Your chance to Rock on!

Jun 3 2011 by Andy Newport, Paisley Daily Express

A SEXY squad of cheerleaders are hoping to add some new Renfrewshire recruits to their line-up this weekend.

The Scottish Rockettes are the UK’s top pro-sports dance team and regularly perform in front of thousands of fans.

Now chief cheerleader Carole Anne Deeney is searching for more high-kicking dancers to join her troupe, with auditions being staged on Sunday.

Blonde bombshell Hazel McGarry, from Lochwinnoch, is already one of the stars of the Rockettes’ show and Carole Anne is looking for more nimble recruits from Renfrewshire to boost the ranks.

She told the Paisley Daily Express: “We will be staging our annual auditions on Sunday and are inviting dancers and gymnasts from the Renfrewshire area who are aged between 18 and 35 to come along.

“It’s usually a mix of tears and cheers as dreams are made and hopes are dashed. It’s so dramatic that it makes the X Factor look like The Sound of Music!

“Having had squad members from the Paisley area in the past and being a regular feature of the Santa Parade in the town each Christmas, we are hoping to encourage other dancers from Renfrewshire to turn up at the try-outs and give it a go.”

This weekend’s auditions won’t only be a nerve-racking experience for the Rockettes hopefuls – but also for the current squad, who face having to hand back their pom-poms if they don’t make the grade!

Carole Anne said: “The current Rockettes dread the try-outs because they have to fight to hold onto their place on the team.

“I can understand why applicants experience fear, excitement and nerves throughout this event because it can be really make-or-break for some of our current dancers, as well as those who are looking to make the team for the first time.

“We have a celebrity judging panel who will join me in interviewing all of the girls and scoring them on their dance performance and, together, we select the team.

“It is paramount to get the right people and that’s why even current squad members have to audition.

“At the Rockettes, we want the best – and competition can be fierce.”

The Rockettes are the official cheerleading squad for the Glasgow Rocks basketball team, who were previously based at the Braehead Arena in Renfrew.

They have also performed in front of huge football crowds at Hampden, Ibrox and Celtic Park.

If you want to be the next star mover to join their line-up, head along to the auditions on Sunday, starting at 12.30pm.

The venue will be the DW Sports Centre, which is located at the Glasgow Fort. It can be reached via the M8 motorway, exiting at Junction 10.

For more information about the Rockettes or the auditions, log on to www.scottishrockettes.com/tryouts or call 0141 334 4600.