NET10 Dream Team Reveal Gives Chicago Dual Presence

June 18, 2012 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Chicago Rush News Release


CHICAGO, Illinois - The Arena Football League (AFL) released the roster for the Net10 Dream Team this afternoon. Thirty-four dancers, comprised of two from each team, competed for the final seventeen spots to determine which girl represented each AFL franchise for the up-coming ArenaBowl week. After a month of open voting online, second year dancer Nicole earned the right to represent the Chicago Rush down in New Orleans for ArenaBowl XXV.

"This is an opportunity I can't even explain," said Nicole upon hearing the news. "Being one of the youngest on the team and being given this opportunity is the chance of a lifetime. I'm so blessed and so eager for this next step because performing on the ArenaBowl stage will be amazing."

Nicole, 20, has a dancing background stretching all the way back to when she was three-years-old. Competing since then, she is currently on the dance team at Elmhurst College and the Chicago Rush. In her free time, she is able to teach dance lessons to children ages 6-14 at the Art Spot in Wheaton, IL.

Traveling with Nicole down to New Orleans will be Chicago Rush Dance Team Director Gloria Esposito, who was selected to be the Net10 Dream Team Dance Director and Choreographer.

"Being with Gloria is going to make this trip a lot easier. I am used to her teaching and choreography so it'll make the transition of learning new routines very easy," Nicole said.

Gloria Esposito has had an extremely successful career, both as a dancer and instructor. A Palatine native, she began her professional career with the Chicago Bulls in 1999 as a member of the Luvabulls. Dancing with the Bulls for five seasons, she was selected captain of the team for her final three years with the team. Around the same time she became captain of the Luvabulls, she began her career with the Adrenaline Rush for the inaugural 2001 season. Becoming captain of the Rush dance team in 2002, she added the role of assistant director in 2005.

Trading in her dancing shoes in 2008, she took over the Chicago Rush Dance Director role in 2009 and has been leading the team ever since. The fourteen years of dancing, choreographing and leading a mix of girls has set her up for the Net10 Dance Director experience.

"I have seen a lot of girls come and go, so I have had to learn how to handle multiple personalities. We're all in the same boat heading down to New Orleans, but I have expectations that they will learn the choreography and come there knowing it so we can focus on having fun and soaking in the experience," stated Gloria Esposito.

Having applied for the Net10 Dream Team Director position twice before, this marked the third time being the charm. Being able to lean on Nicole to rally the girls together is something Gloria isn't taking for granted.

"Even though (Nicole) is one of the youngest on the (Rush dance) team she is someone the girls look up to as a leader in dancing. I know that Nicole's dedication and passion will rub off on the other girls to allow us to move as a cohesive unit when we're performing."

Gloria and the seventeen Net10 Dream Team girls, one representing each Arena team, will make their way down to New Orleans in early August to take part in the ArenaBowl XXV festivities, which includes a feature performance at halftime.

Both Nicole and Gloria, who mentioned fan interaction as their favorite part of being involved with Arena Football, echoed excitement upon hearing the news earlier this morning.

"I have a great job," said Gloria, "and seeing other people with a smile on their face makes me happy. We'll do our best to provide thousands of them down in New Orleans for ArenaBowl XXV."



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