Bandette of The Week Chelsea

This week, we feature 3rd year vet Chelsea as our Bandette of The Week. Dancing on Kirsten's line on gamedays, Chelsea used to be known as the squad's biggest camera ham, a spot now belonging to the girl dancing right next to her, Stephanie O. That being said, Chelsea certainly hasn't been a slouch when it comes to getting into pictures, which is obviously a good thing for a photographer to deal with. Soft spoken in nature, she's really big on family and treats the rest of the Bandettes like family. She's the type who's generally pretty happy most of the time and does her best to treat everyone well and make them happy as well. That's something that will serve her well when she finishes getting her degree and pursues her career as a radiology technologist. Speaking from experience, it's not a lot of fun staying still while getting an x-ray so I can see Chelsea being able to help patients relax better before the procedure. You can read more about Chelsea at http://www.bandits.com/bbio.asp?bandID=Chelsea Chelsea's secondary photo comes from the NLL All-Star game. Prior to the game, the Bandettes signed their new posters and handed them out to the fans coming into the game as well as posing for photos. Shown in this photo are the Bandettes' 2 biggest camera hams, Stephanie O and Chelsea.

Stephanie O and Chelsea

Pics and video from the Jills Optional Workshop

Valerie, Lisa, and Loren modeling their shirts

Steph and Nichole talk to the assembled participants

In preparation for tryouts coming up on Sunday, the Buffalo Jills first held their Open Workshop at the Fieldhouse on Sunday but for those who couldn't make it, in addition to those who just wanted some extra instruction, they held an extra workshop at Gold's Gym in Lancaster. The captains all showed up in matching attire, from their tops and shirts all the way down to their shorts and shoes. After we got set up, a large contingent of young ladies, including several girls who didn't make it to Sunday's workshop, showed up to learn about becoming a Buffalo Jill. In addition to Miranda, who was there Sunday, Rebecca is also thinking about a switch to the dance squad after a successful rookie season on the Ambassador Squad.

captains on stage during the discussion

After everyone filed in, a larger group than was at last year's Optional Workshop, Steph and Nichole went over many of the requirements and expectations of becoming a Buffalo Jill and answered questions from several potential rookies looking to learn all they can to be ready for Sunday and the future.

Christina explains the process to the assembled participants

Kelly and Krystin on "stage"

After the question-and-answer session was over, some more girls who were just there for the dance session showed up and everyone was given a look at how tryouts were going to run. This year, the first part of tryouts will be basically a parade across the stage in which all the young ladies auditioning will go across the stage in their tryout attire. This will allow the judges, and the fans, to get a look at everyone trying out and to give the participants a chance to not only give everyone a great first impression, but help shake off any jitters they may have for the tryout process.

the captains leading the girls through learning the dance

After the run-through was done, the captains got straight to work, leading everyone through stretching exercises before teaching them the dance, first all at once and then, once a nearby room opened up, in two separate groups. Valerie, Lisa, and Emily took about half the girls to the other room while Omarlla, Christina, and Loren stayed in the first room to allow everyone more space to dance. I stuck around in the first room to get lots of pics and some videos of the group that contained most of the returning vets.

Murissa, Kelly, and Rita among the potential rookies learning dance

See all the pics at http://buffaloprocheerbuffalojills.shutterfly.com/pictures/29203


Also, after everyone had gone through the routine, Omarlla, Christina, and Loren separated the girls into three groups and led each group through the performance. Videos of each of those performances can be found at http://s15.photobucket.com/albums/a375/buffalojills2005/2012/Optional%20Workshop/Practice%20videos/
Sunday, Jills tryouts reach the 1st cut stage at the Bills Healthy Zone Fieldhouse and this event is open to the public for $5! Doors open at 12:15 with tryouts starting at 1pm. Get all the details at http://buffalojills.com/news_story.php?ID=1

Bills schedule released!!

It's a busy time in the NFL...the annual draft is fast approaching, Jills tryouts are in full swing, and now we know what dates we'll get to see the Jills in action at Ralph Wilson Stadium (and at Rogers Centre in Toronto) this fall. All times are Eastern
Preseason 

• Thurs, August 9th vs Redskins 7pm WKBW
• Fri, August 17th at Minnesota 8pm WKBW
• Sat, August 25th vs Steelers 7pm WKBW
• Thur, August 30th at Detroit 7pm WKBW

I think we can count on the August 25th matchup vs the Steelers being the Kid's Day game

Regular season

• Sun, September 9th at NY Jets 1pm CBS
• Sun, September 16th vs Chiefs 1pm CBS
• Sun, September 23rd at Cleveland 1pm CBS
• Sun, September 30th vs Patriots 1pm CBS
• Sun, October 7th at San Francisco 4:15pm CBS
• Sun, October 14th at Arizona 4:05pm CBS
• Sun, October 21st vs Titans 1pm CBS
• October 28th BYE
• Sun, November 4th at Houston 1pm CBS
• Sun, November 11th at New England 1pm CBS
• Thur, November 15th vs Dolphins 8:20pm NFL Network
• Sun, November 25th at Indianapolis 1pm CBS
• Sun, December 2nd vs Jaguars 1pm CBS
• Sun, December 9th vs Rams 1pm FOX
• Sun, December 16th vs Seahawks in Toronto 4:05pm FOX
• Sun, December 23rd at Miami 1pm CBS
• Sun, December 30th vs Jets 1pm CBS

See it and print it at http://prod.static.bills.clubs.nfl.com//assets/pdf/2012-schedule.pdf

More from the Open Workshop

I wasn't alone in snapping photos on Sunday as Buffalo.com sent a photographer as well to get some photos.

Jenny, Krystin, Jami, Jill, and Mel

See all the pics at http://www.buffalo.com/sports/gallery/buffalo-jills-open-workshop
Also, Jeff and Snjezana from FCI, the official photographers of the Buffalo Jills were on hand as well talking to the girls as well as snapping photos as well as some video.

Lindsey in action

See their pics and the video on FCI's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Fisher-Creative-Image-Photography/322101311054
Finally, I did shoot a little video on Sunday as well. After the girls looking to dance on the sidelines in 2012 learned the routine, the captains put them into 5 separate groups and had them show off what they learned, first with the captains leading them, second on their own, and finally for Steph, Nichole, and the sponsors. See the videos of those first performances at http://s15.photobucket.com/albums/a375/buffalojills2005/2012/Open%20Workshop/practice%20videos/

Pics from the 2012 Buffalo Jills Open Workshop

It's that time of year again as NFL Cheerleading squads are working to get girls together to get ready for the 2012 NFL Season. The Buffalo Jills took over the Bills Fieldhouse today where they hold their practices all year long and somewhere in the neighborhood of 100 young women showed up to learn the requirements of becoming a Buffalo Jill and, in the case of those looking to be on the sidelines, learn a routine that they'll be expected to perform next Sunday the 22nd.
To help out, several Buffalo Jills alumni helped with check-ins, CD and Instructional DVD sales, and clothing sales as well as helping with the many sponsors who were on hand for the workshop.

Stephanie G (2002) and Mickey (2002-04)

Current and past Ambassador Squad Captains
Laura, Danielle (2006-09), and Keisha (2007-11)

Gymnastic dynamo Jill  ready to return to dancing after last year's injury
posing with last year's dance rookie of the year Jenny

After the girls started rolling in, we saw a lot of familiar faces, a lot more brand new faces, and a few surprises as well. We also saw a lot of potential rookies who missed the cut last year but aren't giving up and hope to join the rank of some impressive ladies who missed the cut the first time only to make the squad later and have strong careers.

Myesha, Gina, Emily, Nicole, Jenny, Krystin, and Jami

After introducing the rookies to the captains and giving them a brief overview of what to expect, dancers went to the back of the Fieldhouse while Steph and Nichole talked more extensively with the Ambassadors.

even while stretching, Lindsey smiles for the camera

in the foreground, Miranda looking to make the switch to dance

I joined the dancers in the back of the Fieldhouse where, after the captains led everyone through some stretching exercises, they split off into 2 groups where Kelli, Omarlla, Lisa, and Loren taught one group and Christina, Val, and Emily worked with the other to teach them the routine until they pulled them all back together to iron out any rough spots and show what they learned.

taking a break, Jenny and Krystin with Kelly in the background

I, for one, am happy that Murissa is reconsidering retirement

Rita (2008) is rocking it

Kelly, Amanda V, and Melissa

Afterwards, while the Ambassador hopefuls headed out, the dancers went back up to the front of the Fieldhouse and, after showing off what they had learned to Steph, Nichole, and the sponsors, sat down to learn a lot of what the Ambassador hopefuls had learned.
















All the pics can be found at http://buffaloprocheerbuffalojills.shutterfly.com/pictures/28974
Coming up next is an Optional Workshop at the Gold's Gym on French Road in Depew. This is for anyone who missed today's workshop or just wants some extra practice and instruction with the captains. It runs from 8:30 til 10:30 and costs $20 for the whole workshop or $10 for info-only and $10 for dance-only. See all the details at http://buffalojills.com/news_story.php?ID=1
Next Sunday, the Bills Fieldhouse will be hosting 1st cuts, open to the public at a cost of $5 per person. The event starts at 1pm and will generally run around 4-5 hours or whenever everyone is done auditioning.