To Be or not

To Be, or Not to Be...a Raiderette?

By Samurai Raider: Raiderdrive

You needn't be a tragic hero, like Hamlet, to be faced with an important decision, one that will alter your life. All of us—no matter how ordinary we think our lives may be—make choices, the ramifications of which can change our destiny for better or worse.

On Sunday, April 13th, a group of young women made an important decision in their lives--a choice which, for some, may lead them into a fascinating world glamour and glitz. For others, the choice would bring them back to reality and send them home in frustration and defeat. For others still, the experience might regenerate their motivation and confidence because they had the courage to try, seeing defeat only as a chance to go on to fill some other role in life. At the Oakland Hilton, some 500-plus aspiring dancers, performers, and cheerleaders made the decision to risk the "slings and arrows of outrageous fortune" and to try out for a position on the prestigious Oakland Raiderette squad, better known as Football's Fabulous Females. Those surviving Act I, or the first cut at this preliminary audition, will go on to the final act, or final audition, some two weeks away, and will be one step closer to changing their lives.

Many of these women, however, do not live ordinary lives. Many are professional women who fill many important positions in their respective communities, such as teachers, nurses, administrators, and technicians. Aside from being professional women, many are also moms with families, who take pride in driving their children and the neighborhood kids to soccer practice on Saturday mornings. And while they may represent different professions and diversified ethnic backgrounds, they all share a common desire: to try a role just a little more dramatic than their chosen jobs and, if only for a few short hours a week, fill a different role and step out onto a different field of endeavor at the Network Associates Coliseum with determination and dedication as a Raiderette.

Making a commitment to the demanding life of a Raiderette means being prepared to practice three times a week for 2-3 hours, cheer at all the home games, and fulfill the mandatory 10 charitable and/or community events. Indeed, the reverberating sounds of the Raiderettes cheers can be heard not only in the local community but in foreign lands as well. Germany, Bosnia, and Mexico are but a few of countries where these goodwill ambassadors have used their universal language of dance, not to mention their smiles, to brighten the lives of all they meet.

But first, these young women who auditioned at the preliminaries had to get through the introductory interview phase where they were scrutinized by an experienced team of judges, who eventually would select a number of the women to be finalists and to return on May 4, 2003, in order to compete and to find out what it is really like to be a Raiderette.

However, for now, when it came to espousing the pros and cons, or delivering a brief soliloquy, on what it is to be or not to be a Raiderette, these candidates were as eloquent as any Shakespearean actor.

Ashley Liberda-- “You will have a great time learning so many new things. Great new experiences. A lot of things you never would have a chance to experience. That’s the reason that you would want to try out, maybe, to become a Raiderette.”

As far as not being a Raiderette, that is something that should not affect a girl because it is not something that one should come to Oakland for, Ashley pointed out. “You definitely come for the experience, just to have fun, to have a weekend away, do some fun things, and try out, and hope maybe you have the look that they want. And maybe

Ashley (L.) & Daniele (R.)

you have what they want.” And if you don’t, it’s OK because it was something “definitely unexpected,” she concluded.

Daniele Uzes-- On the positive side, being a Raiderette is great as far as the dancing and the exercise are concerned, Daniele noted. However, she would not be terribly disappointed if she does not succeed. “I just came here not expecting to win at all, so that way there is not really any disappointment. It’s just for the experience,” she explained, echoing the same sentiments as her friend Ashley.

Aliceia Bellamy-- “To be a Raiderette is that you get to live your life to the fullest, having fun, dancing, doing what you love, being around positive things and just having fun. And to not to be…that’ll be a bummer, you know, but you still live your life. You weren’t a Raiderette before, so….” Aliceia left off with the implication that life will go on as usual for this vibrant young woman.

Domonique Jordan-- “I want to be an entertainer, so it is a positive way to get your face out there to the people that want to see you. And then being with a group and being around people and getting that experience…and exposure.” Domonique (L.) & Aliceia (R.)

As far as not being a member of the squad, it is not really a negative thing, Domonique explained. “You will always have opportunities to do other things in life, or next year, you can be a Raiderette. It’s not going anywhere. It’s going to be around for years. And I’m pretty young, so I’ll have opportunities: probably 40 more years to try out,” she added, laughing at her exaggeration.

Rosie Muno-- “It could open doors for me. I know that there are other things I want to pursue in my life. And taking this route…not only would it be fun, but I think it would be most beneficial to what I want to do. So it would be opening doors for me.”

And to not be a Raiderette? “That’s OK,” Rosie answered. “Then I know the other route that I need to take with my life. So, it’s a positive thing definitely, either way. So I know what I want to do with my life. And it will be easier for me to just pursue the other [route],” she explained.

Emily Herrera-- This long, long true die-hard fan understands the appeal of being part of such a unique sisterhood: “The Raiderettes certainly embody professionalism. The girls I have seen out in the community, aside from the games, are always professional and very poised, very polished beautiful women, nice women, ready to help the next girl.” She sincerely feels that she herself has some of those qualities and looks for the opportunity to develop her potential. “It is something I have wanted to do for so long. This is definitely the right choice for me to make right now.”

(L.-R.) Emily Rosie & Erica

And if things don’t work out? “It’s definitely a pointer to what direction I should take,” she indicated. Currently in law enforcement, a career she might continue to pursue as her life’s work, Emily still believes that her decision to tryout will give her that “go ahead to pursue other things.”

Erica Nuno-- Rosie’s sister is always joining the cheerleaders cheering in front of the TV during games, so she finally decided that she wants “to be where their action is.” Having a compelling desire to perform live in front of the fans, she explained, “I have to be up front because I have a lot of energy and I have to get rid of it somewhere. What better place than a Raiders game,” she noted, “and I like when people feed off my energy.”

The negative side? If she doesn’t make it, Erica would just continue with business as usual, not believing there is really a negative side. “I can get over it…dust myself off and try again, I guess. ‘I’ll be bock,’” she concluded, imitating Schwarzenegger, ready to terminate the competition with her devastating looks and charm.

Dana Emelia-- “I feel that life goes on and you should keep on moving. For anybody out there, there is always next year,” she stoically pointed out. “You can definitely try again. Just because they did not succeed the first time, there’s always a second time. I definitely feel there is a lot more out there than just being a Raiderette. But if you make it, GREAT! I mean that’s wonderful, wonderful.”

Loran Rayos (left)-- “I would definitely learn more about myself and how I can make a difference in a community, and that’s probably the most important thing for me—being able to make an impact in a community and be a part of a large-scale audience and give back to the community—versus being a regular citizen or just a regular everyday girl. It’s harder to make an impact.” And it will certainly make an impact on her, she noted: “It would certainly make me feel much better to give back to the community.”

Melissa Fulkerson (right)-- “It would be a wonderful opportunity for me to further my career as dancer/cheerleader. I’ve done cheerleading all my life, and it’s always been a passion of mine, so this would really be a dream come true. It would just give me a lot of opportunities to get myself out there and get myself known to people to get to where I want to be—as somebody famous,” she said with a laugh.

“If I don’t make it, this is a wonderful experience,” Melissa hastened to add. “I know what to expect next year. And I would definitely come back. I really have hopes to be on the squad and I’ve heard that it’s a lot of fun, too.” And when it comes to the future, she explained: “It would just give me a little bit of a heads up of what to expect when I’m auditioning or being interviewed for other things in life.”

Drama is often represented by two masks of the Greek theatre: the tragic and the comedic. Well, when it come to being a Raiderette or not being a Raiderette, not too many young women know more about the sorrow and the joy than does Brianna Scoles, who made the squad last year, but unfortunately could not keep up with the often complicated and sophisticated routines. Thus, it was with great remorse that the director of the Raiderettes, Mary Barnes, had to dismiss the vibrant young lady from the squad early in the season.

“To be a Raiderette is definitely an incredible honor,” Brianna (left) explained, “…to basically be put up on a pedestal. It’s not as glamorous as everyone thinks it is. There are the moments where it is glamorous, but those moments are very short. The rest of it is all blood, sweat, and tears.”

However, Brianna was quick to point out that ultimately the experience is well worth the sacrifice and effort: “All the hard work, and the bruises you get on your knees from practicing, the late hours you’re up practicing—it is all worth it in the end…. It’s the most incredible time you can have, being a young, teenaged girl, especially coming from really nothing other than just an ordinary life.”

Brianna reflected on her situation. “The funny thing is that I was a Raiderette, and then, unfortunately, I quickly became a non- Raiderette. And in my head, I have always been a former Raiderette since my experience with the Raiderettes, so I guess I can say I am right back at the beginning—starting all over again.”

The Raiderette pendant that hangs from her neck does not weigh much physically, but emotionally it must be a heavy reminder dangling so close to her heart as a symbol of what she once had and of what she is willing to risk one more time. “It is hard work and nothing comes easy. And it has to be something that’s truly in your heart. And if it is, that’s a gift.” Brianna passionately explained.

For Brianna and the other hopefuls, should they make the finals, the show is not over yet, for the final act of this drama will be played out on May 4, 2003, on the Oakland Airport Hilton "stage," where the final competition will be held. While the script has not yet been completed, it is sure to be filled with sufficient emotion to fill a Shakespearean play, and for some 50 talented and lovely young women, the question will ultimately be answered and they will ultimately fulfill their desire to be a Raiderette. And for those destined not to be, you can be sure the curtain will not come down on their young lives, for they are destined to star on many other stages in life’s eternal drama.

Visit:

One step closer to the Silver and Black

Hundreds audition to be one of Football’s Fabulous Females

Ashley Bowers approached the sheet taped to the wall, scanned through the list of numbers corresponding to hopeful Oakland Raiderette candidates and felt her heart sink.
Hers wasn’t there. Or so she thought. A second look out of the corner of her eye was all it took to turn sadness for the 19-year-old from Petaluma to sheer joy. Interviews, story and photos>>>
Visit: Raiderette Tryouts & Photo Gallery