Beauty and Talent Shine: Part 2 of 3
Mary-Ann Williams
Saturday February 17, 2001
Each group would enter the nearly empty conference room next door and learn a series of steps and moves perfected by choreographer Kim Keller. Unforgiving, Kim had created two routines that morning meant to separate the great from the good. Fast driving and intricate, the dances gave the competitors a taste of what being a representative for a professional sports team would be like. They had to move as though they already had the job, as if they stood before a crowd of 15,000 people who watched their every step, and they only had a few minutes to learn those steps.
 Judges Steve Rifkin, Joe Mascenic, Dave Kaplan, Amy Jacobson and Alan Levin are guided by Cathy Core, clapping behind. Image courtesy of Drew Kennedy |
Guided by the capable hands of Cathy Core, creator of the HoneyBears, a Chicago Bears cheerleading squad, and director of the Luvabulls, the Chicago Bulls dance team, and the Chicago Rush Dance Team, the judges learned quickly what Cathy and Kim were looking for: A total package of looks, personality and talent, not necessarily in that order. Cathy had made it clear that while looks are nice, this wasn’t the XFL. Talent was to supersede all else. Looks could be worked with; bad dancing could not. And as representatives of the newest football team to Chicago, personality ranked, too.
Those who remained lined up, ready to go. Into the judges’ room (formerly a banquet room at the Chicago O’Hare Hilton) they danced, the music playing a loud, pounding beat. Arranged in a straight line across the room facing the long judges’ table, they prepared for make-it-or-break-it time. Kim had shown them the moves, now it was up to them to make it happen. They’d impressed in the interviews. The kick-line and splits had shown a touch of what they could do. Now, on to the big stuff, what set them apart from the others.
 The kickline provided the judges the opportunity to measure the girls` limberness and timing. Image courtesy of Drew Kennedy |
When the routine ended, the women stood, panting and nervous. They had to do better the next time. Kim gave them a moment to compose themselves, wipe the last few minutes from their mind and start again. The smiles wavered. Start the music; start the steps. Sway & kick & move & step, step, step & kick…
The line moved a little better this time. Only one or two couldn’t handle the tricky steps and dance moves. Now, instead of only one or two to choose from, there were five or six. This made for better odds for the dancers, and a harder job for the judges. The misgivings Cathy and Kim had had about not enough good dancers dissipated. Nerves played a part in the imperfect performances, not talent.
The rest of the day progressed similarly. Some of the ladies showed themselves to be true professionals (which we’d find later to be true). Others couldn’t handle the quick movements and fast beat of the music, endangering the women on either side of them.
“These girls take this very seriously. No matter what happens out there, you cannot laugh. There are times when it’s tough, but you cannot laugh,” Cathy had admonished them earlier in the day. Remembering this, judges maintained stoic faces, though the corners of their mouths turned up slightly.
The occasional comic relief did nothing to diminish the talent pool. At the end of the day, the judges had settled on 16 of the 18 that they needed to fill the team. The other two proved more difficult to choose. The judges entered a deep discussion of attributes, talent, and overall appeal. Cathy and Kim repeatedly reminded the judges of the need for dance talent over other assets.
“We can work with looks,” said Cathy. “Hair, make-up. All of that we can teach. But we can’t work with people who can’t dance. They have to be teachable.”
Finally, it came down to five ladies for the two spots. All five were called back into the room and asked to perform again. En masse they performed. Then asked to do so again. While several had the sex appeal and personality, their dance ability was questionable. When they left the room, the judges had decided.
A problem existed. They had 18 women on their roster, but one spot had been taken already. A dancer unable to make the try-outs had sent in a tape and made the team via video. A professional dancer that had worked on the Luvabulls, her talent was evident, even on tape. That meant that they had to cut one of the 18 they’d found today. But who? They were all equally talented, equally beautiful. The judges argued for their favorites, while Cathy and Kim stared hopelessly at their roster of women.
Finally, Chicago Rush owner and general manger Alan Levin said, “Can’t we just keep them all? Can we have three alternates?”
Cathy turned to him asked, “Are you ready to pay for another girl? Her costumes aren’t going to be cheap, and even the alternates have to have the costume.”
 Alan Levin made the call to keep an additional dancer as an alternate. Image courtesy of Drew Kennedy |
“How many did you say we’d probably lose as the season went on?” he asked.
“You never know, but you usually end up losing one or two.”
“Then, yes. We’ll just add the one. We’ll have 19.”
Finally, after six and a half hours, the Chicago Rush Dance Team was formed. The 18 women chosen that day danced into the room and faced their judges. Though worn out from the intense exercise and stress of the day, their exuberance at making the team was obvious.
Cathy addressed them.
“Welcome, ladies! You are the premier dance team of the Chicago Rush.” Cheers erupted from the women. “I’d like you to turn to the judges now and thank them.” Louder cheers burst from them. “And, now, it’s time to get down to business. Get your things and come back here with your calendars.”
They’d made it. Of 45 women, these 18 had been chosen to represent the Chicago Rush. As visions of parties, television coverage, and professional status danced through their heads, they shimmied out to get their things, unaware of what really came next. The business-end would be a shock for some of these dancers.
Mary-Ann Williams lives in Chicagoland with her four children, Carter, Jackson, Jeremy, and Riley Jade. As a freelance writer, she`s written articles for the Associated Press, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel and the Daily Herald. She also serves as editor of the AFL-side of Arenafan Online, and covers the Chicago Rush.
