Stephanie Godlewski
Pika Magazine
3/1/2010

Chamorrita and Sea Gal Pia Gillan returned to Guam with her squad last month. The group wowed military audiences during the Super Bowl.

Pika caught up with Guam’s favorite Sea Gal and learned a lot about life as a cheerleader in the National Football League. Here’s what she had to say:

Pika: What have you been up to since becoming a Sea Gal?

PG: I don’t know where to start. It’s been a crazy year. (she shakes her head in the tropical breeze and her hair blows across her face. She extracts the stray strands from her mouth, smiles brightly and continues) A few months before I graduated I made the team. I made the team in April then I graduated in June. As soon as we made the team the next week it was practice, practice, practice. All throughout the summer every weekend once throughout the week. It was just hectic and the season didn’t actually start until August. We were practicing for that and games every Sunday. Appearances left and right, which I love, that’s probably my favorite part about being a Sea Gal, then this tour.

Pika: Next year are you planning to re-audition? Do you re-audition or just get picked up?

PG: Everyone has to go through auditions again, but the nice thing is we just go to finals automatically. We don’t have to go through the three-step process.

Pika: So you want to do another year?

PG: I hope so! (She says with an excited shrug) I’m going to try. I’ll definitely try.

Pika: During the season you had two practices a week then games on Sunday?

PG: We practice Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30 until whenever she lets us go, usually it’s about four hours long. That’s twice a week. Then we have games on Sunday and we’re there for about nine hours, so that’s our whole Sunday.

Pika: Is it all dancing or is there other training too? Are you guys lifting weights and running?

PG: Oh no, we start dancing right away. It’s a lot of working out. We work out at practice like stretching and cardio, but mostly dancing. I don’t know if you saw the kick line (she gestures back to the performance area) but that’s a work out on its own.

Pika: Did you have a favorite game this year?

PG: Probably the first one. (She pauses to look off to one side pondering) My first and last game. The first game because I didn’t know what to expect. I’m usually a nervous person. I was in SKIP and I was always nervous before performing. But going out there in front of 65,000 people I was totally fine. It was great.

Pika: What was it like to walk out there that first time?

PG: I can’t really describe it. Everyone is cheering down on you. (she says motioning with her flashing pom-poms) It’s one of the loudest stadiums in the NFL so it’s so loud you can’t help but bring back the energy and bounce it off of them. It’s an amazing experience.

Pika: What about the Seahawks fans, are they good fans?

PG: The best fans ever, except for my local fans. They’re just so loud. I don’t even know how to explain it. If the team is not doing well, which you know, I don’t want to go there, (she motions with her hand as if brushing something off. Too bad the Seahawks can’t brush off their poor performance the same way.) but the fans don’t stop. They’re there 100 percent for everyone.

Pika: Who are you rooting for in the Superbowl?

PG: I don’t have a preference but I’m going to go with the Saints because I feel like they deserve it. It’s their first time to the Super Bowl. I feel like, why not? Go for the Saints.

Pika: Do you hope to be at the Super Bowl one day?

PG: Oh yes. (she says getting visibly excited) I was just talking about that today because we were at the kick off and all the girls were saying, ‘How cool would it be to go to the Super Bowl?’ We have three girls who went to the Super Bowl with the Seahawks a few years ago and they loved it, so hopefully one day.

Pika: What’s your favorite junk food?

PG: Salt and vinegar chips are my favorite. (she says with a big smile)

Pika: Do you get much fiesta food out in Seattle?

PG: Not really. I try to cook on my own but I’m not very good.

Pika: Has your family been supportive of your cheering?

PG: Oh yeah. They’re so excited. My mom is like my biggest fan in my family. She’s so excited. I came home for Christmas break and everything was blue and green Seahawks colors for our party.

Pika: What do you hope to do with your criminal justice degree?

PG: I’m trying to study for the LSATs this year, taking a break then trying to go to law school next year, 2011.

Pika: Once you become a lawyer do you hope to come back to Guam?

PG: Yes I hope to raise my family here.

Pika: What do you miss most?

PG: My family first and foremost. I have two younger siblings and it’s so hard to be away from them. Sometimes I can’t even call them because it gets me so emotional just hearing their voices. And the food, of course. (She turns around to look at the view off Nimitz Hill) Then the beautiful scenery.

Pika: Do you have a boyfriend?

PG: Yes

Pika: Is he a Seahawks fan?

PG: Yes. (she giggles) Mostly a Sea Gals fan though.

Pika: What’s your idea of a perfect date with your boyfriend?

PG: I don’t know. We love to go out and try new restaurants. I love just doing that, eating.

Pika: So how do you stay in shape?

PG: Practice, working out.

Pika: Did you watch a lot of football before you joined the Sea Gals?

PG: I did. I wouldn’t watch it as religiously as I do now. It’s so much more exciting now because I see it firsthand. I would watch with my dad growing up.

Pika: Do you watch the other squads?

PG: Oh yeah. It’s funny because I went to my first Seahawks game when I first started college and I was just watching the cheerleaders. Now here I am.

Pika: There are some people who don’t consider cheerleading a sport. What would you say to them?

PG: It’s a sport. (she says slightly taken aback by the question and takes a moment to collect her thoughts before continuing.) It’s definitely a sport. Dance is a sport. We basically dance that’s all we do pretty much and root on our team. It’s definitely a sport.

Pika: Anything you want to tell the people of Guam?

PG: I miss you all. (she says leaning forward as if she wanted to say it to everyone directly) I love home. I got off the plane and was like, ‘Why am I living in Seattle. I want to be back here.’ But this is such an amazing experience and it’s only making me a stronger person and building character. But I will be back.

Pika: Anything you want to add?

PG: I was just going to say to any aspiring cheerleaders or dancers or anyone on the island, (she says taking a serious tone) if you have a chance to go off and try something, just do it you never know what’s going to happen. I did it on a whim and even if you don’t make it you tried. Just go out there and have fun with it!

Houston Dynamo) Marilu Amador-Harman is a proud Latina of Cuban and Spanish descent.

Like many Latin natives, she has always had a passion for dancing and music. Her natural talent for dance led her into a career of professional dancing, choreography, show production, and music editing. Trained for over a decade at the McAllen Dance Theatre company and later in New York and Los Angeles, Marilu was a star performer and choreographer throughout her youth, and continued her passion well into her college years and beyond. When Marilu was a freshman at Texas A&M University, she was dismayed to find that the school so rich in tradition was lacking something that had been a personal tradition all her life – dancing. So she broke new ground and started The Texas Aggie Dance Team, a dance squad that performed at every one of the Aggie basketball games and later under her coaching went on to win national awards.

That uncontrollable urge to get up and dance lured her to Dallas while completing her senior year and receiving her Bachelor’s of Science degree. She danced for the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks for one year, and then moved to Houston where she signed on with the Houston Rockets to re-vamp their cheerleading program. Under her leadership as dancer, captain, choreographer, marketer and director of the team for 10 years, her squad eclipsed even the starry moves of the pros in LA and New York, and received accolades from industry publications such as Sport Magazine which acknowledged her creativity as the reason for their choice as “Best in the NBA”.

Her expertise in the professional sports dance arena was sought after by other teams, and her style and presentation changed the face of the typical NBA dance team to the high energy Broadway style NBA teams showcase today. After only 2 years in the league, Marilu was recruited to serve as the visionary, creator, and director for numerous sports dance teams in Houston. Starting with the Power Dancers of the NBA’s Houston Rockets, Marilu also went on to create, choreograph, market for and direct the Texas Terror and Houston Thunderbears Arena Football Cheerleaders for 5 years, and the WNBA’s Houston Comets Team NRG co-ed hip hop squad for a record 7 years (after creating this concept, Marilu’s idea for the WBNA’s new dance crew spread and was copied throughout the league into what we see today on most of the basketball courts.)

And now, Marilu has been recruited once again to help create the newest sports dance team in Houston, the MLS Houston Dynamo’s “Dynamo Girls” who are now in their 2nd year. Not only new to Houston, but new to U.S. soccer as a whole, Marilu’s passion and commitment to the dance program has once again helped to pioneer a new dance endeavor for professional sports, as other MLS teams are looking to the Dynamo Girls’ program for support to start their own pro-dance squads.

Her strength does not only lie in choreography and creativity – but in the ability to take normal everyday people and their abilities and create something exciting. Marilu’s strongest conviction is to use the gifts that she has been given to help others. This conviction was noted by MTV producers in February of this year, when Marilu was featured as a coach on MTV’s reality TV show “MADE”. You can catch Marilu’s episode on this season’s show schedule. [Click here to watch it online] But her passion to coach and be there for others doesn’t end there. Many of Marilu’s dancers have gone on to fulfill their own careers – they have become local and national recording artists, actors, choreographers, directors of professional sports dance teams, studio owners, and several have gone on to perform in movies and with artists such as Janet Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, Fergie, Christina Aguilera, Frankie J, and many more. In the end analysis, Marilu is a visionary and a dream pusher – she believes in fulfilling her own dreams and helping other people do the same.

There are some terrific new photos of the Los Angeles Laker Girls in action on the Sports Illustrated website. Click here to go there now!

Did you miss the first episode?
Watch it now:

A look what goes on before a Redskins Game.

Discussing makeup, playing cards, throwing dice, reading the newspaper upside down…
You know…the usual.

Nuclear Cowboyz gear up for freestyle motocross at IZOD Center
By Anthony Stoeckert
Nuclear Cowgirls). As Faisst explains it, traditional motocross involves dirt bike riders racing. In freestyle motocross riders perform individually and are judged, based on execution, the difficulty of jumps, and other factors.

“So it’s not about going fast — it’s about how many jumps you can get in and what tricks you can do with the jumps,” he says.

Faisst grew up in Mays Landing and started riding dirt bikes when he was 8 years old. “We had five acres where I grew up and we had a little place to ride in the backyard,” he says. “And there was a gravel pit up the street from my house so I’d ride there.”

He rode at motocross tracks in Englishtown and New Egypt and in Pennsylvania and upstate New York. He turned pro in 1995 and moved to California in 1997. He’s gone on to compete in the X Games and Gravity Games — winning a bronze medal performance at the 2006 Winter X Games. Nuclear Cowboyz is a change for him because it’s so tightly choreographed.

“It’s a big, big show, a great show for entertainment,” he says. “It’s never been done here in America and to bring our sport and put it in a choreographed show, if you want to see a freestyle show, this is the best one to see.”

Those dancers Faisst steers his bike away from are the Nuclear Cowgirls, whose ranks include Adar Wellington, who grew up in Cherry Hill and studied dance at Rutgers. Ms. Wellington describes the show’s story as “Michael Jackson’s ‘Beat It’ on bikes” with two gangs competing against each other on dirt bikes.

“The guys are incredible, they do tricks that are phenomenal,” Wellington says. “I’ve been doing this with them a couple of months and it never gets old for me. It’s explosive, these guys are fearless, they do the craziest stunts on these bikes.”

Being a Nuclear Cowgirl means dancing in dirt amidst all the special effects and dirt bike riders. Ms. Wellington, who was captain of the New Jersey Nets Dancers before moving out to Los Angeles, says she wasn’t exactly sure as to what she was auditioning for on her Nuclear Cowgirl tryout.

“We didn’t know what we were getting into until we already made it,” she says. “Once it was explained to us, we still didn’t really get it until we were actually in the arena with the motorcycle guys and we actually saw them doing what they do. It wasn’t clear until we were actually in it. It’s definitely one of the most interesting jobs I have to put on my resume.”

She’s particularly excited about coming to New Jersey and having her family see the show. She promises audiences will be on their edge of the seats throughout the action.

“I’m nervous the entire time, my jaw is clenched the entire show,” she says. “And when the show’s over, I let out a deep breath, it’s pretty scary.”

This is a late reminder for all you dancers in Houston. This is your chance to be part of the fabulous Houston Dynamo Girls! Auditions start tomorrow (Saturday) morning. Registration starts at 8 am, so go pack up your dance gear and hop into bed for a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow, you’ll knock ’em dead! Click here for more info.

The Memphis Grizzlies website has at long last been updated with profiles and info for the 2009-10 Grizz Girls dance team. Click here to see what’s new!

Row 1 (l to r): Eunitta, Jackie, Anya, Jenn, Minnie.
Row 2 (l to r): Jenn, Linneia, Jessie, Amber.
Row 3 (l to r): LaMescia, Tabitha, Kristin.
Row 4 (l to r): Tiara, Cassie, Jessica, Susana, Kasie, Lauren

The Jersey Stags are proud to announce their first annual Dance Team tryouts. The Jersey Stags are part of the Big North East Football Federation (BNEFF), 22 teams that begin their season at the end of August and play through the end of the year.

The Stags are looking for female dancers between the ages of 18-30 years old to join the Prancers Dance team, and help add fun and excitement to their home games. If you ever wanted to perform in front of a crowd, or if you miss performing for a crowd, the Prancers might be the opportunity you were looking for! Make a note of these dates:

Free Audition Prep Class
Saturday, March 20th – 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Fitness Factory, 350 Route 46 East, Rockaway, NJ

This prep class will give you an edge over the competition. The session will be led by Led by the Prancers Head Coach Natalie Fredericks and Lead Choreographer Christine Sampson. Tips will be given on attire, hair & makeup, dance routines and much more.

Prancers Auditions
Saturday, March 27th – 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Fitness Factory, 350 Route 46 East, Rockaway, NJ

You must be between 18 and 30 and a high school graduate. You can complete the application ahead of time online at NJStags.com. On the day of auditions, plan to wear form fitting dance attire and dance shoes. You will also need to bring ID and $20 for the audition fee.

For additional details, registration info and to reserve a spot in the prep class, call 1-888-687-3233 or email info@njstags.com.

by MC2 Dave Reynolds
Navy News
February 11, 2010

YOKOSUKA, Japan – A group of Oakland Raiders’ cheerleaders, the “Raiderettes,” paid a visit to the crew of USS George Washington (CVN 73) in Yokosuka, Japan.

The cheerleaders’ visit was part of a tour of Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY) to help Japan-based Sailors celebrate Super Bowl XLIV.

For Sailors in the Forward-Deployed Naval Forces, “Super Sunday” is actually “Super Monday,” as the game kicked off around 8 a.m. local time.

The four visiting Raiderettes spent most of the morning meeting with Sailors at various clubs around the base before boarding George Washington in the afternoon.

After arriving aboard the Nimitz-class carrier, the Raiderettes were treated to a tour led by George Washington Commanding Officer Capt. David A. Lausman as they received a firsthand look at the ship’s hangar bay, flight deck and bridge.

“We’re here to learn about what happens on an aircraft carrier,” said Raiderette Natalie P.; the Raiderettes are not allowed to give their full names due to privacy concerns. “We learned a lot today about the ship’s capabilities and all the work that it takes to operate a ship like this. The best part was visiting the bridge, where we could sit in the captain’s chair and look out over the flight deck and the water. It was neat to get a ‘birds-eye view’ of the ship.”

Her counterpart, Raiderette Natalie M., disagreed.

“My favorite part of the ship was the flight deck, where we could see where the aircraft actually take off and land,” said Natalie M. “It was very cool to see up close where all of that happens.”

Both cheerleaders agreed that the real reason they came was to spend time with Sailors, thank them for a job well done and help them spend the Super Bowl in a memorable way.

“It was really fun to see the Sailors interact with us,” said Natalie M. “Some are super-shy and some are more outgoing, but we definitely got to see the different personalities on the ship. It was really fun to talk to them, take some pictures and just spend time here.”

After spending about two hours on the ship, George Washington Command Master Chief (AW/SW) Martin K. King presented the Raiderettes with photos of the ship signed by the captain.

King said events like these can give an extra boost to Sailors’ morale.

“It was a great opportunity for the crew to realize that everybody back home thinks a lot about them,” said King. “For the Oakland Raiders cheerleaders to come out here and support our Sailors, it’s a great thing and we really appreciate it.”

George Washington is undergoing its second Yokosuka-based selective restricted availability and is scheduled to return to sea later in 2010.