Buffalo Jill of The Week Amanda V

This week, we take a look at 2nd year vet Amanda V as our Buffalo Jill of The Week. Dancing on Christina's line between Beth and Jenny, Amanda is one of those girls who can never just relax. She loves being on the go and staying busy. Given that, it's no big surprise she chose a demanding and hectic career field like the law.Before joining up with the Jills, she was already doing a lot with cheer and dance and I'm not talking high school cheerleading and dance classes, although she did that, too. She also taught cheering and dance traveling some of the country. It's almost a shame being an attorney will take up so much time as if she has free time after she graduates and lands a job, she could do some coaching in the near future. That being said, given Amanda's penchant for staying so busy, she just may find a way to do that as well. You can read more about Amanda at http://buffalojills.net/article.asp?id=1961018 Amanda's secondary photo is from the Draft Party the Bills held in the Healthy Zone Fieldhouse. Shown posing for the camera are Emily, Amanda V, and Jill.

Emily, Amanda V, and Jill

Don't forget to check out Amanda's tryout video from 1st cuts. After Amanda and Jill made the squad dancing side-by-side last season, they figured they brought each other good luck and signed up for numbers 25 and 26 so they could pair up again. Obviously the plan worked as they both made the squad and we're hoping to see Jill back on the field later this season.

Red Cross to host Safe & Seen Halloween with the Jills

Ghosts and goblins will be roaming the halls of "Eerie" Community College's North Campus for "Safe & Seen Halloween" this Saturday, October 29th between 11a.m.-3p.m. at 6205 Main Street in Williamsville.


"Safe & Seen Halloween" has something for everyone, including visits by Sabretooth, Billy Buffalo and the Buffalo Jills cheerleaders. The event also spotlights American Red Cross B.A.T (Basic Aid Training) and Babysitter Training and includes an American Red Cross blood drive. In addition, members of Local and Federal Law Enforcement, the Main Transit Fire Department, Rural Metro, Mercy Flight, the SPCA, the State Attorney General's Office, The Erie County Health Department, Kaleida's Poison Center, and other local organizations and businesses of all kinds will join together to help educate our community on issues surrounding child and family safety, health and well-being.
http://www.wivb.com/dpp/news/erie/Red-Cross-to-host-Safe-Seen-Halloween

Congratulations to the 2012 Buffalo Bandettes!

Over the weekend, the NLL's premier dance team, the Buffalo Bandettes, held open auditions to fill the 15 spots on the 2012 squad. In total, 41 girls tried out, a slightly higher number than usual as they usually have 30-35. On Saturday, as I already reported, the aspiring Bandettes learned a routine taught by Erin Y and Meghan F. Sunday, they had to perform that routine in front of 5 judges as well as answer some questions to see how they would handle thinking on their feet...for when they talk to fans at games and appearances. Going off of what I saw on Saturday, it had to have been a tough call for the judges to select just 15 girls as everyone seemed to pick up the routine pretty well before they left.

2012 Buffalo Bandettes

The 2012 squad will be composed of 6 rookies, 5 2nd year vets (Noelle, Chrissy, Krista, Danielle, and Jessica), 3 3rd year vets (Chelsea, Lauren B, and Stephanie) and 1 4th year vet (Kirsten) In addition to a number of former Bandettes doing the judging, WYRK's Clay Moden was a celebrity judge for tryouts on Sunday and talks about the experience on WYRK's website at http://wyrk.com/buffalo-bandettes-auditionsvideo/
There's even some video up as well

Now begins the really tough task....getting ready for the 2012 Buffalo Bandits season

Pics and video from Bandettes tryouts

Jaclyn, Erin Y, Meghan F, and Jessica H

While the NFL is in full swing and the NLL season doesn't start for another few months, it's the time of year again when NLL Dance squads have to start getting ready by holding tryouts to fill up their rosters and get ready to start teaching routines to veterans and rookies alike.  Rather unexpectedly, I got offered the opportunity just this morning to come to the 1st session of Bandettes tryouts, the workout in which 41 young ladies worked to learn the routine they'll be expected to perform tomorrow for the judges who will select the 15-girl 2012 squad. To teach the routine, Bandettes head choreographer Erin Y had the assistance of Bandettes alumnus Meghan F who, besides her 5 years on the squad as a dancer, co-captain, and then captain, has been a valued contributor for the Buffalo Pro Cheer Blog. Helping with registration today was another Bandettes alumnus, Jessica H, who only just retired after 4 years on the squad.
After everyone got registered, Kirsten led the group through some stretching and warm-ups before it was time to start learning. Meghan only learned the routine earlier in the week but with all her dance experience and 5 years working with Erin Y, she was able to pick it up quick enough to help Erin demonstrate.


All 41 girls seemed to pick up the routine as Erin and Meghan worked with them step-by-step throughout the session, which will make the job of the judges tomorrow that much tougher.

See all the pics at http://buffaloprocheerbuffalobandettes.shutterfly.com/pictures/4071

The aspiring Bandettes will be returning to Gold's Gym tomorrow for cuts (closed to the public) when 5 judges will narrow the field of 41 down to form the 15-girl squad so they can start getting ready for the 2012 NLL season including the Bandits Open Practice, the actual date of which should be announced soon. Best of luck to all 41 young ladies!

Buffalo Jill of The Week Melissa

This week, we take a look at our other unconventional rookie as our Buffalo Jill of The Week. Melissa spent 6 1/2 seasons dancing as a Bandette with the last season as a captain after several as a co-captain. Spending her gamedays dancing on Valerie's line between Val and Loren, she's loving the experiences of being a Jill so far. As a matter of fact, it was working with the Jills last season in Toronto that got her thinking about trying it out. The last year has been a big one for her not only as far as the transition to the Jills, but in her personal life as well as she's now happily married to someone she's been with for several years. Brad not only has been there for her through her entire career but makes her and those around her laugh, something you need in every relationship. Besides the time she spends with her husband, nothing makes Melissa happier than when she's performing. When she's not performing, she's actually rather quiet , especially compared to most of her linemates like Valerie and Murissa. That doesn't mean she's shy or anything, though. One way she does express herself very well though is through writing. She started college as a communications  major with an interest in reporting and even after she switched majors, she wrote some NLL Girl of The Week articles on her squadmates for NLL.com. You can read more about Melissa at http://www.bandits.com/bbio.asp?bandID=Melissa Melissa's secondary photo comes from the 9th Annual Buffalo Jills Golf Tournament and was taken before the golfers started arriving as everything was being set up for the day. Shown posing for a photo are Natalie, Melissa, and Jenny.

Natalie, Melissa, and Jenny

Don't forget to watch Melissa and Beth together at 1st cuts putting on a great performance. Bandits fans have seen how outstanding they are for years...now Bills fans get to see it as well.