The newly minted MLS FC Dallas Dancers recently completed their very first photo shoot in their new team uniforms. The video below gives us a peek behind the scenes at the photo session!
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Celebrating 25 years with the Chicago Luvabulls
Nearly 70 former Luvabulls honor Director Cathy Core for her efforts.
Chicago Bulls
April 2009
Luvabulls Director Cathy Core was recently honored for her 25 years with the Bulls organization. On April 4, nearly 70 former Luvabulls dancers were on hand as the Bulls took on the New Jersey Nets to re-unite and thank Core for her years of service.
Current Luvabulls also took part in the celebration in which Core was presented with a plaque and cake after the game.
Also on April 4, the Luvabulls and Core were presented with induction plaque into the Amsterdam Haarlem Basketball Week Hall of Fame. The Luvabulls have performed at the tournament in Holland at since the early 1990s and were inducted this year in their Hall of Fame. Click here for photos.
KTXA: The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders visited the CBS 11 / TXA 21 Studios to talk about the upcoming tryouts on May 23. Click here to check out all the video you DIDN’T see on TV of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders hanging out in the makeup room, talking about the latest news on former cheerleader Melissa and Jay from Jay’s Bootcamp!
The Ravens’ cheerleaders took a trip to Greenland on behalf of the U.S. Armed Forces.
by Geoff Peckham
BaltimoreRavens.com
Memorial Day Weekend is a time when Americans honor their fallen heroes. The Baltimore Ravens Cheerleaders took the time to honor the heroes who are still fighting.
On Thursday, May 21, members of the Baltimore Ravens Cheer & Stunt team took a DC-8 five hours up to Thule Air Base in Northern Greenland, the United States Air Force’s northern most base. They visited and performed for the troops stationed there, a rare treat for the soldiers on top of the world.
“We try to bring a touch of home to those serving overseas,” said Captain Jamie Fleischhacker, Circuit Manager for the Western Hemisphere of Armed Forces Entertainment. “Bringing in bands, cheerleaders, etc. helps to achieve this mission. These tours go to help the morale of the individuals. When morale is high it is easier to focus on the mission at hand and not get distracted from serving our country.”
The Ravens Cheerleaders have made overseas trips for the U.S. Armed Forces before. In 2002, they traveled to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, Dubai, Afghanistan, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. In 2004 they traveled back to Iraq, Kuwait and the UAE, and in 2005 they went to Italy and Egypt. After a four-year hiatus, the team found itself invited to a far more unique locale.
Thule Air Base is regarded as perhaps the most remote U.S. base overseas. Nearly 600 miles above the Arctic Circle, the temperatures can go as low as -50 degrees Fahrenheit. And at this time of year, there are nearly 18 hours of daylight. Needless to say, the setting is far from the comforts of home for those stationed there.
That didn’t mean the team wasn’t thrilled for the opportunity.
“It’s a great honor,” said Nick, one of the male members of the stunt team, noting that visiting troops is a side of the NFL that is rarely seen.
Once the squad arrived, they were greeted by Air Force escorts who took them on a trip to one of the region’s famous glaciers. The terrain was snow-covered but beautiful, if not a little foggy, but the team enjoyed the scenery nonetheless.
They then went on to participate in the Jail and Bail fundraiser on behalf of National Police Week, and had dinner at the Top of the World Club.
And course, the team performed one of their incredible routines before taking photos and giving out autographs to everyone on base, including Thule’s Colonel Peppard.
“The Ravens brought something different [this year] in that they are a co-ed squad,” “This appealed to the entire base population.” The Ravens are the only team in the NFL with a co-ed Cheer & Stunt team.
“The most important thing is to boost their morale,” eight-year cheer veteran Leslie said. As one of the longest tenured cheerleaders, she was among those who met with the troops in 2005. She said she has run into soldiers before who were overseas when they visited, who remarked that their visit was a highlight of their time there.
“They are in their own world up there. It’s important to take care of them, because they take care of us.”
Another of the cheerleaders who participated, Jaime A., encountered troops who met the Ravens cheerleaders before she was on the squad. They noted how great an experience it was for them, which resonated with her.
“That was when I decided to try out for the team,” she said. “I’ve been waiting five years to do this.
“It’s something I feel is our duty because of everything they do for us. It’s well deserved.”
So as beautiful as Baltimore was last week, the Cheerleaders made the trek into Greenland to give the troops there a boost, and to simply say ‘Thanks.’ Why? Because ultimately, those same troops do so much more for us.
By DENISE M. BARAN-UNLAND
The Herald News
PLAINFIELD — Sara Falconer, 20, hopes to make the NFL Indianapolis Colts cheerleader team, but she needs your help to do it.
Part of the criteria for the judges’ final selections on Wednesday is high public response. To cast your vote for Sara, visit www.colts.com and click on “Vote for your Favorite Cheerleader.”
“Voting is only a small part of the audition process,” said Sara’s
mother, Shelley Falconer of Plainfield. “A girl ahead of her in the
votes got cut on Thursday night. But they do want to see if you can get
people excited enough to bring them onto the Web site.”The final evaluation also includes a 45-minute interview. The final audition is in the form of a runway show on Wednesday.
A senior majoring in dance and physical therapy at Ball State
University in Muncie, Ind., Sara, who loves football, Indianapolis and
dance, learned about the cheerleader tryouts and decided to pursue it.About 200 candidates attended the first tryout on May 9. Sara is one
of the 45 young women that remain, hoping to be one of the lucky 28 who
will make the 2009-2010 squad.“She’s danced for 17 years — first at Shirley’s Dance Studio in
Crest Hill and then for 14 years when it became Times III Performing
Arts Academy,” Shelley said. “She really likes performing.Sara currently dances with a company team at Ball State University.
Previously, she belonged to the Plainfield Junior Cat Poms, as well as
the Cougarette dance team at Plainfield South High School.
The Dallas Observer:
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders held open tryouts for next season’s
squad at the Gaylord Texan, Saturday, May 23. Photos by Patrick
Michels. Click here to view photos
By Justin Williams
Longmont Times-Call
All right, all right. Stop gawking. Yes, she’s a pretty girl.
And you might be asking yourself what she’s doing on the front of the sports page. Don’t worry about it. Just enjoy and move on.
Oh, and pat yourself on the back for taking time away from the
pretty picture to actually read this — because, trust me, behind the
good looks and great dance moves, Krista Schneider has an interesting story to tell.She was born on the edge of Longmont and raised on a ranch by a
cowboy whose rugged ways rubbed off on her. Sure, Schneider did the
dance recitals, ballets and all that other girly stuff — but you know
what they say: You can take the girl away from the farm, but …“I was always such a tomboy. I never could have dreamed of being
this pretty girl on posters and signing autographs,” Schneider says,
almost apologizing to that inner child who can’t wait to grow up and
wrestle steer like dad.Schneider attended Skyline High School, graduating in 2005. She was
on the school’s dance team all four years, and in her mind, that’s
where her dancing career would end.But her first year at Colorado State was a tough one that included
the sudden passing of her father. She needed an outlet, and dancing
came calling once again.She tried out and made the Colorado Eagles’ dance team and
eventually fulfilled the lifelong dream of many a little girl: becoming
a dancer on an NBA team.The 22-year-old has been along for nearly every minute of Denver’s
historic ride to the Western Conference finals — and recently,
Schneider made this sportswriter’s lifelong dream by giving me a few
minutes of her time.••
JW: Tell me a little about yourself, other than your dancing life.
KS: I enjoy long walks on the beach, candlelight dinners … just
kidding! I am attending Colorado State University, majoring in business
marketing with a minor in merchandising.I don’t have much time between school and dance, but when I do, you will rarely find me resting.
I like to get out and experience life with those around me. I’m very
close with my family and enjoy spending time with them. My mom, sister,
niece and I usually are out shopping together at least once a week, and
I see my entire extended family at least once a month.I also try to visit my boyfriend as much as possible, which can be
difficult because he is from, and currently resides in, Alberta, Canada.JW: Dang you, Canada! First you take Roy Halladay — now this?
… All right, what are some of your favorite memories of Skyline High School?
KS: I was on the Skyline Dance Team all four years and was captain
my senior year. While I was on the dance team, I started a tradition
where any senior guy who was brave enough to sign up would get to come
learn a dance and perform at a few games with us.I headed that up for three years, and I am sure you can imagine that
was quite the experience and probably one of my favorite memories.JW: So how did you go from that to becoming a Denver Nuggets dancer?
KS: I had been dancing my entire life and then decided to take a
year off when I went to college. I had an extremely tough first year …
and decided I needed to start dancing again as a way to release all the
emotions I was feeling.I was very shy, but I felt like at this point, I had nothing to
lose, so I started trying out for professional teams. I was elated when
I made the Nuggets dancers, to say the least.Now that I am nearing the end of my rookie season, I have to say
that being a Nuggets dancer is more amazing than I could ever put into
words.JW: That’s a pretty competitive process, right?
KS: If I had to describe the tryout experience in one word, it would
be “overwhelming.” Hundreds of girls show up and put everything they
have on the line for a shot at their dream. The process is different
for everyone but easy for no one.I get very nervous, so tryouts are a little stressful for me, but it is worth it in the end.
JW: Did you ever imagine you’d end up as a dancer on a professional team?
KS: I actually had no idea that I could dance on a pro team, as
strange as that sounds. To me, the girls that danced for the Nuggets
were almost unreal, something that was unattainable.Once I realized that I had similarities to a lot of the girls on the team, I immediately started trying out.
JW: So: How many times are you hit on during a game?
KS: Hmmmm … I think the last tally was at 12,987. Just kidding!
JW: Who is your favorite Nuggets player, and why?
KS: It’s a tie between Chauncey Billups and J.R. Smith.
Chauncey Billups because he is an amazing player and leader. The
change was unbelievable when he stepped out on the court wearing that
No. 7 jersey, and I don’t know if we would be in the position we are
now without him.J.R. Smith, because you can see his love for what he does. He always
looks like he is enjoying life — plus, he is a great player.JW: Who has the best dance moves on the Nuggets?
KS: I have to say J.R. Smith, because he is the only player I’ve caught dancing on the practice court.
JW: Of course I have to ask you: Who is going to win this Western Conference finals series between the Nuggets and Lakers?
KS: I think that the Nuggets will not only win the Western Conference finals, but I think they are going to win it all.
As Kobe (Bryant) said about the Nuggets: “They have depth. They have the toughness. They have the camaraderie. It’s no surprise to me that they’re here.”
Bangalore renames IPL cheerleaders as White Mischief Gals
April 14, 2009
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RC) has enhanced its last year’s 14-member cheerleading team and rechristened it as ‘White Mischeif Gals’ after the owner United Spirits Ltd.’s (USL) vodka brand White
Mischief crossed sales of a million cases in the year recently.
The cheerleading team consists of a mix of 14 seasoned cheerleaders from US-based Varsity, one of the most renowned names in the world of cheerleading. The team also has 10 other international cheerleaders who have trained with the Varsity team.
Says USL Business Head Debashish Shyam, “The White Mischief Gals have been specially trained in flirty acrobatic skills for a scintillating on-field performance that sets them distinctly apart from any other cheerleading squad. We will hold special previews of their acts for fans at select clubs in Bengaluru, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Lucknow.”
Fourteen of the cheerleaders team headed by Rebecca Reid will fly to South Africa to cheer on the RC team, while 10 will stay back and pick up 15 lucky and bold flirters to watch one match in South Africa. Flirt
with Michief Gals is among the contests planned by the brains at RC.
White Mischief Gals willl arrive in each city in a specially designed bus with evocative slogans for the fans. The fans have more to cheer as special on-ground promotions will get them branded White Mischief merchandise with flirtatious messages and tips.
Mischief Gal Rebecca Lee yearns for cricket in America
May 10, 2009
After Lalit Modi and Inderjit Bindra, it is the turn of the Mischief Gals, the American cheerleading squad that is cheering for Bangalore, to push for cricket in America.
That’s right. Mischief Gal Rebecca Lee wrote in her blog last week: “Heard somewhere that they are planning to launch Twenty20 cricket even in America. That would be cool. Over the last two weeks I have quite started to love the game. It is exciting and definitely can have a good following in the US.”
This ringing endorsement from IPL’s most visible American supporters came a week after Inderjit Bindra, ICC’s Principal Advisor, suggested that USACA should copy the IPL model and look at private ownership for teams, each of which can have a mix of foreign and local players.
In fact, the gals have been so smitten by cricket that they watch it on the television even when they are not in the stadium. It is not just cricket, the gals have taken a liking to that other British export that is everybody’s favorite in the commonwealth – Cadbury’s!
“At home we don’t have the same candy that they do here. It is odd to see so many different candy bars made by Cadbury, as we usually only see Cadbury candy at Easter time in the US.”
You think of cheerleaders as airheads and other such unflattering cheerleading stereotypes, cease and desist immediately. Rebecca Lee went to Florida State University and Cumberland School of Law and is a
practising attorney. She says, “Some people try to make us out as dumb girls, but cheerleading is on its way to become an Olympic sport, and so it’s quite a serious sport.”
Cricket, unfortunately, is not on its way to become an Olympic sport. So perhaps the cheerleaders will also push for recognition of cricket as an Olympic sport.
The American cheerleaders have figured out the ins and outs of cricket.
Rebecca says the rules are simple: “If the ball crosses the boundary along the ground, it’s a four. If it crosses the ropes without touching the ground, it is a six.”
Rebecca calls it baseball 2.0. Nothing more, nothing less!
Click here to view the photos. (Note: Lots and lots of duplicates in this collection, especially after number 100.)
More than seven hundred women went toe-to-toe today for a chance to be a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader. Competition was fierce, but besides beauty, the squad is looking for brains.
The Gaylord Texan resort in Grapevine is packed wall to wall with gorgeous women. Just when you think you’ve seen the most beautiful one, five more walk by. But, the women battling for the thirty-six spots on the Dallas Cowboy cheerleader squad will let you know this about more than being hot.
Johanna Liad says, ” You are selling the Dallas Cowboys image and that is , you know and that is the business side to it and also dancing and professionalism.”
From warming up to stretching, there’s a lot of work behind the scenes before the ladies even take the stage. some say waiting to perform is the worst part.
Lauren Ragsdale says, ” I think its about looks, your figure, how you dance, how you perform, just how you put on a show.”
For others being surrounded by stiff competition helps.
Nina Greenhouse says, ” Its actually really encouraging when you see somebody, instead of thinking, oh, she might be better than me, its kind of like that drive to do better, so its just a lot of fun.”
This year the girls have a little extra pressure because they’ll be the first squad to perform at the brand new cowboys stadium.
Everybody gets their chance to try. The competition will continue tomorrow and only forty-five women will be invited to cheerleader training camp.
Do you think you have what it takes to be a Dallas Cowboy cheerleader? Well, it takes more than you might think, they ladies also have to take a one hundred question test.
We have a couple of sample questions: What year was the Cowboys’ first season in the NFL? 1960
How many yards are in an NFL end zone? 10
By Patrick Michels
The Dallas Observer
It was easy to spot Morgan Willey’s family in the Gaylord Texan’s courtyard Saturday afternoon, in their matching white T-shirts with blue Cowboys stars. Airbrushed onto the back of each shirt was Morgan’s name and their relation to her — just in case you were wondering, or in case one of them forgets.
Doug Willey — in the “Morgan’s Dad” T-shirt — said his daughter grew up as both a Cowboys fan and a ballerina, but it was CMT’s reality show Making the Team that really sparked her interest. They’d flown in from El Paso to show support at the tryouts, and her uncle Ted has been hosting the 19-year-old dancer in Dallas for weeks while she practiced her routine.
Upstairs in the ballroom, the CMT cameras once again had the tryouts well covered, but it took a lot more than an airbrushed shirts and a travel story to stand out among the hundreds hoping to make the first cut for this year’s batch of Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.
Six at a time, hopeful cheerleaders filed onto the dance floor and tried to wow the dozen judges with their personal introductions. One girl said she’d driven six hours to reach Dallas after graduating from high school the night before. Another drew applause by announcing her plans to get married in August. They ranged in age from their late teens to late thirties, and though most were from North Texas, dancers came from all over the country for the tryout weekend in Grapevine.
Having introduced themselves, their sole possession of the spotlight was history. When the music started up, each launched into their own routines, side by side on the dance floor but each otherwise on their own planet.
Some went with the swing-your-arms, snap-your-fingers move, some tried to impress with their winning smiles, and one girl got the room’s attention with a series of back-flips and cartwheels just shy of the terrified dancers watching from the front row.
The second round, with one standard dance routine, was held Sunday, and a third round of tryouts will decide who finally makes the squad.
