Recent "Ask A Pro" question

Below are the lastest questions we have recieved from our website. Thank you for all the questions and to Laura for answering them! Keep the questions coming by going to www.wecovercheer.com/Ask_A_Pro.html

Meredith in Nebraska:
Hi, so i'm at JV cheerleader at my school and my toe touches are alright but I want to make Varsity next year. What are the best ways to condition myself and/or become more flexible?

Hi Meredith! Jumps require not only flexibility but muscle strength as well. Here are my top tips: 1. Stretch every day! Apply static stretching, holding each stretch at least 20-30 seconds. Stretch standing feet apart then with feet together, legs straight with hands on the ground. Stretch on the ground in straddle and pike positions. Work on single-leg and middle splits. 2. Strengthen the muscles in your inner thighs with straddle lifts. Sit in a straddle position with your back straigh, be sure to turn your knees out and point your toes. Keeping your legs straight, lift your heels off the ground. Repeat 10 times. 3. Strengthen your abs and work on flexibility with "V-ups." Lie flat on the ground with arms straight overhead, legs straight with your whole body tight. Lift arms to a "T" and legs to a toe-touch position while keeping your tailbone on the floor. Toes should be pointed and legs straight, chest up, just like the in-air toe-touch position. Repeat 10 times. 4. Other good strengthening exercises are squats, lunges, crunches, and tuck jumps.

Make a schedule for yourself to devote 15-20 minutes every day to flexibility and strengthening. If you stay committed, you will notice a difference! Work on your jumps in a mirror to correct your form, and attend private lessons if you can. Keep up the hard work! - Laura

Recent "Ask A Pro" question

Below are the lastest questions we have recieved from our website. Thank you for all the questions and to Laura for answering them! Keep the questions coming by going to www.wecovercheer.com/Ask_A_Pro.html

Shelbi in Kansas:
Hello, I am going into 9th grade h.s. and I am on the JV cheer squad and was in a competitive team in Liberty. I went to KU cheer camp and learned alot and saw that they do partner stunting and I think I would really enjoy that. My goal to to go to KU and be on the cheer squad and I would like some advice to how to get there and is there a gym in Lawrence or in the KC area that works on the partner stunting?


Hi Shelbi, I know of two all star gyms in the KC area: All American Cheer and Stunt, and Kansas City Athletic Cheer. You can also contact the KU cheer coach for their recommendations. They may even have private lesson opportunities with their squad members. Since KU is very competitive, I advise you attend as many regional college stunting camps as you can to get a feel for second and third choice programs. Plus it never hurts to get another hands on opportunity to stunt with the experts!

Chicago Luv-A-Bulls Tryouts

We Cover Cheer is sending two photographers to capture the Chicago Bulls Dance Tryouts! Photos will be posted in a few short weeks!

Denver Broncos Cheer Tryout Photos

Check out http://www.wecovercheer.com/ today! We just posted 139 photos of the Denver Broncos Cheer tryouts. Denver Outlaws Dance tryouts coming soon!

Recent "Ask A Pro" question

Below are the lastest questions we have recieved from our website. Thank you for all the questions and to Laura for answering them! Keep the questions coming by going to www.wecovercheer.com/Ask_A_Pro.html

Jacklyn in Indiana:
What truly does it take to become a pro cheerleader?

Each program is completely different for what they seek in dance style, image, level of commitment, and more. Some attributes that are generally universal in pro cheerleading are professionalism, glamour, the ability to entertain, and fitness. It's important to remember that pro cheerleaders are not just performers, they are representatives of that sports league, franchise and community. The cheer programs are seeking women with great integrity who can also appeal to the crowd. My advice is to really study the squad for which you are auditioning, attend their prep classes, and get in touch with a current or former team member.

Professional Dance/Cheer Tryouts

Last week we were in Denver covering the Denver Broncos Cheer tryouts and the following day the Denver Outlaws held their dance tryouts. We were at both events! Photos will be posted on http://www.wecovercheer.com/!

Recent "Ask A Pro" questions

Below are the lastest questions we have recieved from our website. Thank you for all the questions and to Laura for answering them! Keep the questions coming by going to www.wecovercheer.com/Ask_A_Pro.html

Katsumi in Japan:
I'm looking for white, low heeled boot which redskins cheerleader and wizard daners are wearing. But, i can't find it. What shop can I buy it?

http://www.dancecheer.net/ offers a couple of great styles - the Pro Vinyl GoGo Boot and the Classic Vinyl Knee Boot!

Kori in Nebraska:
how to do a back flip?

.... I'd like to know also!! :)

Lauren in Iowa:
Do you recommend any cheer camps to go to over the summer?

Hey Lauren! It depends on your age and if you are attending individually or as a group. For junior high and high school I highly recommend UCA summer camps, you can find their schedule at http://www.varsity.com/. Depending on where you are in Iowa, you can enroll in the St Louis Rams or the Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleaders youth programs and travel to their stadiums. You might also check your local dance studios, gyms, colleges and high schools to see if they offer cheerleading classes or day camps.

Jamie in Nebraska:
My daughter made the cheerleading squad at school. How do I keep her motivated all year?

Congratulations to your daughter! What a great question... Cheerleading is usually a full-year program, so it is easy to get burned out! One of the best motivations is getting a mentor, like a high school, college or pro cheerleader. Mentors guide new cheerleaders and help them to realize a cheerleader's future potential to earn scholarships or make the pros! Also, as a parent, be sure to attend the games when she is cheering and get to know the other parents. Parents are a great support system, hosting post-game parties, socials, traveling to competitions, and always showing the cheerleaders some love. :)

Recent "Ask A Pro" question

Below are the lastest questions we have recieved from our website. Thank you for all the questions and to Laura for answering them! Keep the questions coming by going to www.wecovercheer.com/Ask_A_Pro.html

Zoey in Colorado:
After a long day of competing I always have really sore feet. Do you have any suggestions for improving this? Do you wear any type of shoe inserts?

Hi Zoey! What you are feeling is completely normal. That is what makes auditions exciting, knowing that you are challenging yourself to reach a goal. The fact that you don't know anyone should be a great reason to go through cheerleading auditions. I guarantee you will walk away with at least one new friend. Don't be scared about the results, because trying new things is how you find your strengths, and if you do not make the team this year, you will be more prepared next time. I did not make middle school cheerleading, then returned in high school and made the varsity team! Please let me know how things turn out, and send photos!

An update from our photographer Bobby Ericson

Hello, I wanted to take time to update everyone on what is happening at Ericson’s Photography. The last two weeks we have shot several events and have a very busy next couple of weeks as well. I want to thank you in advance for your patience as we juggle shooting photos and editing all the photos in a timely fashion. I have listed out below what we have shot recently and what we will be shooting in the future. If you have any questions please don’t hesistate to contact me.

If you havn't heard, we are moving to a new and better location. As a lot of you know at our current location we can't offer walk-ins. We do all of our business by appointment only. Starting April 4th, we are going to have actual hours where we will be open and you can walk-in to have photos taken, see wedding photos or pick up photos. The hours have not been established at this point but will be posted on our website in March.

The new location is at 4444 “O” Street Suites 9 & 10. Its right between Taco Bell and Texaco on “O” Street. It's the driveway right after Taco Bell's Drive Thru exit. The new location will allow us to have an office that is separate from the actually studio. We will be adding an Ericson’s Photography sign right on “O” Street. I am hoping to have the sign up by mid March so take a look at it when our in the area.

My staff and I have been very busy the last couple of weeks. On Feb 20th we shot Iowa State womens gymnastics versus Minnesota in Ames, Iowa. We then drove back and got a couple of hours of sleep and then left for Grand Island at 6am the following morning. On Feb 21st we shot the Nebraska Cheer/Dance State Championships in Grand Island. This was an all day event for us. I actually took off around 5pm and headed for Omaha to shoot the Omaha Roller Girls in their first bout of the season, while another photographer stayed in Grand Island to finish shooting the rest of the event.

This past Wednesday I went to Denver. I took my studio lights and backdrops with me to shoot headshots and full frame shots for a few professional dancers in Denver. The shoots went very well and gave me some really good portfolio pictures. I also shot a wedding Saturday Feb 28th in Denver. It was a full 14 hour day.

This Wednesday I am heading to Laramie, Wyoming. I will be shooting their cheer/dance team this Wednesday night at a basketball game. Then again on Thursday at their practice I will be shooting their headshots/full frame shots. Friday I will travel to Kansas City for the Going Pro Fluid Dance convention in Kansas City. I will be offering headshots/full frame shots to the girls that attend the convention.

Things don’t slow down much after this weekend. March 11th I have a wedding all day to shoot. March 13th I will be in Columbia Missouri shooting a gymnastics meet. March 21st I have another wedding to shoot. In April, I have a wedding on the 11th and Denver Bronco Tryouts the following week.

It has been and will continue to be very busy for me and everyone who helps me out with Ericson’s Photography. I thank you for everyones patience in advance while I continue to shoot events and try and edit the photos as quick as possible. A lot is going on, but we will continue to offer top notch photography service that we have been offering the last two years.

Tips from Kelli of the Raiderettes and Erin of the Chiefs!

NFL and NBA auditions are right around the corner, and our favorite former cheerleaders remember just what it was like!

Kelli, Los Angeles Raiderettes 1990 - 1996, Line Captain and Dancer of the year in 1995, says:
Come to the audition over-prepared in every way especially on your routine. Practice the moves until you can do them in your sleep then it will be second nature so you can really have fun for the judges. Smile and show them how much you love to dance and you can't go wrong!

Erin, Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleaders 2004-2006, says:
Realize that you're being judged not only on your dance ability and appearance but your character as well! Be respectful, helpful, and NICE to the other girls auditioning, as well as judges and any other personnel. Remember, these girls are going through the exact same experience as you - you might even make some great friends!


Thanks for the tips! Be sure to forward this Facebook page to a friend and spread the LOVE! Be sure to see Pro Cheer and Dance Audition Tips page on Facebook.

Recent "Ask A Pro" questions

Below are the lastest questions we have recieved from our website. Thank you for all the questions and to Laura for answering them! Keep the questions coming by going to www.wecovercheer.com/Ask_A_Pro.html


Melissa in Nebraska:
After a long day of competing I always have really sore feet. Do you have any suggestions for improving this? Do you wear any type of shoe inserts?

When I was an NFL cheerleader, we had to be on our feet for 6 hours in 2-inch heeled boots, walking on concrete, performing, kicking!! It was agony by the end, so I feel your pain. :( I have found that insoles generally crowded the shoes and made my feet even more uncomfortable, but taping the balls of my feet with athletic tape helped. You need to be careful not to limit your movement so you can fully point and flex your feet! Be sure to try this at practice before going to a competition to make sure that precautionary measure works for you.

Alyssa in Nebraska:
Laura thank you for taking questions. I was wondering, to be a professional dancer, what techniques of dance should I be working on to perfect?

This is a great question, because pro dancing is indeed very different from competitive cheerleading and dance. Dance technique is still crucial; most teams include double or triple pirouettes, leaps, jumps, axels, and high kicks in their choreography. You'll find one squad's dance style really varies from the next, so research the team for which you are auditioning and take class from their choreographer or attend one of their prep classes a few months before auditions. Usually pro dancing requires more exaggerated movements and a great deal of personality. We call it "hair-ography" because you learn to work with your hair while dancing!!

Craig in Kansas: Whats it like being tossed up in the air? I play football and see the cheerleaders on the sidelines and always wondered what its like being tossed so high?

Haha... Craig, honestly I have only been a top flyer once or twice and that was back in high school! I remember it being an adrenaline rush, but too scary for me. Flyers must have a great deal of trust in their teammates! In fact, pro cheerleaders rarely are involved in stunting. The only NFL stunt team is the Baltimore Ravens, but it is more popular in the NBA as seen with the Denver Nuggets and the Portland Trailblazers.

Amy Day, Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleader

Today we feature Amy Day, 6th year veteran with the Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleader, 2-time swimsuit cover model, captain, choreographer and ProBowl Cheerleader. Amy has also played an integral role on the Chiefs Cheerleader Variety Show performance troupe, traveling around the world entertaining and showing appreciation to United States military.

Hi Amy, tell us more about the CC Variety Show, As Time Goes By: Memories Last Forever.

The show is a journey from the 1940s to today. We feature music from each year that captures the spirit of that time. There is singing, dancing, acting, and over 40 costume changes. A narrator introduces each decade, describing moments from that ear such as the price of gas, popular movies, and events that were taking place.

What is your favorite part of the show?

We end the show with a patriotic section. I think that every girl who performs the show agrees that is the best part!

Where have the CCs performed?

We have traveled to Cuba, Italy, Egypt, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, and Germany. We have performed at numerous events in Kansas and Missouri, as well as Seattle and Omaha, and most recently Maryland.

What else do you do for the troops besides the show?

When we visit the bases, we truly get to know them. We want to meet as many troops as possible before the show and personally invite them to come. We want to know about the base, who these men and women are, what is their job, where are they from. Doing the show is so much fun, but my fondest memories come from conversations I've had one on one.

What did you do during this particular trip?

We went to Bethesda hospital in Maryland, where we met "wounded warriors," soldiers who were severely injured in Iraq. They were some of the bravest men I have met. Near the end of our trip, 176 troops were returning home from Iraq at the Maryland airport, and we were the first ones to greet them as they stepped off the plane. Seeing them reunited with their families is something that I will never forget.

As you retire, what are your top 3 moments as an NFL cheerleader?

Cheering at the Pro Bowl in Hawaii. Traveling to Egypt to perform and seeing the pyramids! Then probably my last home game cheering, it was very special.

Why did you initially try out for the NFL?

I grew up dancing and bumped into a girl with whom I used to dance, who at the time was a Chiefs Cheerleader. I honestly had no idea I could try out to do that! So I kept in touch with her and auditioned two months later and made it!

Of course your reasons for returning are quite different, wouldn't you say?

Yes definitely. It's just in your blood! I feel that I have grown so much from being a part of the Chiefs organization. It's more than just dancing in front of 80,000 people. I have had the chance to participate in so many events that I never would have experienced. I have been able to reach out to my community and make a difference. I made the best friends of my life! Chiefs is more than just a team. We really become a family. Our squad really takes the time to bond as sisters.

Any advice to girls considering auditioning for a pro squad?

Talk to as many people as you can who have cheered. You need to want the experience with all your heart because it is a huge commitment. Look at your life and schedule and make sure it is going to work. It is sometimes difficult to balance a full time job, a family, your friends, your own life, and professional cheering. If you decide it is something you want then just be positive. Go into auditions with an optimistic attitude. I guarentee you will get something out of the experience no matter what the outcome is.

As Amy closes her chapter with the Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleaders, she is excited to serve future professional cheerleaders and dancers as a Going Pro Entertainment Consultant. Meet Amy on Saturday, March 7 at the Kansas City Fluid Dance Convention through the Going Pro Agenda. Learn more at http://www.goingproentertainment.com/going-pro-kansas-city-1

JAMfest Results

Congrats to all teams yesterday at the Wacky Jam in Omaha, NE. Our photos will be posted soon online, but below is the link to the results.

http://jamfest.com/Events/Results/2008-2009/WackyJAM.pdf

Recent "Ask A Pro" questions

Below are the lastest questions we have recieved from our website. Thank you for all the questions and to Laura for answering them! Keep the questions coming by going to www.wecovercheer.com/Ask_A_Pro.html


Samantha in Nebraska:
I'm on a level 4 all star team in Nebraska and we're really good! Just last year we won Nationals down in South Dakota. I'm a junior in highschool and i've been on the varsity squad for two years now. My highschool is private so we can stunt and tumble, which are two things that I'm pretty strong in. I really wana continue cheering in college and I've been looking into colleges around and in Nebraska but I"m not aware of colleges around that have good cheer programs. I wana go to a school that has tumbling and stunting and who has a great cheer team but I don't know of any. Can you please help me out?

Many Nebraska colleges have recently become ground-bound, so that is a great question. I have heard great things about University of Nebraska-Omaha, which is one of the only Nebraska colleges that still allows stunting and tumbling. But don't be scared to look out of state! There are several schools within a short drive with nationally competitive cheer programs including Avila (Kansas City, MO), University of Kansas (Lawrence, KS), and Missouri Valley (Marshall, MO).

Kristin in Iowa:
What is a good song to do a cheer/dance routine to?

My favorite songs so far this year are Beyonce's "Single Ladies," Miley Cyrus "Fly on the Wall," Kevin Rudolf "Let It Rock" and Flo Rida/Will I Am "In the Ayer." Cheer music is usually a little more complicated, so I recommend buying pre-cut music. Two good sites are www.cheermusicstore.com and www.routinemixes.com.

Bio for our "Ask A Pro" page - Laura Eilers

Laura Eilers is an audition consultant for professional cheer and dance candidates with Going Pro Entertainment. Laura's professional experience includes Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleaders (5 years), Kansas City Wizards Girls, Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader auditions, and instructing for Universal Dance Assocation. Laura can be contacted at laura@goingproentertainment.com

Visit www.wecovercheer.com/Ask_A_Pro.html to ask your questions!

Ask A Pro

Below are the lastest questions we have gotten from our website. Thank you for all the questions and keep them coming!

1. Stacy in Nebraska:
I am on the reserve team for my school but I want to compete more so I have been thinking about contacting a cheer and dance school in town to see about joining an all-star team. Do you know if I would have to quit my school's team? If so, what do you think would be better to do?

Hi Stacy, it is great that you are trying to get extra training and competition experience! Every coach can determine if she will allow athletes to dance/cheer in an outside program, but if the policy has not been made clear, it doesn't hurt to ask! You should find out the practice times of the all star team, and if they conflict with your school's practices or games, be prepared to make a decision. If you are able to make both teams work, will it hurt your studies? Can you fully dedicate yourself to both teams? Will there be expenses with each program? All star vs school squads are very different environments, and if your goal is to perform in college or in the pros, maybe that competitive experience is exactly what you need! Good luck!

2. Meg in Nebraska:
What is your favorite part about cheering?

Hi Meg, being from Nebraska, you can probably relate to my love for my football team - you Cornhuskers fans are crazy! Well, I was raised as a die-hard Kansas City Chiefs fan, tailgating, watching every game, spending time with family wearing red! So my favorite part of professional cheerleading has been the honor of working for the NFL and cheering in the great Arrowhead Stadium. It gives me goose bumps every time!

3. Alyssa in Illinois:
We have to wear our hair down when we dance. Is there a good way to keep it from falling in your face during a routine?

Oh, Alyssa, I feel your pain! In college, our team had a strict rule to dance with our hair pulled back, so my transition to professional cheerleading, where the girls always perform with their hair down, was quite an adjustment! With some hair styles, you pretty much can't avoid hair falling in your face, so work on using your hair as an extension of your performance. Pinpoint moves in the routine where you can toss your head without taking away from the choreography. The more you move, the more your hair will keep out of your eyes! Oh, and don't ever wear lip gloss, which will cause your hair to stick to your lips and act like a glue no matter how much you flip your lovely locks around!