This is the Mason Top.  This is a great top for any dance team.  You can change up the colors and logo of course… just call and we are there to help with all the decisions.

CALL: 810-956-9032

EMAIL: kandddesigns@gmail.com

 

Check out this link… Cavs Girl

This outfit Cassandra is wearing for the calendar shoot was made by K & D Designs

Give us a Call and let us know if you ever need anything made for your Calendar shoot or that special outfit…

Thanks

Karen

810-512-4463.

kandddesigns@gmail.com

 Click here to find everything you need to know on OrlandoMagic.com.

Auditions for the 2009-10 Orlando Magic Dancers are scheduled for Saturday, August 15th.

This gives you time to get your outfit… you moves profected… your body in tip top condition and ready to be a part of an amazing dance team out there…

If you need any help in the outfit department… give Karen a call at K & D Designs… I will help you achive the look you want with in you budget…

 

Good luck to all the ladies out there working to achieve your Dance Dream!!

send us your stories and pictures on tryouts this year… I am excited to hear how it goes…

CHEERFULLY YOURS!!!  Karen

How far can you go as a Cheerleader? As we delve into the life of Donna Williams

By: Valerie Ninemire

 

 

Like most young women, Donna Williams and her identical twin sister, Deana, dreamed of being Cheerleaders. Their passion for the sport began many years ago, when they both became Cheerleaders in middle school.

Once she was bitten by the “Cheerleading bug”, Donna went on to cheer and dance in high school. That is also where she started to dream of taking it further. And further she went – all the way to the top.

At 15, Donna was helping to coach and choreograph her first squad. That same summer, her and her sister started their own Cheerleading camps, where they were both instructors. By the ripe old age of 18, Donna was a member of the University of Kentucky Wildcat Danzers and had placed 3rd in the nation.

Donna has danced for a professional hockey team. She has also been an instructor and choreographer for several cheer/dance associations including, EDA, Dansports, Cheers Inc., and the Tennessee Cheerleading Company.

But Donna didn’t stop there, last season she was one of thirty-six women named to the NFL Tennessee Titans Cheerleading Squad. Donna explains, “It has so far been the highlight of my Cheerleading/dance career! Performing in front of 67,000 Titans fans, is a feeling I won’t soon forget! Presently, I am a Cheerleading coach in Murfreesboro, TN. I look forward to taking my career in Cheerleading and dance as high as it can go!” And no doubt she will.

Some of Donna’s cheer/dance accomplishments include:

• UCA All Star Cheerleader
• NCA All American Cheerleader
• NCA Danz All Star Danzer
• UDA All American Dancer
• Top Gun Funk Award
• PHS National Dance Champs (ASC) 1997
• UK Wildcat Danzers 3rd place NCA Danz Nationals 1998
• Choreographer for AGS (Allen, KY) 7 time back to back county champs and 4th place at NCA Nationals 2001.

Eating for Energy

Diet and nutrition are often overlooked aspects of training and conditioning for Cheerleaders. Learn what to eat before a practice, competition, game or tryouts – Eating for Energy.

 

 

 

As in any sport, diet and nutrition are important to Cheerleaders. A proper diet can help build strong muscles, keep your mind alert, give you energy and enhance your performance. Simply said, “Food fuels your body and mind”.

There is so much focus on the appearance of Cheerleaders, they sometimes become victims of fad diets, fast weight loss and improper nutrition. Don’t give in and fall into these ruts. Cheerleading is a high energy sport that takes fast thinking, good coordination and strong muscles. It is far better to maintain a healthy and nutritious diet, get plenty of rest, drink lots of fluids and exercise, to keep your body in peak condition for optimal performance. You are what you eat; eat healthy and be healthy.

Without getting into too much physiology, your body needs carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Carbohydrates are the body’s main source of energy. Proteins are the basis for your muscles and fats/oils help with your nerves and hormones among other things. A proper diet should include all of these, but the key to maximum performance is the ratio you intake. An athlete should eat a balanced diet that is high in carbohydrates, low in fat, and adequate in protein.

Follow these simple guidelines of what to eat before, during and after you perform, compete, or tryout.

What to Eat and When

• Before
  • Eat high carbohydrate foods like bread, pasta, whole grains, vegetables, and fruits. Carbohydrates are digested quickly and provide glucose to the muscles. Stay away from dairy products and too much protein like greasy hamburgers, pizza, ice cream, and cheese. Avoid soda pop and candy bars. They can give you a quick burst of energy, but it will drop quickly, leaving you feeling spent.
  • Timing your meal from 1 to 4 hours before strenuous activity will help keep plenty of blood glucose available for your muscles.
  • It is also important to drink plenty of water to keep your muscles hydrated.

          During

• Drink plenty of water. Exertion and perspiration deplete your body of fluids and can lead to dehydration. It is recommended you drink at least a half of cup of water for every twenty minutes of exercise or strenuous activity.
• If your activity is hard and continuous, over 90 minutes, drink a sports beverage or a drink with sugar added.

          After

• This is the time to eat protein to replenish what you lost during your physical activity, but don’t overdo it. Remember protein can not only come from meats but is also present in dairy products and eggs.
• Replace carbohydrates if your activity was long and exerting.
• Replace any potassium or sodium that has been lost during competition or training by eating fruits, vegetables and salty foods.
• Continue to replace fluids.

Knowing what foods your body needs for energy will payoff in your athletic accomplishments. Eat smart and you’ll perform better.

Good Luck!

Tryout requirements may vary between teams. The following tips are meant to be a general guideline only. For best results, you should contact the director of the team you are auditioning for in advance and get the specific requirements for that particular team. Requirements for line tryouts may include previous dance or drill team experience, passing the “hat test” (being able to kick the rim of your hat with proper form), good posture, weight limitations, grades and relocation among other qualifications. Be sure to also find out about the time span of the tryouts. Is it two weeks or two days? Are there any special events you should be aware of during the tryouts like model night or a tea? If so, what would be the appropriate dress? This list will grow as others submit their input, so check back often for the latest updates.Please be sure to email us if you have any input and articles to add to the  Library. We look forward to hearing from you.

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IMPORTANT NOTE:  does not condone the use by teams of weight limits or other requirements which place emphasis on appearance as well as talent. However the sad reality is that such teams and requirements do exist, and dancers are still interested in auditioning for these teams, so the topic is still addressed here for those needing advice in those areas. We apologize if this offends anyone, but we are here to address the needs of everyone and not just a certain segment of the population.

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Always remember, knowledge is power! For best results, educate yourself on the team you are trying out for. Know their requirements, their tryout curricula, their dance style, any difficult moves you should be learning, their costs, any orientation activities, grade requirements, weight limits, etc. so that you can prepare accordingly.

Look sharp! Find out any requirements for dress so that you come equipped with the appropriate attire. Do they wear leotards? Shorts and tees? Tights or socks? Any particular colors? Some college teams have special events like teas and model night. Find out the appropriate dress for these events and DON”T try to make a fashion statement!!! Stick with simple classic flattering styles and basic solid colors like black or navy or dark gray unless they specify specific colors. This includes your shoes. Try not to wear colorful tennis shoes or wear bulky jogging shoes which don’t look nice when you are trying to gracefully point your toes. Don’t wait to plan your wardrobe the night before tryouts!!! Lay your outfits out a few weeks before and try them on to make sure that they look nice together from head to toe. Make sure you can stretch, kick and bend comfortably in them. They should be clean, neat, wrinkle-free and free of any damages or stains. ALWAYS wear proper undergarments or sport bra and NEVER wear inappropriate clothing like cutoffs or halters.

Hair should be neat and pulled away from your face fastened securely with a simple hair-tie. Jerk your head around to make sure it won’t fall down. Wear no jewelry and keep hair accessories simple (preferably the color of your hair). Don’t ever chew gum.

Makeup should be minimal and natural looking. If you wear foundation, make sure it matches your skin tone perfectly. If your makeup is too heavy in any way, it will look really tacky if it starts streaking when you break a sweat. Some drill teams require that you wear no makeup for tryouts, so be sure to check on the policies.

Practice having good posture when you stand, walk, sit and kneel. Hold your head up, stomach in, shoulders slightly back but not stiff, relax your rib cage, and most important, relax and look natural. Try walking with a book on your head. This may take some practice, so watch yourself in front of a mirror and ask a friend or relative to critique you.

Eat nutritiously and bear in mind that many teams require that your weight be in proportion with your height.

Start a rigid “training program” a few months in advance in order to be physically prepared for tryouts. Concentrate on the required dance, performance, kick or acrobatic skills that are required by the team your are auditioning for. Do aerobic, flexibility and strength training to build your stamina and conditioning in order to be able to execute the more physically demanding tasks like high kicks and leaps with apparent ease.

Seek out a mentor from the team you are trying out for. Most people would be honored and flattered that you are asking for their help. Try learning an old routine or at least some dance moves of theirs so that you can get a sense of their style and moves. If you can’t get a mentor, then try to attend their performances and take note of what you need to work on. Do they concentrate more on kicks? On complicated dance moves and leaps? What types of entrances and exits do they use? What type of music do they perform to?

If you are required and how good you feel about yourself to help avert nervousness.

Don’t ever lose your “professionalism” by stopping to fix your hair, scratch an itch or smile at a friend in the audience.

If you make a mistake, don’t panic and stiffen up. Show your leadership abilities by handling any mistakes graciously and with confidence. Use your best judgment and think quickly. If you get offbeat, jump back in right away. Then show ‘em what you got and charm them to death!

Never say you “can’t” do something. Never cut yourself down or say you won’t make it. Coaches and judges don’t like negative attitudes and this is no place for low self-esteem.

When performing with others, keep in mind that precision and teamwork are important factors in dance drill. Movements should be clean, sharp, strong and on count. Don’t try to outperform your line members. Concentrate on executing the routine with grace, poise, style, showmanship, skill and proper technique, yet not standing out from the team.

When performing in a kick line, do not pull on the shoulders of those next to you. If you feel the need to pull, then you need to work more on building your stamina and flexibility. To improve your kick technique, Leslie’s Best sells an illustrated booklet called Kick the Hat Test.

Perform as if you are at a game or competition, concentrating on your best showmanship, poise, technique and execution. Enjoy yourself and SPARKLE!

College teams’ dance styles vary. If you are used to executing sharp poppy movements in high school, and the college you are considering has more of a smooth flowing style, then be sure to practice that new style so that you feel comfortable with it. Concentrate on precision and reaching your positions on count when learning a smoother dance style. Most likely a college team will have more difficult leaps and dance moves, so be sure to prepare yourself accordingly.

Tips Courtesy of Leslie’s Best Dance Drill Services..