Loud music, rhinestones, and the smell of hairspray and eyelash glue… as a former professional dancer I was TOTALLY back in my element covering the 2019 Charger Girls Auditions!
But this time, I wasn’t the one auditioning!
I had a blast interviewing and getting to know some of the audition hopefuls, as well as Charger Girls Director, Lisa Simmons, who just completed her 14th season with the Chargers.
According to Lisa, “Last year we had 28 ladies on the squad, 21 of those 28 are re-auditioning. And this year we anticipate taking 24 on the squad.” Buckle up ladies (and gents!) the competition looks FIERCE!
I asked Lisa what the judges look for – who would get a “Yes” in their book?
“We’re most excited just to see them perform and interact with one another. Being an NFL cheerleader is so much more than being a strong performer on the field. Our team members are passionate about being active in their community, they are fantastic ambassadors for the Chargers and the Los Angeles community, and they’re relatable and that’s really what we’re looking for. We look forward to this part of the process because we get to know them so well in this short amount of time, which allows us to put together the best possible team for the 2019 season.”
Finalists will partake in multiple interviews leading up to the final dance audition May 23.
I had the opportunity to chat with a few hopefuls before the auditions began. Here is how they prepared for the big day and why they chose The Charger Girls:
Katy Ezzell, a former NFL cheerleader from Trinity, North Carolina, was one of the many auditioning. “I used to cheer in Atlanta for the Falcons and I moved out to California a year ago. I really miss that family aspect you get when you’re part of a team – it’s a sisterhood!”
Mikayla Hassinger, another former pro dancer, cheered in the NBA for the LA Clippers and decided it was time to “Switch it up!”
Larrlenski Jackson, from Dallas Texas, one of two males auditioning for the team, happened to be in Los Angeles during the time of auditions and figured he would give it a shot. “I thought it would be a great opportunity. My job moved me out here to LA for the time being and since it was the same time as auditions I figured I would go ahead and see what happens and pray for the best!” But Mr. Jackson didn’t just stumble into auditions, he prepared in both Dallas and LA, taking numerous dance classes including, “Jennifer Amburns class at Next Step Dance Studio, Whitney Foster’s class at DFC, LA Charger Girls workshops, Millenium Dance Studio, and Playground. I took classes all over because I wanted to experience the different types of atmospheres that they have in both Los Angeles and Dallas, and I wanted to really push myself to the edge.”
For many, being a part of the Charger Girls has been a lifelong dream.
Alexis Evans, from Denver, Colorado, has a bachelor’s degree in Ballet from Colorado Mesa University, and has dreamed of being a Charger Girl since she was little. “It was always my favorite Halloween costume!”
And for some, it was all about pushing yourself and getting outside of your comfort zone.
Jessica Morimando, from North Hollywood, said this was her first dance audition ever. How does one prepare for a first-ever audition? “There’s so much to do! I made sure everything was together, I had a friend help me with my audition outfit, get my makeup together, and a lot of practicing! Most importantly, trying to get used to being uncomfortable because this is not always a comfortable process! I figure if I’m comfortable being uncomfortable then I’ll be prepared for the real thing!”
Best of luck to our hopefuls and we look forward to following along at finals!
More information can be found at chargers.com/cheerleaders
Follow JESSICA on Instagram @LoveJessMarie
Photos by Jeremin Choenchavalit
