I recently celebrated 50 years of Oakland (and LA) Raiderettes with a few hundred of my “Football’s Fabulous Females” sisters, who have also been honored to hold the Raiderette title! The 2012 Raiderette Reunion started off with a dinner at the Eastside Club at the Coliseum…
On display were the various uniforms and costumes donned by the Raiderettes over the years…
The next day after we gathered at the Raider facility to “practice” for our anniversary halftime show! We had all received a video link prior to the reunion weekend, to learn our respective routines…since we were celebrating 50 years, they divided us into 5 decades, and you learned the routine that corresponded with the decade you became a Raiderette! So the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and (my group) 2000’s!! It was the first time we got together for a dance rehearsal with everyone. Ah, what a reminder of the hard work it takes to be a Raiderette!!!
We also received these beautiful medallions to mark the 50 year celebration!
Finally our reunion weekend culminated with a spectacular halftime performance at the Oakland Coliseum where the Raiders hosted the Jacksonville Jaguars!! Lots of fun and reminiscent of old times…starting with a bus ride together to the stadium.
Then of course GAME TIME!!
And — it’s great to dance alongside with the current squad and to see what a GREAT job these ladies are doing to carry on the Raiderette tradition!!
I don’t have the final number of how many alumni turned out to attend the weekend, but at least 300+…and I imagine if each and every former Raiderette was able to be there, the number would be more like 500…that’s a lot of Raiderettes!! 🙂
Finally, what would a performance be without the VIDEO…haha! You can actually see me in the clip below…I danced on the 25 yard line, closer to the north end zone, then in end zone (near the “K”) during the finale!!
Once a Raiderette, ALWAYS a Raiderette!! 😉
