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Lisa Welsh
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By Lisa D. Welsh
Supporting Cheerleaders’ Moms and Dads | CheerMad.com | CHEERMaD | Never underestimate the determination of CHEER Moms And Dads
CHEERMaD is proud to announce that the United States premiere of “The Cheer Ambassadors;” the story about the Thai National Cheerleading Team which won the 2011 Worlds Cheerleading Championships, will be held during the Cheer and Dance Expo at the Swan and Dolphin Hotel at Walt Disney World: Thursday, April 26, from Noon ~ 8 p.m. and Friday, April 27 2 to 10 p.m. (CHECK Supporting Cheerleaders’ Moms and Dads | CheerMad.com | CHEERMaD | Never underestimate the determination of CHEER Moms And Dads FOR TIMES).
Also, a Thai team jacket (as seen in the photo below worn by Thai athletes) has been donated for raffle and will be on view during the Cheer and Dance Expo hours. Thai team shirts and other items will also be raffled.
“The Cheer Ambassadors” is the inspiring story of a coach and his team as they travel from the city streets and rice fields in Thailand to the World Cheerleading Championship in Orlando, Florida. Its world premiere was held in January as part of the 9th World Film Festival of Bangkok. It will also be premiered this week in Norway.
Of particular interest to CHEERMaD was one Thai Cheer Mom and an interview is being coordinated through translators.
Rice Paddy farmers in Thailand planting rice
“Peung’s parents are both rice farmers in a very rural part of Thailand,” said the film’s director Luke Cassady-Dorion.
“In the movie her mom talks about how she always wanted her daughter to grow up and have lots of opportunity but knew that as a poor farmer she didn’t have many choices.”
Luke Cassady-Dorion, director, The Cheer Ambassadors
“She also talked about how it was hard for her to accept that her daughter was a cheerleader, because she saw it as very un-Thai and un-ladylike, especially the way that she was wearing skimpy clothes and being close to a boy before marriage,” Cassady-Dorion said.
“In the end she talks about how now she is really proud of what her daughter has accomplished, just that it took a while for her to get to that point.”
In 2011 Thailand tied with for first place in the Cheerleading Worlds championship; the first international team to hold this title. Unfortunately the Thai/University of Bangkok team isn’t competing at Worlds this weekend. The team competed in 2009 and skipped 2010 so popular opinion had it that the Thai team would only compete in Worlds every other year but that isn’t the case.
“We had horrible floods in Bangkok, basically the city was under water for most of November,” said Cassady-Dorion. ”Bangkok University ended up suffering damages to the tune of $30 million US and the national cheerleading competition was cancelled.”
In addition to the raffle, during the CHEER and DANCE EXPO at the Swan and Dolphin Hotel, you can sign up for a contest to win a custom cheer video created for you and your team or organization by the Bangkok University Cheerleading Team. The Thai team will film the cheer, post the video online and send you an HD version. In it, BU team will cheer your name and the name of your cheer squad, so invite all your friends too. The more people from your organization that enter, the greater your chance of winning. If you’re not a cheerleader, we will create the cheer for your company or group of friends. In addition, we will mail out 10 Cheer Ambassadors t-shirts for your and your friends to wear; 10 second place winners will each receive a t-shirt.
The feature-length documentary follows athletes in Thailand and their journey “from one man’s dream to a competitor in the 2009 International Cheer Union’s (ICU) World Cheerleading Championships” according to a press release.The movie focuses on five key team members, the coaches, and the team fortune-teller. It describes their relationships, their drive, and their sacrifices. It follows them on their journey from late night training based on watching YouTube performances of American teams, to competing against some of those same teams on the world stage. This film provides a unique perspective on the power of a dream and what it takes for a team to be champions.
The movie doesn’t have a MPAA rating, but producers believe it would be rated G if it did. The movie is subtitled and made with kids in mind.
Highlights of the CHEER AND DANCE EXPO include:
120 minutes for $350 or 45 minutes for $175
Limited practice blocks still available by calling
Kristina at 864-399-7311
By Lisa D. Welsh
Supporting Cheerleaders’ Moms and Dads | CheerMad.com | CHEERMaD | Never underestimate the determination of CHEER Moms And Dads
CHEERMaD is proud to announce that the United States premiere of “The Cheer Ambassadors;” the story about the Thai National Cheerleading Team which won the 2011 Worlds Cheerleading Championships, will be held during the Cheer and Dance Expo at the Swan and Dolphin Hotel at Walt Disney World: Thursday, April 26, from Noon ~ 8 p.m. and Friday, April 27 2 to 10 p.m. (CHECK Supporting Cheerleaders’ Moms and Dads | CheerMad.com | CHEERMaD | Never underestimate the determination of CHEER Moms And Dads FOR TIMES).Also, a Thai team jacket (as seen in the photo below worn by Thai athletes) has been donated for raffle and will be on view during the Cheer and Dance Expo hours. Thai team shirts and other items will also be raffled.
“The Cheer Ambassadors” is the inspiring story of a coach and his team as they travel from the city streets and rice fields in Thailand to the World Cheerleading Championship in Orlando, Florida. Its world premiere was held in January as part of the 9th World Film Festival of Bangkok. It will also be premiered this week in Norway.
Of particular interest to CHEERMaD was one Thai Cheer Mom and an interview is being coordinated through translators.
Rice Paddy farmers in Thailand planting rice
“Peung’s parents are both rice farmers in a very rural part of Thailand,” said the film’s director Luke Cassady-Dorion.
“In the movie her mom talks about how she always wanted her daughter to grow up and have lots of opportunity but knew that as a poor farmer she didn’t have many choices.”
Luke Cassady-Dorion, director, The Cheer Ambassadors
“She also talked about how it was hard for her to accept that her daughter was a cheerleader, because she saw it as very un-Thai and un-ladylike, especially the way that she was wearing skimpy clothes and being close to a boy before marriage,” Cassady-Dorion said.
“In the end she talks about how now she is really proud of what her daughter has accomplished, just that it took a while for her to get to that point.”
In 2011 Thailand tied with for first place in the Cheerleading Worlds championship; the first international team to hold this title. Unfortunately the Thai/University of Bangkok team isn’t competing at Worlds this weekend. The team competed in 2009 and skipped 2010 so popular opinion had it that the Thai team would only compete in Worlds every other year but that isn’t the case.“We had horrible floods in Bangkok, basically the city was under water for most of November,” said Cassady-Dorion. ”Bangkok University ended up suffering damages to the tune of $30 million US and the national cheerleading competition was cancelled.”
In addition to the raffle, during the CHEER and DANCE EXPO at the Swan and Dolphin Hotel, you can sign up for a contest to win a custom cheer video created for you and your team or organization by the Bangkok University Cheerleading Team. The Thai team will film the cheer, post the video online and send you an HD version. In it, BU team will cheer your name and the name of your cheer squad, so invite all your friends too. The more people from your organization that enter, the greater your chance of winning. If you’re not a cheerleader, we will create the cheer for your company or group of friends. In addition, we will mail out 10 Cheer Ambassadors t-shirts for your and your friends to wear; 10 second place winners will each receive a t-shirt.
The feature-length documentary follows athletes in Thailand and their journey “from one man’s dream to a competitor in the 2009 International Cheer Union’s (ICU) World Cheerleading Championships” according to a press release.
The movie doesn’t have a MPAA rating, but producers believe it would be rated G if it did. The movie is subtitled and made with kids in mind.
Where Cheerleaders from Around the World
Meet Before They Compete
Highlights of the CHEER AND DANCE EXPO include:
- CHEER AND DANCE WORLD MALL for original merchandise including: authentic Allstar Pro shops from top programs, cheer shoes, practice apparel, cheer bows, cosmetics, jewelry, giveaways and so much more.
Thursday, April 26 Noon ~ 8 p.m.
Friday, April 27 2~10 p.m.
- EXTRA TEAM PRACTICE TIME:
Make sure your teams get the competitive edge by getting EXTRA practice time at Disney! The CHEER and DANCE EXPO features practice rental time on spring-board floors.
Use of spring-board floor120 minutes for $350 or 45 minutes for $175
Limited practice blocks still available by calling
Kristina at 864-399-7311
Thursday, April 26 Noon ~ 8 p.m.
Friday, April 27 2~10 p.m.
- CHEER PARENTS PARTY Hosted by CHEERMaD is the only event developed just for cheer moms and dads:
8 to 11 p.m. on Friday night, April 27
Osprey Ballroom at the Swan and Dolphin Resort.
Admittance is free with a button that can be picked up at the CHEERMaD booth during regular Expo hours. Register at the green CHEER PARENT PARTY Registration tab at Supporting Cheerleaders’ Moms and Dads | CheerMad.com | CHEERMaD | Never underestimate the determination of CHEER Moms And Dads
