Pro Cheer Dreams

Join me on my journey as I pursue my dreams ✨

[procheerdreams]

My third and final audition of the year was for the Baltimore Brigade Dancers. 

And guess what.......I MADE THE TEAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Baltimore Brigade is another new AFL team in the DMV (D.C., Maryland, Virginia) area. They are owned by Monumental Sports Network, the same company that owns the Wizards, Captials, Mystics, and Washington Valor. Derric Whitfield (Wizard Girl and Valorette coach) is also the director for the Baltimore Brigade Dancers. But he is not the coach.

I am super happy, excited, and blessed that I was chosen to be on the inaugural team for the inaugural season. It’s a big opportunity. 

Hope you like this vlog! Please share, like, comment, and subscribe :)

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My second audition of the year was for the Baltimore Ravens Cheerleaders. I didn’t make the team, but I was offered a call back for their promo team the Playmakers.

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The first audition of 2017 was for the Washington Valorettes. 

Washington Valor is a new AFL (Arena Football League) team in D.C. The coach for this team is Derric Whitfield, who is also the coach for the Wizard Girls.

I didn’t make the team but it was such a great experience. Especially since I made it to the end of the day.

Hope you like this vlog! Please share, like, comment, and subscribe :)

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Sideline Photoshoot (2017)

I feel like I’m going to be playing catch up for a while. Please bear with me as I bring you up to speed.

If you’re just tuning in, here’s the link to my post from last year’s photo-shoot: http://procheerdreams.tumblr.com/post/146604147948/sideline-photoshoot.

Sideline Prep offers a photo-shoot every year with celebrity photographer Drew Xeron. As always I have sooooo much fun being behind the camera. I know that I said I was going to look into modeling. But.....I never really did lol. I promise I will though.

Since I decided to vlog my pro cheer journey, I was able to capture some behind the scenes footage. You can check out the vlog here -->  https://youtu.be/3x2EG7L4upk

You can also check out the BOMB photos I took below :)

[procheerdreams]

Sideline Prep Pro Cheer & Dance Audition Prep Workshop (2017)

I know this is MONTHS late. But in January I had the opportunity to attend Sideline Prep’s Pro Cheer & Dance Audition Prep Workshop for the second year in a row. It was soooooo much fun!

If you’re just tuning in here is the link to my post from last year’s Pro Cheer Workshop: http://procheerdreams.tumblr.com/post/146453551676/pro-cheer-workshop2nd-retreat

Just like last year, this was a two day event. On Saturday, we learned routines from the pro/semi-pro coaches in the area. The directors for the Washington Redskins Cheerleaders taught us a routine first and then they did a Q&A session. Next up was the head coach for the Baltimore Blast Cheerleaders. She taught us a cute sideline routine and helped us with freestyle. After her session she did a Q&A as well. The third routine we learned was from Derric Whitfield. He’s the dance team manager for the Wizards Girls and the new AFL team Washington Valor. He taught us the audition routine for the Washington Valor auditions and then did a Q&A session as well.

Before we broke for lunch, a couple of vendors came up to talk to us. Of course the vendors there gave discounts to all the ladies who attended the workshop. There were a variety of vendors from audition attire to fitness coaches to health and wellness and soooo much more. There was even a vendor who gives a $2000 discount for breast augmentation. During lunch is when you have the opportunity to talk to the vendors and make connections with the directors/coaches of the cheerleading teams that are represented.

After lunch we learned a typical Ravens Cheerleader routine from a Baltimore Ravens Cheerleader line coach. Of course she provided a Q&A after she taught. Then we learned a VERY high energy Wizards Girl routine from Derric followed by a Q&A. And last but not least, we ended our day with kicklines and across the floor technique. Oh and there were giveaways the whollleeeee entire day! Who doesn’t love giveaways?!

On Sunday, you are given the opportunity to mock audition and get on the spot feedback from Derric, 2 Redskins Cheerleader Captains and a Wizards Girl. This is soooo beneficial because where else can you figure out what you need to work on before going to an actual audition. AND the feedback is coming from the dance team manager of the Wizard Girls who KNOWS what he’s looking for and what other area teams are looking for. 

Just like last year, I was unable to attend the mock audition due to it interfering with church. BUT I highly recommend everyone to do it lol. AND I highly recommend attending the workshop. Even if you don’t live in the DC, MD, VA area. There were ladies that traveled from Lake Erie, California, Florida, Japan, and North Carolina just to attend the workshop. JAPAN!!! So if those ladies can come from another continent JUST to attend the workshop, then if you live in these continental states you have no excuse.

My vlog footage from that weekend is now available! ---> https://youtu.be/D-B6j_n3pHo

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My first video! It's kind of long. Hope you like it!

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YouTube Channel - Jonné Veree

It's been a few months since my last update, but my YouTube channel is now up and running! My first and only video so far is a compilation of footage from when I tried out for the Washington Kastles and from during the season. It's audition season so more will be coming soon 😄

[procheerdreams]

Check out this video from one of our games last week!

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1st Kastles Game

Last Monday (August 1st) I attended my first Kastles game as a spectator. It was sooo much fun! 

I didn’t get to dance the first game since I am a Rookie. So I went to watch with another rookie. I’m so glad that we got to sit and watch the first game instead of cheering because we got to see how everything worked. And it was great watching us win ;)

On Tuesday (August 2nd) I got to dance for the first time ^_^ and it was sooooooo much fun! My parents, brothers and grandpa came to see me. It was a great first game. And we won!!

Pro tennis games are fun and interactive. It’s definitely different. I encourage everyone to go see one if you have one in your area.

Check out some pics from my first game below! (All photos were taken by @mavpp)

[procheerdreams]

1st Practice as a Pro Cheerleader

Monday I had my first practice as a pro cheerleader. Let me tell ya, I was nervous hell. I did NOT know what to expect. But it ended up going really well.

Practice was at our coach’s house. There’s only 10 of us on the team so we were able to fit in the dance studio that she has in her basement. We took pictures, filled out paperwork and learned a dance. It was a pretty easy practice. Plus there were snacks! ^_^

We only had one formal practice since our season is literally only 2 weeks (6 games). The first game is on Monday so I’m pretty excited. The only downside is that I’m not performing the first game. Rookies sit out the first game so we can observe. But that’s cool since I get to dance all of the other games.

I will be sure to post any pictures (and videos) I can dig up from the games. But until then here’s a team photo :)

[procheerdreams]

A Stroke Against Leukemia

I had my first promo as a professional cheerleader and it was super fun!

The event was a golf tournament called A Stroke Against Leukemia and it was hosted by the SlyeStrong#6 Foundation. The SlyeStrong#6 Foundation was created by AJ Slye’s parents to honor and remember him by supporting the fight to cure cancer through heightened community outreach, God’s strength and pure perseverance. It serves as a catalyst to find a cure for cancer, to give back to the communities who came together wholeheartedly in spirit, love, and hope to strengthen the fight for life, and to be a platform for all who have lost loved ones.

We weren’t there for the entire tournament. We just came for the awards ceremony, silent auction and BBQ portion. We took pictures with the winners and were just there for moral support. I really enjoyed myself. Special thanks to the SlyeStrong#6 Foundation for putting on such a great event and inviting us to be there.

Check out some photos from the event below! 

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You Made a Pro Team....Now What?

Just because I made the Kastles does NOT mean that this will be the end of my blog. I will still be blogging about what it’s like being on the team, any events that I do, and any other auditions that I go to. This is just the beginning! ^_^

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My first time in the uniform!!!!!! ^_^

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Washington Kastles Prep Classes/Audition 2016

After auditioning for the Redskins, I decided that I was going to audition for other pro and semi-pro teams. The Washington Kastles Cheerleaders is the first team that started their series of prep classes after the Redskins. The Washington Kastles is the tennis team for DC area. There aren’t many professional tennis teams out there. And their season is super short – six games over a span of 2 weeks.

The prep classes started the first Monday in May and happened every Monday until auditions. The prep classes were really laid back and fun. We would come in and do some snippets (series of 8 counts), a mini workout, stretch, and then learn a dance. The awesome thing about the prep classes is that the Monday before the audition, you get to learn the audition dance and have a whole week to prepare before auditions.

The audition was on June 20th. I showed up super excited and prepared. I had full hair, makeup, and the blingiest (yes, that is a word lol) outfit. I kind of felt overdressed compared to everyone else, but I quickly pushed that out of my head.

The audition was super easy compared to the Redskins. It wasn’t as many ladies either (only 14). While we were waiting on the dance room to be freed, we stretched and filled out paperwork. Once the dance room was vacant, we went inside and continued to stretch some more. Then the coaching staff introduced themselves.

We started off learning a few snippets. That was a breeze for me since I previously learned all of the snippets during the Redskins audition process and the Kastles prep classes. Then the dance was taught, but at an accelerated pace. The dance was taught in 13 minutes. I am so glad I went to the prep class the week before and learned it at a slower pace and was able to practice it the whole week. After the dance was taught, we ran through the dance with music a couple of times. Then we were broken up into our groups and went into the hallway to wait until our groups were called.

Luckily, I was in the first group. We walked into the room and individually introduced ourselves. After our introductions, we performed the snippets and then the dance twice. The dance had a 32-count freestyle before the actual choreography started. I messed up on my double pirouette but I didn’t let that stop me. I just made sure that I lots of energy, stayed smiling, and looked happy to be there.  During the snippets the judges were staring at me and smiling. Then during my freestyle the judges were DEFINITELY staring at me and smiling the whole time. Made me feel really good :)

After my group went, we were able to go home. We were told that we would find out who made it via email the next day. So when I woke up on Tuesday morning, I had a Facebook message from one of my fellow Sideline Prep lovelies telling me that I had made the team!!!!!! So I hopped up and checked my email and there was my number :) I made my first professional cheerleading team!!!!!!!!!!!!! ^_^

Overall the audition process was super fun and easy. I’m so glad I tried out for the Kastles and made it. Being on this team will be a great learning experience and will boost my dance resume.

Check out my photos from the audition below!

[procheerdreams]

Redskins Audition 2016

April 2, 2016......AUDITIONS HAVE ARRIVED!!!

When I woke up that morning I was super excited but at the same time super nervous. I had packed my audition bag the night before and pre-curled my wig. 

I got there super early. So early they weren’t letting anyone in yet. So I just sat in the car until it was time. Then sat in the lobby until it was time to go up.

When it was finally time for registration, we rode the elevators upstairs to he club level of the stadium to register. I had already turned in my application and head shot ahead of time. But I still handed in a glossy 8x10 copy of my collage just in-case. They gave me my number (181) and I went to sit with the other ladies from my Sideline Prep group.

We waited for a while before we started the first round of auditions. The first round was intro speech and freestyle. It was 6 of us in a group. Waiting outside of the door to the dance room was sooooo nerve wracking. I was prepared to dance for 1 min but it wasn’t even that long, it was super short. After my group went, we sat around waiting again for everyone to finish and for them to call our numbers for who was moving on to the second round. 

After what felt like FOREVER, the directors came up and called the numbers for who would make it to the next round. THEY CALLED MY NUMBER!!!!! I already knew my number was going to be called. I attended all 10 prep classes so I got an automatic pass to the next round. But it was still nerve wracking...

After the 1st round we got to eat a little. I went to subway the day before and got a sandwich. And we had time to touch up our makeup.

For the 2nd round, we went down to the dance room and learned choreography. The dance was easy and I was able to pick it up. I was just struggling with the technique a little (double pirouette). But I practiced up until it was time to hit the stage.

The 2nd round was a little different than the 1st round in terms of performing. For the 1st round we were in the dance room. For the 2nd round we had to perform on stage in front of season ticket holders, box owners, and fans. When we first got on stage we did the dance. After the dance we introduced ourselves and then one of the fans got to ask us an interview question. I felt like I did good on the interview question. But I fell out of my double :( so I wasn’t feeling too good about that. After we finished on stage, we went to wait around AGAIN.

When it was time for numbers to be called we were told to pack up all of our things to go back downstairs to the lobby where they would reveal the numbers. That elevator ride downstairs wasn’t nerve wracking at all. I had a strange sense of calm. When we got downstairs, there was a dry erase board with our numbers on it waiting to be flipped over. Once everyone got downstairs, they told us that if our numbers were on the board then we would get to come back tomorrow (that’s when the vets would arrive). If our numbers weren’t on the board then we could go home. The board was flipped over and my number wasn’t there :(

To be honest I wasn’t really expecting to make the team my first time auditioning. Actually no one really makes Redskins the first go round. It’s extremely rare. It took most of the girls 3-7 times to finally make the team. 

Even though I was done, auditions weren’t over for the ones who made it past the second round. Those girls had to endure finals week and the final audition show. I still went to finals to cheer on my girl Azusa. She traveled all the way from Japan to chase her dreams and she made the team on her first try! She’s a bomb dancer and very humble. Plus going to finals to watch the girls make the team was inspirational. Gave me something to look forward to and to work harder for next year.

The most important thing is that I CHASED MY DREAMS. I didn't make it, but I was so proud of myself for even having the courage to try in the first place and for making it as far as I did. I worked super hard and learned so much about myself over those months it took to prepare. So I'm extremely grateful for the experience and for the new friends that I made. Always remember that a no is NOT a never. So this no isn't the end of the road for me...it's only the beginning ^_^

Check out my photos from auditions!

[procheerdreams]

Sideline Photoshoot

In preparation for auditions, I knew that I needed to take audition photos. If you didn’t know, you are required to turn in a photo with your application. Your application picture(s) sets the tone for your audition. Your picture is one of your first impressions. It could either work for you, or against you. 

Sideline Prep offers a photo shoot that provides you with quality full body, head shots, and professional pictures for your upcoming auditions. The photographer was Drew Xeron. He’s a NYC/DC Celebrity Photographer who is also the photographer for the Washington Redskins Cheerleaders, Washington Redskins Cheerleader Ambassadors, and Wizard Girls. A makeup artist was also provided and professional cheerleaders were there to help you out with posing. 

I loved my photo shoot session! I felt extremely confident and I absolutely love the way my pictures turned out! That photo shoot actually made me want to model....I think I may look into that.

You can check out some of the pictures from my photo shoot below. As well as my before/after weight loss transformation picture :)

[procheerdreams]

Prep Classes & Personal Training

March is when the Washington Redskins Cheerleader Prep Classes began! ^_^ I also started working with my personal trainer in March. Let me tell you....I was a busy chick that whole month.

Every Monday and Wednesday night and Saturday morning I was working out with my personal trainer. I had to get that weight off. (I actually lost 3.2 lbs in March and surpassed my weight loss goal! ^_^) Every Tuesday and Thursday night I was attending prep classes.

Prep classes were fun some days but other days I was soooooo over it. I was having a hard time picking up the choreography and I was struggling with some of the technique. If there was a dance I couldn’t pick up, I would beat myself up so bad. Some nights I actually cried in my car after the fact. I was lacking in confidence and it was really showing. But I stuck with it and kept trying. And because I kept trying, some days I had awesome nights where I picked up the choreography fast and was able to execute it.

Throughout that whole month, I was so blessed to have an amazing support system that believed in me and kept pushing me to be great. Those people were able to pour into me and had faith in me when I didn’t even have faith in myself. To be honest I don’t even know if it was intentional on their part. But God placed those people in my life at the right time and I am soooo grateful and thankful for those people <3

Check out my photos from prep classes!