The first rounds of auditions for the Orlando Magic Dancers are in the books and finals are right around the corner. Between now and then, the Orlando Magic are asking fans to vote for their favorite dancers to make the team. They’ve narrowed it down to 30. Help them pick the final squad. Click here to see who is in the running and cast your vote!
The Texans website has been updated with individual bios for the members of this year’s squad. Click here to check ’em out!
By Jay Betsill
Special to DFW.com
July 28, 2014
FRISCO — The Dallas Stars returned to the Stanley Cup playoffs last season following five years of no postseasons for the 1999 Stanley Cup champions. While the Stars eventually fell to the top-seeded Anaheim Ducks in the quarterfinals round of the Western Conference playoffs, they brought the familiar energy back to North Texas that made Stars games the hottest ticket in DFW in the late 90s and into the early 2000s.
The Dallas Stars Ice Girls also enjoyed a renaissance under director Christina Swanson in her first year at the helm. The Ice Girls had over 100 ladies on hand for their auditions at Dr Pepper Arena in Frisco on Saturday, nearly double the amount of ladies who tried out last summer.
Since there are multiple ways to audition for the Ice Girls — dancer, skater or both — the day is split into a first round of skating and dancing. The skating took place on the arena’s practice ice rink while the dance portion was on an elevated stage inside the arena. Those who opted to skate did freestyle as well as skating drills while those dancing learned choreography and then performed for the seven judges that included Swanson and other Ice Girls personnel.
“I have a strong cheerleading, gymnastics and ballet background,” said rookie candidate Courtney C. “Since I can pull on my gracefulness from ballet into skating and my sharpness from cheerleading into the dance, I am hopeful that it will be the winning combination for this audition.”
Following the first round of judges deliberations and an initial cut, the returning veterans arrived for the semi-final round. The semi-finals followed the same format of skating and dance, only this time the arena’s overhead lights were lowered with only the direct lights shining on the stage. This gave it the effect of what the performance will look like during Stars home games at American Airlines Center.
“I feel more confident going into my third audition process because I know what to expect,” said Melissa, auditioning for what would be her third season with the Stars. “That being said, it may actually be more nerve racking because now I know what is at stake and how amazing it is to be a Dallas Stars Ice Girl.”
The deliberation following the semi-final round ran about an hour longer than originally planned due to the extremely high level of talent demonstrated by the candidates. For those who would advance there is a week-long final round followed by a week of training camp after which the final team will be announced.
Swanson returned with the names of 32 ladies (12 veterans and 20 rookies) who would be advancing to the final round. The veterans are Stephanie, Jade, Rachel, Cheri, Jessica, Melissa, Ashley, Cassie, Belinda, Kendall, Lauren and Emma. The rookie candidates are Katie, Taylor, Olivia, Brooke, Brittany, Shelby, Kelsey, Callie, Alex, Julia, Courtney J., Taryn, Whitney, Madison, Christen, Courtni W., Nicole, Amanda, Mariyah and Courtney C.
“I’m so blessed and honored to be going into my second season as the Dallas Stars Ice Girls director,” Swanson said. “I know this is going to be an exciting year and the excitement started on Saturday with the announcement of my new assistant director, Kamwin Dietz, and taking 32 very talented young ladies to finals.”
Auditions for the Dallas Stars Ice Girls kicked off last weekend in Frisco, TX. The field of candidates has been narrowed down to 32 finalists who will duke it out tonight to see who makes the team. Good luck, ladies. Werq it out!
Top Row: Madison, Courtni W., Belinda*, Emma*, Whitney, Courtney J., Olivia, Nicole, Brooke, Brittany, Lauren, Christen
Middle Row: Jessica*, Jade*, Cheri*, Kendall*, Alex, Taryn, Taylor, Katie, Callie, Julia, Kelsey
Bottom Row: Rachel*, Mariyah, Shelby, Ashley*, Cassie*, Amanda, Stephanie*, Melissa*, Courtney C.
*veteran
The official Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders website has been updated with individual profiles and uniform photos for this year’s squad. Click here to learn more about the ladies on the team!
Daily Comet
July 25, 2014
Houma native Jennifer Kazusky said it was all worth it when she got the news mid-day Thursday.
The Nicholls State University student was one of 22 girls named to the 2014-15 New Orleans Pelicans dance team.
The team announced auditions in late June to fill 20 vacant positions on the team. Preliminary auditions were held last weekend where 32 finalists were named. Throughout the week, team officials said, finalists attended workshops to learn new choreography and boot camp for further evaluation by a panel of judges.
The 22-year-old Vandebilt Catholic High School graduate decided to audition for the team several months ago.
She has studied dance her entire life, attending various dance schools throughout Terrebonne, including Gerald Dishman’s Academy of Dance. The general studies senior has attended dance camps throughout the country and teaches dancing at Dancer’s Edge, 4045 La. 311, Houma.
Team members perform professionally choreographed dance routines to a variety of music during home games, and make appearances at community and professional events throughout the year. The team has traveled to Spain, Germany, China Taiwan and the Balkans to perform and represent New Orleans and the organization.
It is Sunday afternoon, and somewhere about 20 miles south of here, the 33 finalists for the Clippers Spirit are sweating their buns off. It’s hard to believe that this year’s auditions have already come and gone. Final auditions always go by so quickly. All that build up and then it’s over. Each dancer only has about two minutes of performing to do in front of the judges. Everything you do in those two minutes has to be on point.
This year, finals were at the Clippers training facility in Culver City, which I was extremely happy about. Finals are usually at the dance studio where the team rehearses. I think the venue change had to do with the camera crew from Fox. There are some logistical challenges with filming in the studio, not the least of which is photographing dancers performing in front of an entire wall of mirrors without catching the crew and equipment in every single shot.
Whatever the reason for the location change, I was pleased because I got lots of great photos. [CLICK HERE] to check out my photo gallery.
I arrived at 4pm and about half of the dancers were already there. The first thing they had to do was check in and be photographed for the fan vote.
Tessa
One thing that seemed really strange that nobody was dancing. Everyone was just standing around. I found out that they’d been instructed not to rehearse until everyone had had their headshot taken. This was so (a) nobody would be sweaty and disheaveled in their photo, and (b) the ladies who arrived early and been photographed first wouldn’t have that extra time to rehearse, while the others were still waiting to be photographed. Makes sense, when you think about it.
Hannah
Jayda and Amber
Rina, Kellie, and Ena (rhymes with “Jenna”) are sorority sisters.
This is Brittany’s 8th audition for the team. Kinda makes her seem old doesn’t it? But she just turned 25 last month. Happy belated!
Choreographer Kristin with Spirit Director Audrea. Kristin was happy to be off-duty for the night.
But as always, any time spent waiting around turned into hijinks.
Brittany
When the last headshot had been taken, DJ Dense turned up the music and the dancers started running through the choreography.
Karissa
Kellie
Tatum, Tessa, Brianna, Brittany, and Natalie
Roxy
After that, it was time to line up and begin the audition
Hip hop was first
Rina
Jerzie
Brittany
Candance
Amber
Once everyone had been through hip hop in groups of three, the judges had them perform it again in larger groups.
After that, it was time to whip of the sweats and do the jazz routine
Kelsey
Gabrielle
Tatum
Brooke
Veronica
Then the ladies went through jazz again, in larger groups
And then it was time for the home stretch…solos!
Tyra
Michelle
Nina
Brianna
Sarah
Sharon
And then, bada boom, bada bing, it was over. Audrea and Marianne wrapped up, thanking everyone for their efforts, explaining a bit more about the fan vote, and advising them to enjoy the next couple of days off before the team’s work weekend.
The ladies are in the midst of that work weekend right now, and have probably learned 5 or 6 new dances in less than 48 hours. Whew! Lots of hard work, and lots of waiting. The fan vote will be open through August 2nd, and the team will be announced early next week. Vote, vote, vote, and watch this space. As soon as I know who made the team, so will you!
By Jay Betsill
Special to DFW.com
July 27, 2014
DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks Dancers followed their weekend of preliminary auditions and final auditions at the Hilton Anatole with a four-day training camp at Elevation Fitness in downtown Dallas. When Thursday evening’s session came to a close, the Mavs Dancers had selected their team for the upcoming NBA season.
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The training camp featured the 37 ladies who had advanced through the weekend auditions and this gave the judges an opportunity for an up close look at each of the candidates. In addition to learning new choreography and showing the judges how quickly they could pick it up, each of the ladies had to go through a personal interview with Mavs personnel on why they should be a member of the dance team.
Of the 14 returning veterans, five of them are auditioning for their fifth season with the team and they know how important training camp is for the success of the team. It is also Mavs Dancers director Mallory Mills fifth season at the helm of the popular dance team.
“The first time I auditioned, I advanced to training camp and I didn’t really know anyone going in,” said returning veteran Lauren. “So I know how anxious the candidates are and I make sure that they know I am here to help them in any way I can. When the week is over, you realize that actually turns into a great team bonding experience because we are going through it together.”
When Thursday evening arrived, each of the ladies performed one of the routines they had learned during camp and the judges left for final deliberations. Mills returned with a handful of envelopes that she individually handed out to all 37 ladies. The main instruction she gave was that the envelopes were not to be opened until they had left the building as to avoid anyone celebrating in front of someone who had just seen their dream come to a sudden end.
Upon opening the envelopes, 20 of the 37 ladies discovered they had been summoned back to Elevation Fitness for instructions to yet another round of auditions. They returned and gathered around Mills to discover that they had made the team. A celebration ensued and tears of joy were wept among the ladies who had survived the audition process to perform at the Mavs home games at American Airlines Center and represent the team at corporate appearances and in the community.
The 2014-15 Dallas Mavericks Dancers are: Veterans Paige, Bonnie, Emily M., Lauren, Sequel, Ashley, Kathryn, Kennedy, Amy, Alexis, Amber and Kassandra and rookies Elise, Kelli, Jamie, Hayley, Jovann, Emily V., Dejanae and Hunter.
By Chris Gay
The Augusta Chronicle
July 23, 2014
As a teenager, Cara Peoples Miller always wanted to try cheerleading. With dance and competitive roller skating taking precedent, she never got a chance to try out.
Now, she is making the most of cheerleading on the highest level. A Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School graduate, Miller earned a spot this summer as an Atlanta Falcons cheerleader. Miller and Evans High School graduate Cayla Hale are two of the 12 newcomers to the 36-member Falcons squad this year.
Cara and Cayla
“We can learn together,” Miller said. “The rookies on the team can turn to each other.”
Miller, 32, grew up in Augusta and once attended Augusta Christian. There, she inquired about cheerleading, but her mother told she didn’t have the time.
“You can only do so much,” she said. “I get it.”
Miller, whose parents Craig and Charlene live in Augusta, started dancing at age 6 and continued to do so throughout her days at Davidson.
After graduating from Augusta State with a degree in health and physical education, she moved to Savannah, Ga., and started a Zumba class. While there, she reconnected through Facebook with her old Davidson classmate, Jeremy Miller, a chef who lived in Atlanta. A successful first date eventually led to their marriage.
In 2009, the Millers moved to San Francisco before returning at the end of the year to Atlanta. After having her first child, Miller decided to try out for the Falcons. Despite her dance experience, she didn’t make the team.
“I had no idea what I was doing,” she said. “I thought it was all about dance, but they were looking for a well-rounded person. They look for a wow factor.”
Miller, who has two daughters, Caroline, 4 and Claire, 15 months, earned a spot as a cheerleader with the Arena Football League’s Georgia Force in 2012. She gained experience dancing on the field, interacting with fans and networking with others.
Miller’s time with the Force prepared her for her Falcons tryout this year. With several hundred women competing, Miller advanced to the final round of 60. After interviews, dance camp, boot camp and a 2½-hour final performance, she was selected as one of 12 newcomers to join the 24 returning cheerleaders. Of the 36, Miller is the lone mother on the team.
“I’m sure it’s probably interesting. But they really get along with me,” she said. “They say, ‘You really don’t look like a mom.’ ”
As the Falcons football team starts gearing up for the season, the cheerleaders are working hard as well. The squad practices twice a week in preparation for the first home preseason game, Aug. 8, against the Miami Dolphins. When the team isn’t playing, the cheerleaders stay busy with appearances.
Miller, who stays active with early-morning workouts and taking care of her children, plans to enjoy her time this season. She knows she can’t be an Falcons cheerleader for long, but at least now she’s getting her opportunity.
“I’d like to do this for a few more years,” Miller said. “My husband would like to have a third child. I know there’s a time limit. I want to do it while I can.”
By Craig Davis
Sun Sentinel
July 23, 2014
When the Florida Panthers struggled in recent years, at least there were the Lady Panthers to brighten the mood at the BB&T Center. No more, as the cheerleading and ice dancing squad has been disbanded, the Panthers announced Wednesday via Twitter.
The Panthers thanked the dancers for nine years of service. In addition to performing during games at the BB&T Center, the Lady Panthers made hundreds of appearances at charity and community events.
A team spokesperson declined comment about why the squad was being dropped from the Panthers’ game presentation.
“After eight seasons, the Lady Panthers have truly been the epitome of NHL cheerleaders. The style, look, and concept of the Lady Panthers will continue to be mimicked among other NHL teams,” Kelli Russell, captain of the squad, said in an email to the Sun Sentinel. “Knowing that we were one of the first teams with cheerleaders and that our influence will remain in the NHL, is something I am extremely proud of.”
The team’s website had billed the unit as “the best dance team in the NHL.”
It was not revealed whether the Rat Pack energy team will be retained. The Panthers’ announcement on Twitter said, “Moving forward our game presentation will feature a skating-only team.”
Members of the ice dancers received a letter from the team informing them of the decision. There were 30 women listed on the dance and cheerleading team last season.
