Click here to check out individual profiles for the 2014 Philadelphia Soul dance team, the Soulmates!

The Edmonton Rush Crush Girls hosted the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders show group over the weekend. Click here to check out some photos from the evening!

By Frank Luba
The Province
March 9, 2014

There are always more hopefuls for the Felions than there are spots on the B.C. Lions’ dance team, even this year when the squad will probably be larger because the Grey Cup CFL championship is in Vancouver.

Tryouts for the squad began Sunday at the Scotiabank Dance Centre, with Lions dance team co-ordinator Alexandra Severyn overseeing the process of cutting down a group of more than 100 dancers to a maximum number of 42 Felions.

PHOTOS: SEE THE GIRLS GIVE IT THEIR ALL AT THE 2014 FELIONS TRYOUTS

Severyn, 36, is a former ballet instructor and looks like she could rejoin the squad she was a member of in 1998.

But the mother of three is looking for the next generation of dancers.

There were 34 dancers last year and 25 have come back but everybody still has to audition and be willing to do an awful lot more than just shake some pompoms.

“It’s a commitment from March until December 1,” said Severyn.

Dancers are required to attend three-hour practises every Sunday and then put in seven-hour shifts on game days.

There’s also up to 250 promotional appearances dancers from the team make, so anyone selected has to be available for a share of those events.

The qualifications to be a Felion, according to Severyn, are “excellent dance ability, outgoing personality, physically fit and a B.C. Lions fan.”

Marissa Culpin, 25, of Abbotsford has fit that bill before, winning a spot on the Felions the previous four seasons.

“I love to dance, I love being on a team, I love all the girls on the team and I love football,” she said.

Being a Felion fits into Culpin’s career as a dance teacher.

“I have been dancing since I was four or five years old and I still do it today,” she said.

Culpin is committed to dancing.

“I will dance until my body will not allow me to anymore,” she said.

At the other end of the Felion aspirational scale from Culpin was Sharmaine Duell, who just turned 19.

The Australian native, who also holds Canadian citizenship, actually tried out for the squad last year but didn’t know dancers have be at least 19.

She also has extensive training.

“I’ve been dancing for about eight years,” said Duell, who has a diploma in commercial dance and musical theatre.

Sports teams in Australia have more cheerleader-style squads instead of dancers, said Duell.

But what the Felions do interests her.

“I really love sports,” she said. “I love the atmosphere of a live game and I love dance. So this has both.”

And there’s more.

“They [Felions] always seem to have fun when I’ve seen them,” said Duell.

There’s more fun, of course, if the Lions win — but that’s up to coaches and players, not their dance team.

Lance Hornby
Toronto Sun
March 7, 2014

Don’t be surprised if hockey timeouts suddenly become must-see viewing at the Air Canada Centre, especially with the dominant male audience.

The club has made the move to an eye-catching ice-cleaning team of young women to shovel excess snow and clear any hazards during regular stoppages. After a series of ‘tryouts’, 10 hockey enthusiasts were picked for the inaugural Maple Leafs Ice Crew, which started back with Monday’s game against Columbus.

Their assignment is the same as the men, clean the entire ice three times a period in 90 seconds or less, avoiding players and referees.

“We always want to try new things for game operations,” said Shannon Hosford, vice-president of marketing and communications for MLSE. “This is something our fans said they wanted. We had used a female group for a couple of games (borrowing the popular Marlies squad during the recent ACC labour dispute). It has been successful with other NHL clubs.”

Indeed, teams such as the Kings, where MLSE president Tim Leiwecke came from, and the Islanders have made celebrities and club ambassadors out of their ice recruits, complete with revealing costumes and promotional calendars.

“We’re just going to start slowly,” laughed Hosford. “This might lead to something later on. Right now, they only have one job.”

The 10 women include eight who play in various women’s leagues in the GTA and two figure skaters, with an average age of early 20s. They’ll be paid $70 a night, same as the regular part-time game-night staff and adhere to the policy of avoiding talking to players in the course of duty. Not that the Leafs aren’t aware of the change, more dramatic when compared to the Gardens era when such a concept would’ve been dismissed by Conn Smythe.

“Yeah, you notice them out there,” chuckled goalie James Reimer. “They’re coming right by you when you’re going to the bench.”

Sometimes Reimer has to move to allow them to sweep his crease, but he insisted he’s so wrapped up in his own thoughts, he paid no attention to the males who do the same repair work.

“They might say a quick ‘good luck’ to me, which is fine,” said Reimer.

Winger Troy Bodie recalled the Anaheim Ducks had a similar female cast.

“They were called the Power Players or something like that,” he said. “If this is what our fans like, it’s fine with me. We’re too busy catching our breath at that point in a game.”

Sports Illustrated has a few new feature galleries that are definitely worth checking out:

Click here for Brittney from the Phoenix Suns Dancers

Click here for Emmy from the Orlando Magic Dancers

Click here for the Washington Wizards Girls

Click here for the Anaheim Ducks Power Players

Click here to check out the photos from the Baltimore Sun!

Monique Griego
CBS Baltimore
Marcy 8, 2014

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — It’s a coveted spot that requires good moves and a lot of dedication. Saturday, Ravens cheerleader hopefuls converged downtown for auditions.

Monique Griego has more on what it takes to make the 2014 team.

You could say competition is stiff, but everyone here has moves. That ups the pressure for hopefuls vying to grab a spot on the Ravens 2014 cheerleading squad.

“They just come in with something that sets them apart from somebody else,” said William Stokes.

Stokes is the Ravens’ stunt coach. That’s one branch of three that make up the team.

“We have dance females, stunt females and a coed team which involves males,” he said.

This weekend, nearly 200 men and women came to the Downtown Athletic Club for auditions. And mixed in with the newbies warming up their dance skills are the veterans.

Dressed in black, they get a bye day Saturday but Sunday, it’s a level playing field.

“This will be my sixth year if I make the team again,” said veteran dancer Serena B.

Veteran Serena B. says her motivation for making the team is thinking about the excitement of being on the field.

“Once you’ve cheered on game day, running out of that tunnel, having that taken away from you, not being able to do that again is the scariest thing,” she said.

So what does it take to be chosen? Judges are looking for dance skills, dedication and, of course, a million dollar smile—but that’s only the beginning.

“This is just the first two rounds of a very long process which includes an interview portion, a physical and also to see how they’ll kind of gel with the program,” Stokes said.

While the job of cheerleader doesn’t pay much, those who make the squad say it’s about so much more.

“You get to make memories that you would have never been able to make and those things are so much more valuable to me than a paycheck,” Serena B. said.

The entire tryouts process lasts through March. The results are announced April 1.

The Venom Girls are the dance team for the Collin County Rattlers football team. They entertain fans at every home game, as the Rattlers go up against their competition in the Xclusive Football League. The Venom Girls, under the direction of Jamil Williams, also represent the team off the field, as ambassadors throughout their community in North Texas. Every week, the team features a different Venom Girl and her contributions to the squad. This week, Treasure is in the spotlight. Click here for more about Treasure and her teammates on the Venom Girls Facebook page!

Dana Benbow
The Indianapolis Star
February 28, 2014

INDIANAPOLIS — Matt Gold is getting lots of attention — and questions — lately because his 54-year-old mother wants to be an NFL cheerleader.

Brenda Gold is taking steps to become the newest member of the Ben-Gals, the Cincinnati Bengals’ cheerleading squad.

While the venture may shock the rest of America, it doesn’t shock Matt Gold, a software engineer who lives in Fishers, Ind.

Brenda Gold, a math teacher at the prestigious School for Creative and Performing Arts in Cincinnati, “thinks of big ideas or projects, and goes at them head-on,” said her 28-year-old son.

But why try out for an NFL cheerleading squad at the age when some have their sights set on retiring to a beach?

Matt Gold can only guess.

“She was probably watching a Bengals game and saw the cheerleaders and said to herself, ‘I can do that,'” said Gold, who works at Software Engineering Professionals in Carmel. “She probably can, too.”

Brenda Gold was a three-sport athlete in high school and played volleyball at the University of Kentucky. She also trained in dance most of her life.

“Cheerleading would be a natural extension of that,” said Matt Gold. Plus, she was voted most spirited in high school (she started cheerleading in sixth grade). And she is in darn good shape.

Still, to help prepare for her Ben-Gals audition, Brenda Gold signed up for 10 practice dance classes. Those begin March 4.

She also plans to attend some of the squad’s workshops, though she isn’t concerned about her stamina, strength or athletic ability.

She was, however, a bit concerned with her glamor factor. The Bengals and several other NFL franchises recently came under fire for the physical requirements they have for their cheerleaders.

So, Brenda Gold entered a makeover contest on “Live with Kelly and Michael.” The contest’s mission was to give age-defying, new looks to people preparing for a special life event.

A 54-year-old trying out to be an NFL cheerleader? Evidently that was special enough.

Brenda Gold made the cut to be one of three finalists in the competition and appeared on the show Wednesday, her long stringy, gray hair replaced by a chic, blonde pixie cut.

“When I first saw her, my jaw dropped,” said Matt Gold. “She looked really beautiful.”

Morning-show hosts Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan agreed.

“Look how sexy this is,” said Ripa.

“Coming from a guy who came from sports, you can cheer for my team anytime,” said Strahan, a former NFLer with the New York Giants.

Gold will find out Friday if she is the winner of a trip for two to Los Angeles that includes seats at the Academy Awards red carpet and tickets to “Live’s After Oscar Show.”

But her true goal is to make that cheerleading squad. The auditions are in May.

“Now, I really think I can do this,” Brenda Gold told an Ohio TV station after the show.

Matt Gold said his mom is already amazing, 54-year-old cheerleader or not.

“When she puts her mind to something, she’s tireless in achieving it, especially as a teacher,” he said. “It’s amazing what she does to help her students each year. I’m rooting for her and wishing her luck, but I don’t think she needs it. She’s a great mom and a great person, and it’s nice to see her getting some notice.”

Orlando Magic

What was it like being a member of the Original Magic Dance Team?

As one of the Original Orlando Magic Dancers we started as an NBA promotional dance team that help build this organization from the ground up. We asked for nothing and gave everything. Every dancer that has come after me has worked just as hard as I did and continued to evolve into what the Orlando Magic Dancers are today. I am proud of each and every one of them who continue to represent the Orlando Magic.

What are you looking forward to during Reunion Weekend?

Performing with my peers and catching up with everyone.

What is your favorite memory during your time as a Magic Dancer?

Dancing at the NBA All-Star Classic Weekend held here in Orlando in 1992.

It was an honor to be chosen for 5 consecutive years while managing a full-time career, a marriage, game, rehearsals and promotional events schedule.

Tell us more about the inaugural season…

We were chosen one year before our 1989 NBA Season Debut. We marketed the team to the Orlando fans to sell the 10,000 season tickets we needed to be awarded the franchise from the NBA. We did promotional events at car dealerships, radio stations, golf tournaments, restaurants – you name it. The Orlando Magic Dancers worked in tandem with former Globetrotter Curly Neal and Stuff the Magic Mascot. Inspired by Pat Williams, we went everywhere across the tri-county area promoting the Orlando Magic. We were part of the foundation of a most wonderful organization and were priviledged to watch it grow. We rehearsed at an empty office building on Livingston Avenue with a jam box, one mirror and an unfinished concrete floor. It was bare bones but we loved it and made it great! Once the arena was built, players were chosen from the expansion draft, fans bought their tickets and the 1989 Inaugural Season began. We won our first game in that arena defeating the NBA Champions – the Detroit Pistons. The arena was electric, the fans were on their feet and the Orlando Magic was on their way!

Is a reunion put together every year for the OMD or is this the first year doing it because of the 25th Anniversary Season?

This is actually the 2nd Official reunion! I coordinated a Reunion during the 20th Anniversary Season and we had 110 Dancers in attendance (90 Alumni and 20 on that season’s team) that year including 14 of the Originals and every Coach/Asst. Coach from across all 20 years!

If it’s put together every year, what has been your best memory of the OMD Reunions?

N/A ** This is too much of a beast for me to do every year, my hair would be bright gray

What are you looking forward to the most about this year’s Reunion?

The part I anticipate the most is catching up with old friends and reminiscing about some of the best years of our lives dancing together at Center Court! It’s amazing the PRIDE everyone has about their team and the lifelong friendships that were created while they were dancing together!

Having been here for 19 of the 25 years as an OMD and as the OMD Manager, in what ways has the team changed?

I think the biggest visual change you will see is the evolution in style, hair, costuming, music and dance trends in general!

What is your favorite OMD memory as a dancer or manager during the 19 years you’ve been here?

Wow – so many!

As a Dancer…I remember at my very first audition in ’95 my # wasn’t called in the final cut so I gathered my things and walked out to the parking lot…I was starved and was actually excited to finally go eat J I got in my car, had started backing out of the parking space, and all of a sudden from my rearview mirror I spot one of the Judges running and screaming out of the building like a mad woman “Come back in, there’s been a mistake, come back in…you’re supposed to be in there…”. So while still starving, I was thrilled to go back in and ultimately secure a spot! While on the team quite a few things stand out…cheering loudly for Michael Jordan the first time we played the Bulls and getting yelled at by my Captain “Jeanine…you’re cheering for the wrong team” (whoops – but it was MJ), pre-season games in Tokyo 1996…at this point in my life I had only been out of the country twice and both times to Tokyo (what are the odds), being 1 of the first dancers in the NBA to rappel from the rafters to ‘Mission Impossible’.

As a Coach…every single Dancer that has ever worked for me and every single moment they’ve made me feel like a Proud Mom, securing our first overseas Armed Forces tour (and then 3 more to follow), creating the first Dunking Dancers team in the NBA, the 2012 NBA All-Star Game, and I could probably go on for an entire novel on this topic!

Most recently seeing my daughter as a member of our Jr. Dance Team, the Magic Minis, has been surreal…she says she wants to take my job when she grows up