Local Woman Named to af2 Dream Team

Foster Daily Democrat

alyssawolves2Alyssa Vachon, a three-year member of the Manchester Wolves Lady Wolf Pack dance team, has been chosen for the new arenafootball2 league Aaron’s Dream Team.

She will perform at the upcoming af2 ArenaCup 10 Championship game in Las Vegas.

Alyssa, a 22-year-old hair stylist from Sommersworth who has been dancing competitively since age 2, will be one of only 12 all-star Dream Team members. The dance and promotional team, a new addition to this year’s ArenaCup festivities, will be involved in a number of ArenaCup 10 activities, including performing during halftime of the championship game and making appearances throughout the weekend of events.

The championship game will be played on Saturday Aug. 22 in the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.

“We’re very excited that Alyssa has been chosen for this honor and will be representing the Manchester Wolves at the ArenaCup festivities and on the field during half time,” said Stephanie Bike, Wolves general manager. “Alyssa has worked hard for this, and she has done a wonderful job representing the Wolves for the past three seasons. I’m sure she will also do a wonderful job in Las Vegas. The entire organization is very proud of her.”

alyssawolves1In May, Alyssa was chosen from among hundreds of dance team members from across the professional football league to be one of 24 finalists for the honor. Throughout the final eight weeks of the regular season, af2 fans had the opportunity to vote for their favorite team dancers from among the finalists. The top vote getter for each squad represents their team on the Aaron’s af2 Dream Team. More than 45,000 votes were registered on af2.com

“We’re very pleased that Aaron’s has partnered with the af2,” said af2 President Jerry Kurz. “We are equally excited about the Aaron’s Dream Team and how the addition of this special group will enhance our ArenaCup festivities.”

Ken Butler, COO of Aaron’s said, “It’s been an exciting season and we had great response in the ‘Vote for your favorite Aaron’s af2 Dream Team’ contest. We look forward to an equally responsive turnout for the 2009 ArenaCup Weekend festivities.”

Butler went on to encourage employees and voting participants alike to turn out or tune in for the event Aug. 20-22 and support their favorite dancer, the competing teams, and Aaron’s.

“This has been a wonderful partnership and it has been a great privilege to work with the af2,” Butler said.

[Alyssa at ManchesterWolves.com]

ArenaCup X Dream Team

The Aaron’s af2 Dream Team will ascend upon Las Vegas during the 2009 ArenaCup Weekend (August 20-22) with numerous appearances and performances.

af2dream

The special 12-member all-star dance and promotional team, an exciting new addition to this year’s ArenaCup festivities, will be involved in a number of ArenaCup10 activities including performing during halftime of the championship game and appearances throughout the weekend of events.

Throughout the final eight (8) weeks of the regular season, af2 fans had the opportunity to vote for their favorite team dancers. The top vote getter for each squad represents their team on the Aaron’s af2 Dream Team. More than 45,000 votes were registered on af2.com earning the following dancers spots on the 2009 Aaron’s af2 Dream Team:

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Shellie – Boise Burn Hot Shots

af2katie_green_bay_blizzard

Katie – Green Bay Blizzard Dancers

af2lacey_iowa_barnstormers

Lacey – Iowa Barnstormers Storm Chasers

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Alyssa – Manchester Wolves Lady Wolf Pack

af2tanya_milwaukee_iron

Tanya – Milwaukee Iron Platinum Dance Team

af2nicole_peoria_pirates

Nicole – Peoria Pirates Black Pearls

af2mckenzy_quad_city_steamwheelers

McKenzy – Quad City Steamwheelers Deck Mates

af2laura_p_rio_grande_valley_dorados

Laura – Rio Grande Valley Dorados Dancers

af2chantel_spokane_shock

Chantel – Spokane Shock Dance Team

af2lee_stockton_lightningLee – Stockton Lightning Shockwave

af2autumn_tulsa_talons

Autumn – Tulsa Talons Cheerleaders

af2amy_wilkes-barre_scranton_pioneers

Amy – Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers Pony Express

“We’re very pleased that Aaron’s has partnered with the af2,” said af2 President Jerry Kurz. “We are equally excited about the Aaron’s Dream Team and how the addition of this special group will enhance our ArenaCup festivities.”

Ken Butler, COO of Aaron’s said, “It’s been an exciting season and we had great response in the ‘Vote for your favorite Aaron’s af2 Dream Team’ contest. We look forward to an equally responsive turnout for the 2009 Arena Cup Weekend festivities.” Butler went on to encourage employees and voting participants alike to turn out or tune in for the event August 20-22 and support their favorite dancer, the competing teams, and Aaron’s. “This has been a wonderful partnership and it has been a great privilege to work with the af2.”

WBS Pioneers Pony Express at the American Conference Championship Game

AFL (The Arena Football League) was played in big cities (New York, Chicago, LA) and had big owners (Bon Jovi, John Elway, Jerry Jones). They didn’t play this year and may never play again.

af2 (that’s right it’s lower case) is the minor league of the AFL, and is played in smaller cities like Manchester, NH, Tulsa and Stockton CA.

The af2 is playing this season and the Conference Championships were last Saturday.

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The Wilkes-Barre Scranton Pioneers Dance Team, The Pony Express

The American Conference Championship was played in Wilkes-Barre, and the WBS Pioneers hosted the Green Bay Blizzard.

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The Pony Express celebrate.

I won’t keep you in suspense. The Pioneers defeated the Blizzard 72-67.

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This is the last game for the Pony Express, who won’t be traveling to Las Vegas for ArenaCup X this Saturday. So the girls got a little silly near the end.

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Andrea graduated from Elizabethtown University with degrees in Education and Math. Last year she taught high school math, but this upcoming school year she’ll be teaching elementary school.

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While the Pony Express isn’t going to Vegas, Amy is. Fans voted her to the ArenaCup X Dream Team. She leaves on Thursday.

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Wilkes-Barre Scranton take on the Spokane Shock on Saturday. Kickoff is 10:00pm EDT.

[More Pony Express Photos]

[WBS Pioneers Pony Express]

Storm Chaser Joins Cavalier Girls

Danielle Bruno is the fourth former Storm Chaser to become a Cavalier Girl

From MahoningValleyThunder.com

The Mahoning Valley Thunder is pleased to announce that Danielle Bruno, a three-year member of the Storm Chasers dance team has been selected to join the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers dance team-the Cavalier Girls. Danielle participated in an open tryout which began last Saturday (July 18th) and commenced Thursday evening (July 23rd).

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Danielle joins a long list of Storm Chasers who have joined NBA dance teams after having danced with the Storm Chasers. Three girls have previously danced for or are still dancing with the Cavaliers. Two other former Storm Chasers went on to dance for the New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons respectively. Another two former Storm Chasers spent the 2008 season dancing for the AFL’s Cleveland Gladiators.

Bruno is a New Castle, Pa. native who will finish her third season dancing with the Storm Chasers at Saturday night’s Thunder season finale. After having danced for the team throughout the 2007 season she took over as Coordinator prior to the 2008 campaign. Danielle brings over 18 years of dance experience to the Cavalier Girls. Over that time, she has studied jazz, lyrical, African and hip-hop dance. Danielle is responsible for choreographing routines, organizing public appearances, and coordinating the Storm Chasers Dance Clinic during the season.

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2009-10 Cleveland Cavalier Girls

Tiffany Campbell Named Aaron’s af2 Dream Team Director

The arenafootball2 league (af2) announced today that Tiffany Campbell has been named the director and choreographer for the Aaron’s af2 Dream Team which will be performing at a number of events leading up to and including the 2009 ArenaCup in Las Vegas (Saturday, Aug. 22). Campbell, who has a vast amount of dance experience and training, is the current dance team coordinator and choreographer for the Milwaukee Iron’s Platinum Dance Team.

“We’re excited to be able to choose someone from within the arenafootball2 family to contribute to the exciting spectacle that is the ArenaCup,” said af2 President Jerry Kurz. “Our fans won’t be disappointed as their favorite dancers are sure to put on a great performance with Tiffany at the helm.”

Campbell brings a host of experience to this exciting new opportunity. She is a professional dancer, actress, host, choreographer and model. Campbell started performing at the age of five and has spent the last 21 years furthering her experience in many different areas of dance. She has been featured as principle dancer and actress in numerous national industrials, commercials, and films. Campbell specializes in performance team training, jazz, ballet, lyrical dance, and hip-hop. She has performed with such regional dance companies as the Wisconsin Dance Ensemble and Dance Wisconsin.

While pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Electronic Communication at Belhaven College, she continued her dance training, founding the school’s first dance team. While at Belhaven, she also studied with renowned ballet company Ballet Magnificat. In 2004, she accepted the role as lead performer for the Disney Cruise Line during which time she also volunteered with Disney’s VoluntEARS program. Campbell’s resume also includes performances in the halftime show for the Citrus Bowl (featured on ESPN) and in the Very Merry Christmas Parade (featured on ABC).

Campbell also has additional experience in the af2 working with several teams such as the Spokane Shock, Bossier-Shreveport BattleWings, Amarillo Dusters and Quad City Steamwheelers.

The 2009 Aaron’s af2 Dream Team will be a special 12-member group comprised of dance team standouts from around the af2. A special online promotion is currently ongoing at af2.com where fans have can vote for their favorite af2 dance team member.

[af2 Dream Team Voting]

[Milwaukee Iron Platinum Dance Team]

Cheering the (Raider) Nation

Former Tokay High cheerleader earns spot on the Raiderettes

By Joelle Milholm
Lodi News-Sentinel

amandaraidersSince she was a little girl, Amanda Mason has loved doing two things — dancing and being a football fan.

Now she is taking both of her passions to the next level.

The former Tokay High dancer and cheerleader recently earned a spot on the Raiderettes, the Oakland Raiders’ cheerleading team.

Mason started dancing when she was 7 years old. After graduating from Tokay High, she was a member of the Stockton Lightning’s football dance team, the Shockwave, for two years and was even the captain in her second. Now, being part of the Raiderettes is a dream come true.

“I love football. I would say that just as much as I grew up with dance, I grew up with football,” she said. “I have always liked the Raiders. They are a great organization. They have come a long way and it is really great to be a part of it.”

Mason is one of two former Tiger dancers who are now professionals. Tokay graduate Lindsey DuPriest is entering her second year with the San Francisco 49ers cheerleaders — the Gold Rush. Last season DuPriest was named the squad’s Rookie of the Year. Jeanie Jones, the cheer advisor at Tokay High, coached Mason and DuPriest and said she is proud of both. She’s excited Mason is getting her chance to shine this season.

“I knew that Amanda really wanted to do it and she worked hard and she did it,” Jones said. “To see her achieve one of her goals is just amazing.”

Mason tried out for the squad in April. After a nerve-racking interview session, Mason cleared the first round of cuts. She then had two trainings to learn a routine before answering more questions in front of a panel of 12 judges. Then she was asked to perform the routine, all by herself, before the judges.

When the team was set, Mason was one 15 rookies selected to the 36-dancer squad. The new Raiderettes then flew to Hawaii for their 2010 Raiderette Calendar photo shoot. Different dancers had their swimsuit shoots at various locations around Kona on the island of Hawaii. After getting her makeup and hair done by the team’s “Glam Squad” Mason got in front of the camera with a white chapel in the background.

“It was so beautiful. It was breathtaking,” Mason said. “I don’t even know how to describe it. You felt so glamorous. It was just amazing.”

The Raiderettes then got to enjoy the rest of their Hawaiian vacation and really bonded as a team, according to Mason. She knew some of the women on the team before, but is enjoying getting to know everyone.

“I love meeting new people and these girls are amazing,” Mason said. “These are girls that are going to be your bridesmaids.”

Now the Raiderettes are practicing three days a week to prepare for the upcoming season. They are learning how to work together and memorizing all their routines. In addition to practices, Mason and her teammates keep busy with the appearances they make and the charity work they do in the community. They are also preparing for the Raider Nation Celebration on Aug. 8 at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. The Raiderettes will participate in a meet-and-greet with fans and perform. Being a Raiderette is making for a busy summer for Mason.

“I am dedicating myself to the Raiderettes this summer because I have worked really hard to get here and I just want to give 110 percent,” she said.

This fall, Mason will continue to get her education at Sacramento State. She’s entering her junior year of studying pre-law. In the future she wants to go to law school and become a district attorney.

“I have high goals,” she said.

She’ll be juggling her school work with her Raiderette duties throughout the 2009-10 season. The Raiders open the year by hosting the Dallas Cowboys in a preseason game on Aug. 13. They begin the regular season on Sept. 14 when they host the San Diego Chargers.

Mason can’t wait to get out on the field at the Oakland Coliseum.

“I am really excited. I’m sure the nerves will kick in and it will be anxious excitement,” she said. “I know stepping on that field is going to be one of the most amazing things. Not many people get to do it and I love football and I think it is going to be breathtaking.”

[Oakland Raiderettes]