Woohoo! Congrats to the – not sixteen – but SEVENTEEN ladies selected to the Clippers dance team. There was too much talent in the room at auditions. What could they do besides add another dancer to the team. Five rookies (Natalie, Leiana, Traci, Booke, and Brianna) were selected to join twelve veterans on the squad. This year all of the veterans who auditioned made it back on the team, AND they made the team bigger? Awesome.
Click the photo to view full size
Standing: Jacy, Kelsey, Tatum, Natalie, Becca, and Leisha
Kneeling: Candace, Kellie, Leiana, Sara, and Shannon
Seated: Traci, Karissa, Brooke, Ashley, Brittany, and Brianna
PSA: I’m not doing DCC spoiler alerts anymore, so consider yourself warned.
Top Row: Robbyn, Emma, Cassie, Mercedes, Lauren, Rachel, Candace
Middle Row: Katharina, Belinda, Logan, Kendall C, Cheri, Ashley, Jade, Jessica
Bottom Row: Kendall Q, Shanelle, Erica, Melissa, Chelsea, Tori, DeAmber, Stephanie
I may have a couple of these ladies switched up, but I figure I’m at least 95% accurate on the names. I had to do “eeney meeney miney mo” on Ashley and Candace.
Click here for photos of this year’s Dream Team at ArenaBowl XXVI last Saturday!
Wiggins named to the roster of the Brooklynettes
By David Driver
The Baltimore Sun
August 17, 2013
Whitney Wiggins attended Laurel High School for a year and then enrolled in the Duke Ellington School for the Arts in Washington.
But after two years at Ellington she headed for the small central Virginia town of Lynchburg. That move helped propel her to a career in New York City.
As a senior at E.C. Glass High, a public school in Lynchburg, she enrolled in the Virginia School for the Arts on a partial scholarship. She was a long way from home and did not know anyone when she headed to Virginia.
“You are far away from your family, living in a house with a bunch of girls from all over,” said Wiggins. “Maryland is more fast-paced. Lynchburg is a lot slower.”
“She was the only black female in the group,” said her mother, Althea. There were about 30 students in the Glass program, mostly women.
Wiggins eventually moved to the Big Apple after high school and studied with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. She graduated last year and is certified to teach dance as well as perform as an Alvin Ailey graduate.
And earlier this year she was named to the roster of the dance team for the Brooklyn Nets, a member of the National Basketball Association.
Wiggins had tried out but did not make the team prior to the 2012-13 season.
“I went back again this year and tried again,” she said. “Out of about 300, I made the final round of 20. There are 20 on the team and 12 members per game.”
Wiggins, 22, knows a little bit about basketball. Her boyfriend, Rodney Epperson, played basketball at St. John’s University in New York and in pro leagues in France and the Dominican Republic. “I have become more and more informed,” she says of hoops.
The Nets now play their home games in the Barclays Center, and tryouts for the dance team were held at Long Island University in Brooklyn.
“Whitney’s strong technical background is one of the reasons we felt she would make a great Brooklynette,” Adar Wellington, coach of the Brooklynettes, said in a statement. “We look for women who are athletic dancers, technically trained and diverse in many styles of dance. At auditions, Whitney proved she has what it takes. I can’t wait to work with her this season.”
Wiggins said she is looking forward to being a member of the Brooklynettes. Members of the team come from various backgrounds and try to attend as many of the 41 home games as possible, working around schedules in other lines of work or class schedules.
“I think it will be interesting. Our lives are about to change,” said Wiggins, whose parents live in Laurel. “I am really trying to focus on what they brought me in for. They are always looking for a good look: fresh face, nice hair, good skin, nice body tone. They like very strong dancers, and a great smile.”
And it could be an exciting year on the court as the Nets have added NBA veterans Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Andrei Kirilenko to the roster since the end of last season and hired Jason Kidd, a former NBA star, as the new head coach.
In addition to the dance team, Wiggins works out with a personal trainer, Troy Brooks, and takes ballet classes.
Wiggins, who attended Laurel Elementary, was 7 when she took her first dance class at Fort Meade. Her mother gave her the option of cheerleading or taking dance classes.
“I was just going since my mother signed me up for it,” she said. “I was really behind since I had never danced before. I was really distraught about it. … After a year they moved me up to kids my age. I was so happy and felt so accomplished.”
This is one of those bad news/good news posts. The bad news is Raquel Garcia, who has been Chief Chick in Charge of the Silver Dancers for a decade or more is moving on to other things. By all reports, she is a super nice lady, and I know the veterans will miss her terribly. On the other hand, that means there’s a job opportunity out there.
Click here for additional details
POSITION: Choreographer (Independent Contractor)
The choreographer shall perform services as primary choreographer for the Spurs Silver Dancers including events such as auditions, practices, preseason home games, regular season home games and playoff home games as outlined by the Company.
REPORTS TO: Game Operations & Special Events Manager
KEY RESPONSIBILITY AREAS
- Choreographer shall assist in the audition and selection of performers along with the Game Operations & Special Events Manager.
- Choreographer shall also perform services, as outlined in the sole discretion of the Company, at any on-site or off-site appearances.
- Choreographer shall be present at designated Company preseason, regular season and playoff games at the times and locations outlined by the designated Company staff member.
- During preseason, regular season and playoff season games where Choreographer is present, Choreographer will solely be responsible for providing feedback and guidance on the routines organized and executed.
- Related duties as assigned.
Well done, Sondra Celli! And NEPC Director Tracy Sormanti too, of course 😉
So I guess we’re getting an AFL in near Los Angeles. You know what that means. They’ll need a dance team. And that dance team will need a Director. I’m not going to jump up and down as of yet. Those of us who live in Southern California hear “guess what, we’re getting a new team!” every five minutes. (If I had a dollar for every new team allegedly coming to LA, I could buy Slurpees for everybody in the room.) However, I will keep my ear to the ground for details and share as I acquire them.
Mr. Gene Simmons, if you’re jerking my chain, I’ll make you the sorriest person there ever was.
That’s all.
Arena Football League, KISS Bring Pro Football Back to Los Angeles
Expansion “LA KISS” to begin play in 2014
ArenaFootball.com
Aug 15, 2013ORLANDO – After a five-year hiatus, professional football will be returning to one of the largest and most exciting media markets in the country, Los Angeles. Announced today at ArenaBowl XXVI Media Day, rock legends KISS, Arena Football League (AFL) veteran Brett Bouchy, Doc McGhee (McGhee Entertainment) and AFL Commissioner Jerry B. Kurz are bringing the high-octane entertainment of Arena Football back to Los Angeles with a new expansion team, the LA KISS (www.lakissfootball.com).
“Season tickets are now on sale for what we know will be some of the most action-packed games ever played at the Honda Center,” said Paul Stanley of KISS. “Arena Football is played at a fast and furious pace and making season tickets available now for the budget-friendly price of $99 gives a whole new meaning to bang for the buck.” Additionally, all inaugural LA KISS season seat holders will be invited to a free KISS concert to take place at Honda Center in 2014! (www.hondacenter.com/lakiss)
“As a fast-paced, high-action band this partnership with the AFL was an obvious fit for us,” said Gene Simmons of KISS. “With Arena Football, you are much closer to the action – sitting in the front row is like putting a folding chair on the hash mark of an NFL game – and it’s one of the only sports where you can experience this level of intensity. Attending an LA KISS game in 2014 will be similar to a live KISS show, with thrilling, heart pounding action.”
The AFL (www.arenafootball.com), which is dedicated to playing and promoting in-arena professional football around the world, will mark its 27th season in 2014. With primetime TV broadcasts on CBS Sports Network every Saturday, and more than 150,000 fan connections each week, the League is poised to expand into homes across the country like never before. This new alliance with KISS will further strengthen the League’s bond within the expansive U.S. entertainment and sports industries. The ArenaBowl XXVI Championship game kicks off Saturday, August 17 at 1pm EST / 10am PST and will air nationally on the CBS Television Network. The broadcast will feature a KISS halftime show on their new “spider stage.”
Honda Center has partnered alongside the band and the team to provide a home for the sport and its newest expansion team. As a world-class sports and entertainment venue, which has consistently ranked among the top in the country, this Orange County arena will serve as the hub for Arena Football fans in the greater Los Angeles area and help the league engage with the more than 22 million people who call Southern California home.
“As the most fast-paced, exciting League in professional sports, the AFL has always been about providing the best form of entertainment to fans directly in their hometowns,” said AFL Commissioner Jerry B. Kurz. “We could not be more thrilled to bring the league back to Los Angeles, and partnering with such incredible rock legends as KISS is certain to give fans a sports experience unlike anything they have ever seen.”
As the founding members of KISS, Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons have a vested interest in bringing football back to Los Angeles, a market that has always proved fanatical for both music and football. Both Paul and Gene are fans of the AFL and are excited to lend their own unique brand of non-stop action to games in Los Angeles that will blow fans away!
“This is a great business venture for KISS. They are lending their name to a sport which is destined for big things this year. It’s fantastic to have a team named after the band and it is a privilege to be able to support LA and bring the experience home,” stated KISS Manager Doc McGhee of McGhee entertainment, who worked to facilitate the partnership.
“With a global brand in KISS, an ownership group dedicated to showcasing a fast-paced and exciting sport and a world-class venue hosting the action – three great entertainment properties are converging with the overall goal of producing an unparalleled AFL experience for fans,” added Tim Ryan, CEO/President of The Honda Center. “This partnership marks a new era for the unification of sports and music.”
In celebration of this announcement, and ArenaBowl XXVI, a three-day celebration will kick-off tonight with the annual AFL Celebrity Gala followed by a LIVE concert Friday night, featuring none-other than KISS! The ArenaBowl XXVI Championship game kicks off Saturday, August 17 at 1 p.m. EST / 10 a.m. PT and will air nationally on the CBS Television Network. The broadcast will include highlights from KISS’ Friday night performance.
For more information on the LA KISS, or to purchase season tickets, please visit www.lakissfootball.com.
Indiana Pacers
August 18, 2013
The 2013-14 Pacemates Audition Showcase was a smash hit, with 26 finalists performing in front of a large contigent of family, friends, and fans. For the first time ever, this year’s showcase took place on the main floor of Bankers Life Fieldhouse, using the arena’s giant new scoreboard as a backdrop to the stage.
The 26 finalists were selected from over 100 candidates at auditions on Aug. 5 and spent the last 10 days doing photo shoots, interviews, and rehearsing for the showcase. Larra Overton emceed the event, which included ensemble, small group, and individual routines.
Showcase Photos: Gallery 1 » Gallery 2 » Gallery 3 »
In the end, 15 of the finalists were named 2013-14 Indiana Pacemates. In addition to fan voting on PacematesVoting.com, a panel of six judges – including celebrity judge Pacers point guard George Hill – helped pick the final squad.
Your 2013-14 Indiana Pacemates are Kayla, Laura Beth, Brittany, Tamara, Zhanna, Desiree, Jocelyn, Arbara, Erika, Walesska, Travasha, Shelby, Jessica, Jordan, and Britney. You can learn about each member of the squad by visiting IndianaPacemates.com.
Check out the full video replay and highlights from the 2013-14 Pacemates Audition Showcase below. [click here]
This is Jocelyn.
Maybe you recognize her. She was a Utah Jazz dancer during the 2007 and 2008 NBA seasons. A couple of years later, she auditioned for the Los Angeles Clippers Spirit, and was a member of that team for the 2010 and 2011 seasons.
Then Jocelyn disappeared for a while. I figured it was the usual. Given the average age of women in the sports entertainment industry, it’s pretty common for women to dance for a couple of years, then get married, have babies, and move on into a completely different phase of their lives. Not so, with Jocelyn.
Jocelyn got married. She had a baby.
But she’s not finished dancing. In fact Jocelyn was just selected to the 2013-14 Indiana Pacers dance team. Couldn’t have happened to a nicer lady.
It’s been an interesting couple of years. Jocelyn is originally from Utah. That’s how she got involved with the Jazz. When her high school sweetheart moved to Los Angeles to play football for the University of Southern California, she came with him. That’s when she got involved with the Clippers. Then her boyfriend went pro. He was drafted by the Eagles so the two of them packed up and moved to Philly. And got married. And had a baby. Then her husband was traded to the Colts, so the little family of three moved to Indy. And I guess Jocelyn felt the itch again. Just had to dig those jazz shoes out of storage. So congrats to Jocelyn on making the team, in addition to all of the blessings that have come your way in the last few years. A husband in the NFL, a ten month old baby, and she not only found the time to get back in shape, but looks better than ever.
Kinda makes you go “wow,” don’t it?
Cheerleader of the Year finalists star in this Charity Calendar photo shoot
TripleM.com (Radio station in Sydney, Australia)
August 14, 2013
Put NRL’s top Cheerleaders in lingerie and you’ll likely to get noticed.
Well that’s what happened when Triple M went behind the scenes with some of the Cheerleader of the Year Finalists on a photo shoot for a Charity Calendar.
Panthers, Broncos, Titans, Tigers, Raiders, Eels, Knights and Sharks cheerleaders donned the finest lingerie from Mary Holland for the shoot.
The Calendar will be launched at the red carpet presentation night for the Cheerleader of the Year event at The Ivy in Sydney.
And for some of the Cheerleaders it might be the only award their team wins this season!
