her in Christina Aguilera’s racy new video for “”Not Myself Tonight.” She’s the second fem-bot from the left.
Lizzy was assisted by former Clippers dancers Shannon, Ashley, and Lynae:
Going across the floor is usually pretty basic. Its just a few 8 counts that take the dancers from one side of the room across to the other side of the room. I expected to see one or two kicks, a pirouette, a leap, and some filler. Lizzy introduced a little twist on the usual.
Instead of crossing the room from right to left, the first part of the choreography brought the dancers forward, from the back of the room to the front, and then across to the right. It seemed like a good idea to me. Every audition I go to, it seems like the dancers start waaay off to the right, and they finish with a leap waaay off to the left. Most of the combination is out of the judges’ direct line of vision. This format also limits the length of the routine because you can only do so many eight-counts before running into the far wall.
Lizzy’s approach meant (a) much more of the dance was performed directly in front of the judges, and (b) the combination could be a whole lot longer. I imagine this was a bit of a surprise for those dancers who expected to ease into the day with a quick little combination. Only a couple of girls showed it, but I know more than a few were thinking “What the hell…?”
Personally I appreciated the change because it meant I didn’t have to run around as much and I could get some great photos of the kicks and leaps.
Lizzy (red shorts) leads the group
Brittney (purple) was just chosen for the Sacramento Kings Dance Team. Congrats!
The dancers had a short amount of time to rehearse on their own, and then it was time to start the first round of judging. The song was “Took the night” by Chelley, and boy howdy, when you loop it, that chorus really stays with you. (“Hate. Hate. Hate hate hate….” That’s the lyric, not my personal opinion.) Now that I think about it maybe that was the song for the jazz combo…
Afterward, the judges went off somewhere to deliberate. They returned shortly to make the first cut, and then it was time for the Jazz combination. This was when last year’s veterans joined the group. As you can see, there were seven, not nine. Whatever. I was glad to see the ones who were there.
Veterans from left: Nicole, Recee, Brittany, Jacquelyn, Katrina,Rhea, and Teresa
I was a little embarrassed to face a few of them, considering how I’d cornered them at another event a few weeks prior and demanded to know who was retiring. I asked them collectively. I asked them individually. I asked them about the girls who weren’t there. Then, I went back later and asked again. It was harassment, plain and simple. That’s how it happens at these events. It’s like someone else takes over my body. I have a question, or I want someone to do something for me, and I just barge in and start throwing my weight around. It’s not until afterward that I realize how rude I’ve been, and then I’m just mortified. But these girls are remarkably tolerant. I haven’t been told even once to buzz off, though I’ve deserved it on several occasions.
The jazz combination, also choreographed by Lizzy, was really cute. This is the dancers’ chance to show a little personality. (Read: convince the judges that you’re fun to watch.)
Once again, the dancers had to learn quickly. It seemed like these auditions were going much faster than they had in the past.
The second round of judging was a blur.
Lisa
Rebecca
The photo above shows the ending pose. One girl ended the routine facing completely the wrong direction, and I can’t for the life of me figure out how that happened.
Once again, the judges disappeared for deliberations. I stepped outside to catch a breeze and spotted the girls down yonder walking through the next combination. It looked complicated.
Kristin, Shannon, Ashley, and Lynae
It was hard to believe that the most physically demanding part of the day was still ahead of them. It was hot outside, the dancers were starting to melt, and now they’d have to summon up enough energy for another go round. This was turning into an endurance challenge.
When the judges returned came back, they whittled the group down to 50-something dancers. They were only going to take about 30 people into finals, so things were getting real serious.
Round three, the hip-hop combination, was choreographed and taught by former Clippers Spirit Kristin E. She assured me that the dance was tough but the dancers could take it.
I didn’t recognize it at the time, but there was definitely an evil glint in her eye.
I wasn’t paying attention when she first started teaching. I had nabbed the book of headshots and was busily scribbling down names so I could label my photos correctly. This was also my opportunity to snoop learn something about the dancers’ background. There were a few girls from other pro teams, one from the Utah Jazz Dancers, one from the Houston Rockets, one from the San Francisco 49ers. One girl was a USC Song Girl and I wondered if she had been on the team with Jacquelyn, one of the veterans. Audrea, the Spirit Director was a Song Girl, so I always look to see how the Song Girls do in the audition process. Not that I suspect shenanigans. Song Girls get the same consideration as everyone else, no more, no less. I’m just interested in knowing these things.
I was about halfway through the book when I heard Kristin say “Ok, now here’s the part where you can breathe” and I heard one girl mutter “Thank GOD” under her breath. That’s when I started watching. What did she mean, here’s THE part where you can breathe? There’s only one part where you get to breathe?
You should’ve seen what Kristin did to those poor dancers. The dance was fast. Real fast. And she taught it fast. Real fast. It blew my mind. As I watch auditions, I usually tell myself, “Please, that’s not so hard. If I were thinner, cuter, younger, and a much better dancer, I could totally do that.”
This was one dance I couldn’t wrap my head around. Not even in my thinner, cuter, younger, better dancing fantasies
For one thing, it started with a turn on count 5. What kind of craziness is that? Where I grew up back East, we learned that one, two, three, and four, come before five. One, two, three, and four aren’t optional, ok? You don’t start the alphabet at F, and you don’t start counting at FIVE. I tried to remember if Kristin was a native Los Angeleno. I mean, I’ve heard the public schools here are pretty bad, but dang.
By the time Kristin got to the part where you have to slide on the floor like you’re skidding into home base, I could hardly watch. It’s a good thing all the girls wear pants for hip-hop, because OUCH. Then again, I’m sure that after two rounds of auditions in a boiling hot room the dancers were psyched to put on sweat pants. Just what they needed – another layer of clothing.
Nicole L.
There was something to do on every single count, and sometimes between the counts. In no time, the dancers were sweating like marathoners. By the time they finished learning the dance, most of them looked like they’d been blasted with a fire hose. And yet, for the most part, they were handling it.
Sienna
Keep in mind who we’re dealing with, ok? Some of those girls still looked better than you or I ever will. Fire hose notwithstanding.
The ones who still had makeup on must’ve been wearing the industrial strength stuff.
Jacquelyn
Then Kristin said the magic words: “Now, let’s try it with the music.” DJ Dense turned the music on. It was hella fast. All around me, game faces started to crack. I could almost hear people making plans for what else they can do this fall and winter since obviously they are not going to be on this dance team.
Kristin, oblivious to the sound of so many hopes and dreams crashing to the ground, blithely went on dividing the gang into smaller groups so they could take turns dancing full out.
I contemplated pulling her aside for a little chat. “My God, woman! Have you gone mad with power? What are you doing to my people?”
The next thing I know, they’re telling everyone to go freshen up for the next round of judging. It was barely enough time to blot dry, wring the perspiration out of their hair, and make sure the false lashes weren’t crawling up their foreheads. I was all sweaty and gross, and could easily imagine how much worse it was for them. Sweating in pantyhose/tights is a unique form of discomfort, and there’s nothing like powdering a sweaty face to make you feel glamorous. These were trying circumstances, indeed.
And oh yeah, they also had to remember the choreography. Don’t forget, it starts on FIVE.
The dancers lined up, put on their best smile, and here we go again!
Teresa
Maki
Kimberly
Celestine
I must say, I was impressed. The dancers really brought it. There were mess ups, of course, but the music was so fast, how could you tell who had messed up and who had done it right? By the time your brain registered the mistake, the dancers had moved on.
Many of them really performed for the judges. I don’t know how. I personally was out of breath and stressed to the max, just from watching. A few of the girls, I tried to figure out “Are you like, the best actress ever, or are you actually enjoying this?
The veterans all did really well, and I had my eye on a couple of the new girls. Two of the blondes, Chelsea and Mandi were really working it. I don’t know where the energy came from, but they didn’t look tired at all. Mandi (who is a member of the ChivaGirls) was beaming like this was the most fun she’s had in weeks. I predicted that her days as a ChivaGirl were numbered.
Chelsea
Mandi
While everyone was dancing, I was mentally making my predictions for who would make the team. (Barring personal injury, a catastrophic interview, and/or a complete meltdown at finals.) I count the veterans as a given, which I know you’re not supposed to do, but whatever. I thought they all deserved to make it back. So that’s seven spots gone. Who would get the other nine? The judges had a real chore ahead of them. They went off to their super secret location, and the dancers collectively slumped to the floor. This, in my opinion, is the hardest part of the audition. The deliberations are intense and the wait seems endless.
But time passes, as it always does, and the judges returned to make their announcement. 31 dancers were going to finals. This included all of the veterans (told ya), Mandi, Chelsea, Liz and Emi (two more Chiva Girls), Ariana from 49ers, Jocelyn from Utah Jazz, Destiney from Atlanta Hawks/Atlanta Falcons, and Song Girl Anasheh. (Rhymes with “Natasha”?) I also remembered Justene, Jacy, and Lisa from previous finals. This was a talented group. It’s too bad this isn’t the NFL, because then they could keep all of them.
After Marianne read the numbers of those moving on to finals, it was time to clear out. All the girls were scheduling their interviews over the next two days. I helped clean up and then bolted out of there. There were more auditions scheduled for the next day: Clippers Junior Jam in the a.m. and Clippers Fan Patrol in the p.m. These auditions usually happen on different weekends, but Audrea thought she’d try doing it all in one fell swoop this year. (I don’t know if she’s going to do this again next year, and I probably don’t get to vote, but I’d like to go on record as saying NUH-uh.)
The next day would be super fun, but dang, I was tired. All I wanted to do was go home, shower, and lie on the couch for a couple of hours. I would like to say I ran home and immediately began processing the day’s photos, but it simply isn’t true. The most strenuous activity I had planned for the rest of the day was scratching my cat behind the ears the way he likes, and even that would be for a limited duration!
I didn’t look at the photos until a few days later. I’ll be honest, I was dreading it. The lighting situation for auditions had been a little iffy. I’m sure a pro could handle it, but I expected to see a bunch of dark, blurry photos. When I eventually took a peek, I was pleasantly surprised. Some of them turned out really well. And hello, that girl Kellie is ridiculously photogenic. But I imagine you’d like to see for yourself, so click here and get going.
Kellie
The Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders are out of town, shooting their swimsuit calendar. Fans south of the border got to see the team photo before it turns up stateside. One fan snapped this photo before an autograph session with the Cheerleaders.
By Andrew Nicholson
Kings Full Court Press
July 19, 2010
Dancers from around the U.S. showed up at the California State Fair on Sunday in hopes to prove they had what it takes to earn a place on the 2010-11 Sacramento Kings Dance Team.
After Day One of auditions, the nearly 100 dancers were cut to 29 finalists who earned a trip to the final day of auditions at ARCO Arena on Monday.
Watch: 2010-11 SKDT Auditions.
By putting their personalities and dance moves on display — participating in an on-camera interview and performing dance techniques, including across-the-floor combinations and hip-hop and jazz routines — Day Two tested the varying roles a SKDT member plays in the community and on the court.
After an extensive day of dancer evaluations, the casting directors — Maloof Sports & Entertainment Director of Entertainment Tom Vannucci, SKDT Manager Jenn Santich and choreographers Stephanie and Dustin — narrowed the field of dancers to 15. Those dancers now make up the 2010-11 Sacramento Kings Dance Team.
Dance team members include:
Danielle – 1st season on the SKDT
Michelle – 1st season on the SKDT
Nicole – 1st season on the SKDT
Brittney – 1st season on the SKDT
Arielle – 1st season on the SKDT
Katerina – 1st season on the SKDT
Sasha – 2nd season the SKDT
Kelly – 3rd season on the SKDT
Lauren – 3rd season on the SKDT
Laura – 3rd season on the SKDT
Gina – 3rd season on the SKDT
Heather – 3rd season on the SKDT
Carly – 3rd season on the SKDT
Lisa – 4th season on the SKDT
Katie – 5th season on the SKDT
For complete SKDT coverage, including exclusive NEW dance team pictures, bios and the soon-to-be released “Meet the 2010-11 SKDT” video, stay current with Kings.com/skdt1011.
Click here to view the Sacramento Bee’s photo essay about this year’s auditions for the Sacramento Kings Dance Team.
By DOUG TIFFT
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
July 19, 2010
More than 400 hopefuls showed up to the Los Angeles Laker Girls tryouts Saturday morning in El Segundo.
Trivia factoid: Jamie is a former Denver Broncos Cheerleader and also represented Colorado in the 2009 Miss America Pageant.
