By ERIC AASEN
The Dallas Morning News
August 20, 2009
The Dallas Cowboys aren’t the only ones making their debut this week in the new stadium.
How ’bout them cheerleaders?
Friday’s preseason opener at Cowboys Stadium brings lots of changes for America’s Sweethearts – from the way they enter on to the field to their locker rooms. But one change is making them a tad self-conscious: seeing themselves on the ginormous HD video boards that hang 90 feet above the field.
“You look like you’re 70 feet tall and 60 yards wide,” Kelsi Reich said of the world’s largest high-definition monitors.
“We’re working out a little extra hard to try to be ready for that big screen,” Justine Phillips said.
Reich, 19, said she’s thrilled to be part of the stadium’s debut because “it’s being a part of history.”
“I could not have joined this team at a better time,” said Reich, who is starting her second season as a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader. “It’s the most amazing experience that anyone could have asked for.”
Phillips is starting her fifth season with the squad, so she was comfortable with the Texas Stadium performance setting. Moving to the new stadium means soaking up many new details in a short amount of time.
“We’re doing everything from scratch,” said Phillips, 25. “The way we enter the field is new. Kickoff procedures are different. It’s a new learning process.”
But the new locker room makes all the work worth it.
At Texas Stadium, the cheerleaders fought over mirror space and two electrical outlets in a cockroach-infested room. Power strips and extension cords snaked across the room. There were two bathroom stalls – and the toilets were leaky.
Now, each woman has her own locker, a mirror and storage space – and there are five stalls.
“It’s the ultimate in luxury for a cheerleader,” Phillips said.
While a new stadium is nice, the cheerleaders are most sentimental when they reflect on their experiences with the squad off the field – appearing at community events, performing for the troops overseas and especially when they meet children.
“Just putting smiles on their faces and hugging them and making them laugh makes us so honored to be part of the team,” Reich said.
The profiles and individual photos have been updated. Go there now!
Last week, the New England Patriots Cheerleaders Unveiled their 2009-10 swimsuit calendar. Click here to view photos from the event.
Click to enlarge
The new team photo is online at MiamiDolphins.com. I’m sure individual profiles are in the works.
…or you COULD be!
Heads-up NFL and NBA dance team alumni: Sweethearts for Soldiers is recruiting!
Those of you who have been with us for a while are familiar with Sweethearts for Soldiers. For those who aren’t, here’s a little background: SFS was founded a couple of years ago by Bari Yonkers and Tonya Helman. At the time, both were recently-retired NFL Cheerleaders (Bari from the AZ Cardinals, and Tonya from the Cardinals and then the Redskins. Tonya wasn’t quite ready to hang up the boots. She’s currently a San Diego Charger Girl.) Both of them really missed participating in the the philanthropic activities they were involved with during their cheerleading days. They wanted to find a way to continue those efforts. They were particularly interested in supporting our military, so they put their heads together and created Sweethearts for Soldiers.
Tonya and Bari
Currently, there are about 20 Sweethearts. They visit military bases in the US, and every so often go on tour to visit bases abroad. Sometimes it’s a handshake tour, and sometimes they put together a variety show to entertain the troups. In addition to that, they produce an annual Sweetheart Calendar (non-swimsuit, for you modest types!). Proceeds from calendar sales go to various military-related charities.
You can read their newsletter to get an idea what else they’re up to.
Signing autographs
Showing their autographed Sweethearts calendars
If I understand the workings correctly, this isn’t a formal dance team, like the others we feature on this site. The Sweethearts don’t rehearse every week or perform regularly as one big group. I think what happens is when an event is scheduled or someone requests an appearance, then Bari and Tonya see who is available to participate.
It’s a good way to keep performing, but without the insane schedule of an NFL or NBA dance team. Personally, I think it’s a great idea, and certainly a great cause.
Right, so up until now, the Sweethearts were all former NFL Cheerleaders. Things have been going so well, Tonya and Bari are looking to expand. They are recruiting this month and the field is open to all former NBA and NFL dancers. Click here to read about the audition process.
Lisa and Tiffany, newly retired from the Laker Girls, put in one last appearance at the 2009 Los Angeles Lakers 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament. I took too many photos, considering that they were just taking photos with fans. It’s not like they were performing. One or two photos would’ve sufficed. But what the heck – here they are.
Posted by the Allen Americans on Neighborsgo.com (Aug 17, 2009 )
Back: Ashley, Alyssa, Laura, Director BreAnna Foodrill, Jasmin, Courtney, Brittany G, Brittany K, Jennifer
Front: Stephanie, Elizabeth, Bobbi, Kristin
ALLEN, Texas – Of the 13 women that performed Saturday, 11 made the squad.
Former Dallas Desperado Dancers Sylvia Hoefelman of Dallas and Emily Scoville of Allen emceed the event. Scoville will be choreographing for the Ice Angels throughout the season, along with Amy Jo McKinley and Elizabeth Rock. Rock choreographed the routines for the auditions.
Hoefelman and Scoville introduced the dancers two by two and asked the women questions. Then, the dancers performed two routines for the judges.
Judges included two-time Stanley Cup Champion Craig Ludwig, former Ft. Worth Brahma Craig Foddrill, Bar-B-Cutie Owner Michael Schaeffer, Legacy Dance Center Owner Pamela Jager Purcel and Amy Jo McKinley, a veteran of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleading squad, Dallas Mavericks Dance team and Dallas Desperados Dance team. Bar-B-Cutie, located at 208 N. Greenville Avenue, Allen, TX 75002, sponsors the squad.
After the dancers finished their routines, Ice Angel Director BreAnna Foddrill tallied up the scores. Then, the first Ice Angels team members were called to the stage.
“I’m very happy with the group of girls we have. I know we’ve got a strong group of talented ladies that can bring new energy to the CHL and create a fun atmosphere. I’m confident that we can represent the Allen Americans well,” Foddrill said Monday.
The team is made of a diverse group of girls from rookie Michelle Hulsey of Texas Woman’s University to bilingual Jasmin Flores to former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader and former Dallas Desperados Dancer Bobbi Quigley.
Quigley, a mom of one, feels a strong connection with the some of her fellow Ice Angels already. “This audition has been different. I’ve made really good friends throughout the process,” Quigley said today.
She is also looking forward to providing leadership for the squad, since she’s been with a new team before. “I was there the first year for the Desperados and seeing everything from the ground up is really exciting.”
The 2009-10 Ice Angel team members listed in alphabetical order with their respective hometowns:
Courtney Amigh – Plano, Texas
Alyssa Boyles – Plano, Texas
Jasmin Flores – Dallas, Texas
Ashley Gatlin – Irving, Texas
Brittany Gauntt – Flower Mound, Texas
Stephanie Hascal – Plano, Texas
Kristin Hughes – Kilgore, Texas
Michelle Hulsey – Garland, Texas
Brittany Klement – Harlingen, Texas
Elizabeth Thames – Alvin, Texas
Bobbi Quigley – Plano, Texas
The Americans, the Dallas Stars’ CHL affiliate, begin play this fall in the newly built Allen Event Center. Season tickets and partial plans are on sale now, and corporate partnerships are also available. For information, call 972.912.1000 or visit allenamericans.com.
Aspiring Ice Angels at prep class
(Photo is from the Allen Angels Facebook Page)
The girls talk to a reporter before they go on stage
(Photo is from the Allen Americans on Twitter)
The final Ice Angel team celebrates at Dodie’s Place after making the cut.
(Photo is from the Allen Americans on Twitter)
The New Orleans Saints cheerleaders just launched the new, improved, bigger, better, faster, stronger Saintsations.net. The site looks fantastic and there are lots of great profile photos of each member of the team. I give it a double thumbs-up!
(I have one piece of constructive criticism however. Please, dear Lord, PLEASE give us an off switch for the music. I will hear that EMF song in my dreams tonight and probably for many days to come.)
The Florida Panthers are looking for a few good (wo)men to join the Panthers Ice Dancers. If (A) you’re in south Florida, (B) Love to Dance, (C) actually can dance, and (D) would rather spend a Saturday afternoon in the cool comfort of an ice rink instead of this boiling hot August sun, I suggest you plan on going to this audition! Everything you need to know is posted on the Panthers website. Click here for information and registration materials.
A quick point of clarification: some ice crews dance, and some don’t. This one DOES. You don’t have to know how to skate, but you do have to have some rhythm and style. And for pete’s sake, SMILE! You look so pretty when you smile.
The Los Angeles Lakers inaugural 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament was a big success last weekend. They had basketball, celebrities, game booths, giveaways, and lots of other fun for Laker Fans to enjoy. There was a variety of entertainment for the event, including the AVP Dancers, who were on hand all weekend to perform, sign autographs, and talk with Laker fans. Whitney, chief chick-in-charge of the AVP Dancers gave me a heads-up that they would be there, so I stopped by the tournament on Saturday to catch up with the girls. I’d not seen them perform before, so I was excited to go.
**I took a bunch of photos as usual. As always, you can view them in my Flickr gallery. (Click here.)**
Half of the team was there: Whitney of course, as well as Monica, Leigh Ann, Analuz, and Cachita. Cachita’s parents were there, fresh off the plane from Lincoln, Nebraska. The two of them couldn’t have been prouder. While her dad manned the video camera, her mom was beaming and pointing Cachita out to everyone in the vicinity. Cachita was lucky to have her fan club with her, snapping photos and telling everyone how proud they were! Their excitement was infectious. Honestly, they were two of the sweetest people I’ve met.
Leigh Ann
Cachita
Analuz
Monica
Whitney
The Lakers organization really kept the AVP Dancers busy! I was there for half of the day, and during that time, they performed twice (once on center court, once on stage), did two autograph sessions, and participated in a dance exercise demonstration with the crowd. It was a lot to do. Cachita even managed to her her Mom in on the act a couple of times.
The girls with Cachita’s mom and dad
The AVP tour is on the road right now, so you won’t get to see the girls perform at a game, but you never know where they will turn up next. This is the team’s first season and they have been a big success. Even now, Whitney is working on plans for next season. This year, she hand picked a terrific group of talented dancers. Next year, they will probably have auditions, so keep that in the back of your mind, So-cal girls!
Monica, Analuz, and Whitney
Performing at center court
I bullied these two into this photo. It was wrong. I’m sorry.
(If looks could kill, I’d be toast by now.)
Signing autographs
Analuz, Leigh Ann, and Monica
Cachita and Monica onstage
