I want to start off by thanking both the Cavaliers and Sports Illustrated for such an exciting and amazing opportunity. It is such an honor to be able to represent what I believe to be the best dance team in the NBA and the best team. The Cavalier family has been so supportive and encouraging throughout this whole experience especially Tracy, Amanda, Kate, my wonderful coach Jami, and the women who inspire me to go after my dreams...the Cavalier Girls.
I first came across the idea of Sports Illustrated after one of the pre-audition workshops. It was mentioned in passing that Sports Illustrated was interested in doing a feature on NBA dancers for the 2008-2009 season. The next time it came up was at the end of practice after I had made the team. Coach Jami told us that Sports Illustrated had contacted the Cavaliers and wanted to do a feature on one of the girls. She said that they were submitting our audition photos and that Sports Illustrated would decide from there. Two months went by and then on the night of September 4th during Media Day, Jami said she had an announcement to make. We all gathered around and she continued to say that Sports Illustrated had picked a girl. My heart began to pound...."drum roll please" more time passes...CHENEY!!!! At that moment I was frozen in time, and then I just started to cry. I have wanted to be a model for so long and things just never worked out for me, so it meant that much more. All the girls and Jami came up and gave me hugs and congratulated me... It was a moment I will never forget.
I left for New York on September 23rd in the morning. Jami took me to the airport and I was a bundle of nerves. I just remember the whole time I was sitting there waiting to board and I felt as if I was dreaming. I was so excited but yet so scared that I would let people down, that I wouldn't represent the Cavalier Organization the way it should be. I had so many different emotions and feelings going through my head at once it was overwhelming . Then I started to get a bunch of texts from my team saying how much they loved me and believed in me. At that moment, I took a deep breath, and just told myself to stop worrying and enjoy this moment before it passes you by.
By the time I landed in New York I was ready to do my best and make the most of it. After I picked up my luggage, a driver was waiting to take me to the Warwick hotel. On the way I was trying to take as many pictures and video as possible because it was my first time in New York...I was a total tourist the entire time! After I checked in and unpacked some, I decided to be a little adventurous, so I walked up to 5th Avenue...took a couple pictures, a little bit of video and was so overwhelmed by the hoards of people that I just went back to the hotel and ordered room service :) I'll just chalk it up to being responsible because I had to get up early the next morning.
I got out of bed at 6 a.m. even though technically I had been up since 4 a.m. I was so nervous, not just for the shoot, but because I had to meet the other nine dancers downstairs in the lobby. Looking back now it was silly of me to have been so nervous because they were nine of the friendliest, most outgoing women I had ever met. A little after 8 a.m. our contact person, Darcy, came to the hotel. We all jammed into a taxi van that took us to Pier 59 Studios where the shoot was to take place. When we got there they took us upstairs to try on different bathing suits. We each had between two to four different custom made suits in our specific team colors. After Sports Illustrated decided which suits each girl was going to wear it was time for hair and makeup. There were three hair stylists and three makeup artists so we each had to take turns getting all done up. In the mean time, we all got a chance to get to know each other... it was so fascinating to get an insight into other NBA dance teams and how they work!
By 3 p.m. I was next in line to shoot, and the nerves kicked into high gear. It was not a normal shoot in the aspect of them wanting us to just pose, instead they wanted us to dance. I walked out in front of the camera and took a deep breath and knew I was ready. At first it was a little hard, but once they put on the music and I started to move it just came naturally. Even though I was out of my element at the end of the day I'm a dancer :) My shoot took a little over an hour, and then I had to do an interview. They asked me about dance, what this experience means to me and Cavaliers related topics. I got to rest for a couple of hours then it was time to take the group shot. The group shot was the most fun because we had all gotten really close throughout the day and the pressure, for the most part, was off so we could just relax. The last part of the day they had us get together in a circle and just dance while they took more video and pictures. We got to let loose...it was the perfect ending to a perfect day.
When we got back to the hotel some of us decided to go to dinner and unwind. While at dinner two former Cavalier Girls from my first year who had moved to New York came up to visit me...Cavalier Girls Brianne and Laura! After dinner Brianne and Laura took me on quick tour of New York...and yes I bought an I Love New York t-shirt :) By the time we got back I was exhausted plus I had an early flight so it was time to say good bye.
It's hard for me to believe that five months has gone by so quickly, it seems like just yesterday. The other nine NBA dancers and I have been talking about this day ever since...we emailed each other every time we heard something new! I can't believe this day has finally come. I feel so blessed to be apart of something so special and so honored to be able to represent the Cavalier Girls...I am forever grateful.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009, 04:05 PM EST
[General]
Hey fans!
This season has been an amazing one so far! It's my second year on the team and I love every minute of it again! The team this year is full of fun, crazy, energetic girls. Everyone brings their own quality to the team and the talent on the team this year is amazing. Since our team is so talented this year, some of the girls have gotten a chance to choreograph some of our routines and let me just say they are awesome!!!! The girls are so creative and I know that learning different styles is making me more of a well rounded dancer. Every new dance that I learn has such a unique style to it and it's awesome to see how some girls come up with some of those dances.
Being on the team for my 2nd season has been a lot more comfortable I'd say. Last year (my 1st year), I was just getting familiar with the arena. I remember I would get confused at where we would come out onto the court and where section 118 was located, I NEVER KNEW! LOL But this year it's definitely a lot easier to get around. Being apart of Loudville and getting involved with the fans more helps out a lot. It feels better to be out where the fans are during the games and interacting with them because they have tons of energy and their personalities show that they are true Cavs fans!
Some of my favorite game days have to be when it's a retro/hardwood classic night. Almost every time there's a retro game we end up dancing to a 70s song. I have to say I llllloooooveeeeee old songs; they pump me up for the games even more, especially when were dancing to an Earth Wind and Fire song! I love the jerseys the players wear and just how fun the night goes. It's nice to see our colors change up from time to time! On the CavFanatic night the players wear the blue and gold jerseys for example. And for the last CavFanatic game we did a sweet collaboration dance with Scream Team to Footloose!! Every time we do a dance with scream team, they bring their crazy energy and personalities. We all wore old prom dresses or tuxedos and we had to act like we were teens going to the prom in the 80s, it was sooo crazy!!! Being apart of the Cavs family is the best and I know that we're going all the way this year and with amazing fans!!!!
I hope you're LOVING the 2008-2009 season as much as I am! I wanted to start with a huge shout-out to all of our fanatics out there for being so supportive this season. This is my second season with the Cavalier Girls, and I am so thrilled to be here again. Everything from day one of our season has been really fresh, new and exciting! For starters our swimsuit calendar was BY FAR one of the best there's ever been. I was really happy it was so Cavs oriented and sporty. The "Cavaliers Then and Now" theme was one I think so many fans are able to appreciate. At the surprise calendar release party, I was unveiled as Miss August 2009!! What was really special is that my parents were able to come to the surprise party. It was really cool that they were able to see what I worked so hard training for all summer. I'm proud to say that with the help of our trainer, John Henry Creel and the Mind & Body Fitness staff, we are all still staying fit in body and mind, and the confidence that comes along with it is irreplaceable!
Another thing that I am so lucky to have been a part of this season was our trip to Europe. We were asked by NBA Entertainment to participate in the European JamVan tour. It was truly an opportunity of a lifetime and I am beyond grateful that I was able to be a part of it. We traveled to Berlin, Germany and Paris, France for a week filled with dancing, basketball and attempting to speak 2 completely different languages--very challenging! Everything about Berlin and Paris was so amazing and breath-taking, I can't wait to see what other opportunities come along in the future for this team!
All in all, the experience I've had with the 2008-2009 Cavalier Girls so far has been so amazing. Last season as a rookie everything was so new to me, I was still learning the style, learning the ropes and just figuring out how to be the best Cavalier Girl I could be. My rookie season was great, but coming back as a veteran this year I feel so much more prepared. I'm very comfortable with my own style, but have learned to adapt better to other dance styles which makes me feel like a more diverse performer. Looking back on where I started compared to where I am now, I can only be thankful for how much I've learned and grown as a dancer.
The women on this team are incredibly talented this year and everyone really feeds off of each other. I am also so proud of the bond that we all have with each other on and off the court. My teammates have been my support, my shoulder to cry on, and my second family. Not only am I so thankful for my teammates this year but also for our coach, Jami. Managing Cavalier Girls, the Scream Team and the Cavs Kids cannot be easy, yet somehow she does it. And she does it with class, a calm head on her shoulders and puts equal effort, support, care and love into all 3. She is amazing, and God has really given us a gift in Jami as a coach.
With all of that being said, I feel so blessed to be in this position. Dancing on the best, hottest and most talented dance team in the NBA is such a great opportunity, and it doesn't hurt that the Cavaliers happen to be THE BEST in the NBA!! CHAMPIONSHIP BOUND!!! Thanks again Cavs fanatics for all of your support! GO CAVS!!!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009, 03:13 PM EST
[General]
Wow, I can not believe the season is already at the half way mark and we are sitting pretty in first place. This year has been one of the best yet, with some of my favorite moments and best dances I have ever done since being with the Cavaliers Organization. My year started off with a bang, making the cavaliers girls for a fourth season and having to move everything back up north so I could once again dance for the best NBA team in the league. This years team is the best yet! We have so much talent and all I have to say is that these girls are all so beautiful. In the last 6 months (we start as soon as we make the team in July) there have been some amazing events and opportunities that have made such a huge impact on me as a dancer and teammate. The first of course getting the opportunity to represent my team overseas for the NBA Europe, going to Paris and Berlin have always been on my list of places to travel to and thanks to the Cavaliers this was a dream come true. To perform for fans overseas, get some sight seeing in and embrace the different culture over in Europe is the thing I will take most from this trip. It was a great bonding experience for the six girls who were able to go.
I thought nothing would ever top that trip but then our Calendar came out and Jamie really out did herself this year, it is by far the best yet. The inspiration for the Calendar was a then and now from the cavalier colors and look from the past to the look and feel for our team today. I was so excited when the reveling party came around none of the girls had any idea that it was a surprise event and that all of our families and friends were there to witness the Calendar unavailing. We all were instructed to sit down on chairs that had numbers on the bottom and with a 1,2,3 we ripped the numbers off to see the order we were going to see our Calendar pic and what month we had received. Of course being the veteran on the team who has been there the longest it was funny when my number was first. Again with a 1,2,3- a large poster size version of my picture was shown and it was everything I could have hoped for ! (thank you again to everyone who was apart this, I couldn't have pulled it off by myself). It was exciting to be Miss February... all I need now is a Valentine ;-). This picture was not only a huge accomplishment for me personally but also for our team, it symbolized how all the hard work we were putting into our meal plans, workouts, practices, obtaining the cavalier girl look and overall presentation of the team came through with flying colors.
Of course the one moment though that meant the most and really touched my heart was not just coming back to the team but being very honored to be named as a co-captain. This moment brought tears to my eyes, it meant so much that our coach believed in me and could see the love I have for this team and the Cavaliers Organization. Every game has always been filled with new and exciting moments but winning that last game against the Celtics will go down in history as one of my favorite games. I loved the routines we did for that game, footloose is such an iconic movie and to recreate one of my favorite scenes with the fun/fabulous Scream Team is the best dance yet. I can't wait to see what the rest of the season has in store for the Cavalier Girls, either way we are all so happy to be apart of what will go done as a very memorable year ;-)
I want to start off by thanking both the Cavaliers and Sports Illustrated for such an exciting and amazing opportunity. It is such an honor to be able to represent what I believe to be the best dance team in the NBA and the best team. The Cavalier family has been so supportive and encouraging throughout this whole experience especially Tracy, Amanda, Kate, my wonderful coach Jami, and the women who inspire me to go after my dreams...the Cavalier Girls. 
