There’s nothing that makes me more happy than being able to photograph something interesting and beautiful. And this past Tuesday, I was very happy because I was in St. Louis photographing the 2014 St. Louis Rams Cheerleaders final auditions at The Pageant theater.
This was my third year covering their auditions and every year, I have a great time because I get to photograph some of the most beautiful women in Missouri and I always get some compelling images.
The 2014 St. Louis Rams Cheerleaders final auditions are a pageant style audition that is open to the public. It is more of a theatrical production than an open call audition and it really is worthy of an evening’s entertainment.
The show was scheduled to start at 6:30 pm, but the girls started arriving a little after 3:00 pm to rehearse and get their hair and make up done. I know this because I was across the street from the theater grabbing a bite to eat at Pi Pizzeria, dining on some of the finest deep dish pizza in St. Louis.
I arrived a little after 4:15 pm because I wanted to get some behind the scenes photos. Several of the girls were backstage, getting their make up done. Several more were getting their hair done. It takes quite some time and effort to get the girls hair and make up done and there was a team of stylists enlisted to do just that. There were even a few girls on the stage rehearsing the final dance routine as they awaited their turn with the stylists.
At 6:30 pm the show started. There were 56 finalists this year, including 26 girls who were on the squad last year and two former Rams Cheerleaders from prior years. This was going to be a tough team to make for rookies with respect to the experienced talent returning and only 32 positions available this year.
The final auditions would consist of three segments: an interview portion, a swimsuit portion and a dance portion. Because there were so many veterans trying out again, there wasn’t an opening dance performance with the Captains and retiring veterans as there was last year. This year’s finals began with the interview segment.
The Interview Portion
The girls were escorted up to the microphone by the Rams mascot, Rampage. They were asked a series of questions that sought to test their conversational skills and highlight their personality. If selected for the squad, the girls would be representing a multimillion dollar organization and I suspect this segment of the auditions is designed to ensure that those chosen have the skills necessary to become fine ambassadors of the Rams and the NFL.
The Swimsuit Portion
After their interview, the girls were quickly escorted off the stage and directed back to the dressing room upstairs, where they quickly changed into their swimsuits. A healthy and fit physique is a requirement, so the swimsuit portion allows the judges to evaluate each candidate on their fitness levels.
Let’s be honest, an NFL cheerleader uniform is quite revealing and a push up bra and pair of pantyhose goes only so far in beautifying the female form. An NFL cheerleader has to be fit and trim in order to look the part.
The Dance Portion
Perhaps the most relevant portion of the final audition, the dance portion would be critical in determining who makes the squad because first and foremost, the St. Louis Rams Cheerleaders are dancers. And this was where the girls needed to show to the judges that they belonged.
Girls were brought up in pairs and performed the one and half minute final audition routine in front of a panel of five judges that included renowned choreographer John Peters, NFL Hall of Fame and former Ram player Marshall Faulk, and noted designer Angela King-Twitero, a former S.F. Gold Rush Director and cheerleader.
The Announcement
After the last pairing performed, the judges retired and the score were tabulated. It would be fifteen minutes before the results were announced. Those who made the squad were escorted onto the stage by Rampage and introduced to the audience.
The girls were given a team jacket, a symbol of their achievement. And there were hugs a plenty for those who shared in this joyous occasion.
There were 56 finalists who started the day, but by the evening’s end only 32 names were called…the names of those who would be the 2014 St. Louis Rams Cheerleaders.
And yes, I was very happy.
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I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Keely Fimbres, Director of Special Events, and the St. Louis Rams for once again allowing me to cover their final auditions. I had a wonderful time and hope to be back next year.
The Hottest Dance Team In The NFL 