This is the final season the NBA’s Sacramento Kings will be playing at Sleep Train Arena…formerly known as Arco. Arco Arena, as so many will affectionately refer to it, is the place where my pro sports dance team career started, just a few months removed from my college graduation at San Jose State. The team is now moving to a brand new, state of the art arena in downtown Sacramento that is currently under construction. And — since “Arco” will be no more, the Kings invited us (all the team’s Alumni dancers), to perform one last halftime.
The amazing show happened just 10-days after I hit the NFL field for a pregame Arizona Cardinals Cheerleaders Alumni Reunion… I couldn’t be more pleased with myself (and how my body held up..lol), or the dedication and commitment all the ladies put into making the halftime come together. We all learned our choreography from a video, then whoever could make it would get together for non-mandatory weekend practices, before the day of, final fixes. I never expected to continue dancing after I hung up my “poms,” years ago, but it has been an amazing blessing to not only pick up where I left off and dance alongside so many talented dancers every so often, but really embellish in the unique sisterhood and bonds formed with every team I have had the pleasure of being on.
Below are some of the photos from our “Adios to Arco” event…yet, I’ve joked – you never know they could have us back in March or April for a final, FINAL farewell dance…hehe
Science Cheerleaders were featured on the Today Show….watch the clip, it’s really great!! And — one of my Sacramento Kings dancer “sisters” is featured in this segment, along with many of my fellow Pro NBA and NFL dancer and cheerleader counterparts from all over the country! I also work with Laura Eilers at Going Pro Entertainment, who is the choreographer for the Science Cheerleaders. Great segment, very good look!!
Are you a current, former or prospective professional dancer or cheerleader? Does your team need fresh choreography? Would you like to meet others in the industry or hear about audition opportunities?
Our choreographers are top alumni and directors of dance and cheer teams in the NFL, NBA, AFL, MLB and other sports leagues. They will teach 6 sidelines and 2 routines in length of 45-60 seconds.
**Aubrey Aquino, NBA Dancer – Sacramento, NFL Cheerleader – Oakland & Arizona
**Kristin Medwick, 7 year NFL Cheerleader – Oakland, “Dancer of the Year” 1998; “Raiderette of the Year” and Pro Bowl Cheerleader 2005
**Kristena Wright, NBA dancer – Washington, NFL Cheerleader – Miami
**Chris Rhyu, NFL Cheerleader – San Francisco
PRESENTERS
**Faithe David, former 49ers Cheerleader will be giving awesome dance technique class to help candidates put their best foot forward at auditions.
**Jada Law, former NBA dancer in Sacramento and LA and current TV personality & host for Lakers TV will give a fitness/health/nutrition presentation to get candidates ready for auditions.
**Audrey Asistio, an alum of the San Francisco 49ers Gold Rush and Gold Rush Ambassador now works for a news station as a reporter/fill-in anchor. Audrey will offer participants interview, attire, and overall presentation tips.
**Mindy Kreis, Director of Crunch Fitness will be knocking our socks off with a specialized bootcamp geared specifically to dancers.
LOCATION
San Jose Athletic Club
196 N. THIRD STREET
SAN JOSE, CA 95112
Whew! I just edited my 29th episode of On The Flipside!! This one is a little extra special because I fine tuned my audio editing skills and exported it entirely in HD..but then BLIP (which I use to host my videos) only lets me upload 1GB and since this is more than 1GB…well on blip and facebook it’s SD, but youtube is HD!
At any rate, for this episode I hosted from the Wynwood (art) District of Miami and it features Michael Jordan’s 10th Annual Celebrity Invitational in Las Vegas, my sit down interview with Minnesota Viking Bryant McKinnie and a close up with Sideline Distraction Katie of the Sacramento Kings Dance Team… and of course the SKDT is a little closer to my heart because well I used to dance for them – my first PRO dance team, AND next season they may be (in Sacto) NO MORE! 🙁 Anyway, tune in, watch and enjoy!! This episode and all the preceding 28 episodes can be found at http://ontheflipsidetv.com
The Pro Cheer and Dance workshops I am coordinating for Going Pro Entertainment are shaping up very nicely and spots are filling up fast!! These “dance conventions” are designed to prepare women who are interested in becoming professional dancers and/or cheerleaders for Pro Teams in the NFL, NBA, AFL, MLB and other sports leagues. All the events are staffed by alumni of their respective dance and cheer teams, and it’s been so exciting for me to build all-star rosters for each of the conventions I am putting together in Miami and the Bay Area…my 2 homes!
First up, the Miami Pro Dance Convention – Sunday, February 27, 2011 at FitSource in North Miami. The NFL’s Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders auditions are coming up on April 30, 2011. Click here to see an episode of On The Flipside when I judged their auditions for the 2009 season! The convention is also a great way to prep for Miami HEAT Dancer auditions this summer.
The Miami workshop will feature choreography and presentations by:
**Trisia Brown, NFL Cheerleader – Miami, NFL Pro Bowl Cheerleader, NFL & Pro Bowl Choreographer
**Eli Ferrades, NBA Dancer- Miami
**Tiffany Jackson, NBA Dancer- Miami
**Kelli Russell, NHL Director – Florida
**FitSource Trainer Boot Camp
NEXT is the Bay Area (West Coast) Convention – Saturday, March 12 at Crunch in Danville, CA. This is the perfect way to get ready for the San Francisco 49ers Gold Rush auditions on Sunday, March 27, 2011 and/or the Oakland Raiderettes tryouts (date TBA). The Bay Area (West Coast) workshop is perfect for dancers who are looking to join NBA teams like the Warrior Girls or Sacramento Kings Dancers too!
The West Coast line up of choreographers & presenters includes: **Robin Delaney, NFL Cheerleader – Gold Rush & Raiderettes, NBA Dancer – Golden State
**Jada Law, NBA Dancer – Sacramento and LA Lakers
**Erin Salvetti, NFL Cheerleader – San Diego
**Cole Martin, NFL Cheerleader -Raiderettes, 2010 NFL Pro Bowl Cheerleader
**Patty Herrera, NFL Cheerleader – Raiderettes, NFL Pro Bowl Cheerleader & Captain
**Crunch Fitness Director – Warrior Girls Trainer
This event is a great way for women who are interested in auditioning and trying out for a pro team, because it will provide them with valuable insight into what it takes to make the squad! Participants will receive valuable information on how to perfect their look (fitness, hair, makeup, audition attire), what to expect in the interview process & how to best be prepared, as well as learn choreography & dance technique. Attendees also have the opportunity to ask questions and get answers direct from the women who’ve held the positions they seek on a Pro Team. All current, alumni and prospective professional dancers and cheerleaders are invited… And — we also welcome pro, semi-pro and college dance teams to attend and learn new choreography & tips they can take back and perform!
