Tag Archives: Spirit Festival

Spirit Fest Nationals 2011-12

Spirit Fest Nationals took place on March 3-4, 2012 in Hartford, CT. This event had 107 All*Star Cheer teams compete and was a qualifier for Cheer Worlds. Paid Bids were awarded to:

  • Spirit Festival LogoEast Celebrity Elite (Senior Medium Coed L5)
  • Just Cheer (Senior Small L5)

At Large Bids were awarded to:

  • Bay State All Stars (Senior Small Coed L5)
  • CC Champs (Senior Small L5)
  • Central Jersey All Stars (International Open L6)
  • Full House All Stars (International Open Coed L6)
  • Hamilton Starz (Senior Small Coed L5)
  • Superior Cheer Factor (International Open Coed L5)

Event Page | Spirit Fest Nationals 2012 Results

The event had 107 All*Star Cheer Teams in 30 Divisions for an average of 3.57 teams per division.

All*Star Cheer By Level

  • Level 1 – 17 Teams in 6 Divisions (2.83 Average)
  • Level 2 – 23 Teams in 5 Divisions (4.60)
  • Level 3 – 23 Teams in 7 Divisions (3.29)
  • Level 4 – 12 Teams in 3 Divisions (4.00)
  • Level 4.2 – 2 Teams in 1 Division (2.00)
  • Restricted – 4 Teams in 1 Division (4.00)
  • Level 5 – 22 Teams in 5 Divisions (4.40)
  • Level 6 – 4 Teams in 2 Divisions (2.00)

All*Star Cheer By Age

  • Tiny – 1 Team in 1 Division (1.00 Average)
  • Mini – 4 Teams in 1 Division (4.00)
  • Youth – 13 Teams in 3 Divisions (4.33)
  • Junior – 25 Teams in 6 Divisions (4.17)
  • Senior – 56 Teams in 15 Divisions (3.73)
  • International – 8 Teams in 4 Divisions (2.00)

Varsity Acquires Spirit Festival

Spirit Festival is the latest competition to join Varsity All Star and the Varsity Family Plan.

Memphis, Tenn., (August 2011) – Varsity has announced its acquisition of Spirit Festival, effective immediately.

Spirit Festival LogoBased in Hamden, Connecticut, Spirit Festival was founded 16 years ago by Robin Norko, and its World Bid event, Spirit Fest Cheer & Dance Nationals, attracts teams from all over the Northeast region. This year on March 3-4th, 2012 in Hartford, CT, Spirit Festival will award two Full Paid bids and 6 At-Large World Bids at this event.

Varsity All Star is proud to team up with Spirit Festival with this merger. “Robin has built an incredible reputation over the past 16 years, and we know that Spirit Festival will fit right in with our other top quality brands,” says John Newby, Executive Vice President of Varsity All Star.

“There are so many benefits to being part of a strong team,” says Norko. “I’m looking forward to a collaborative relationship with Varsity, and extending the benefits of the Varsity All Star group to our current customers.”

Varsity All Star LogoAbout Varsity

Varsity is the source for all things related to cheerleading and dance team. With a rich heritage and traditions dating back to 1948, Varsity is an innovative global leader comprised of the leading spirit brands and organizations including its educational camps, clinics, competitions and uniforms to teams around the world. Varsity’s National Championships, which are held at the Walt Disney World® Resorts, have been televised on ESPN Networks for more than 25 years. Web-based Varsity TV features thousands of cheerleading and dance team videos and has become a favorite cheer destination for cheerleaders and coaches alike. Varsity has led the way in cheerleading safety as a supporter of the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators since 1987 and as a camp leader training more than 300,000 cheerleaders per year in cheerleading fundamentals with an emphasis on safety. Based in Memphis, Tennessee, Varsity employs 5,000 employees nationwide. For more information about Varsity, please visit http://www.varsity.com.

Varsity Acquires Spirit Festival

The IEP Congratulates These Outstanding i-Award Recipients

May 19, 2011- Westerville, OH – Three cheers for the iAward! The Independents completed their inaugural year of awarding the prestigious IEP iAward. The good sportsmanship and community involvement honor was announced at specific IEP events across the country and were dedicated to one team, coach, parent or athlete who demonstrated Integrity, Enthusiasm and Passion in the spirit industry.

The 2011 i-Award Recipients recognized at event producers events are:

  • AmeriCheer – Athens High School
  • Cheer & Dance Extreme – Hilda McDaniel
  • Cheer America - Samara Taper
  • Cheer Star Productions – Liberty Cheer & Dance
  • Greater Midwest Cheer Expo – Pride Athletics
  • Mardi Gras Spirit Events – Williamsport Twister
  • Spirit Celebration – Paramount Comets
  • Spirit Festival – Sparks All Stars
  • Spirit Unlimited – East Coast Nitros Special Needs
  • UPA – Planet Spirit All Stars
  • Worldwide Spirit Assoc. – Team Texas

A complete listing of iAward events is available online at www.WeAreIEP.com. The 2011-2012 season will begin soon and a new group of outstanding programs will be recognized. Will it be you?

The IEP Congratulates These Outstanding i-Award Recipients

Independent Event Producers

The Independent Event Producers (IEP) is an organization with the goal of making sure the voice of the independents is heard. There are over 200 independents in the United States and north of 100 more internationally, but the voice of the independents is often drowned out by the major brands. The IEP will launch a national media campaign, purchase in bulk, offer group discounts, create a social networking presence, and launch the IEP website to help make sure they are well represented in the spirit industry.

The IEP was born when 8 companies met in New Orleans in June 2009. Mardi Gras, UPA, Cheer America, Pac West, WSA, Spirit Celebration, Champion Cheer, and Cheer Ltd. met to discuss forming an organization to strengthen their independence and left New Orleans with a mission statement, goals, organization structure, and initial plan. A second meeting was held in Dallas in August, from which the IEP was officially launched. Colleen Little (Cheer America), was appointed the temporary Chair and Lisa Saline (UPA) was appointed the Membership Director. The Inaugural IEP Board of Colleen Little, Kiki Bittner (Pac West), Jody Delorit (UPA), Darren DeMoss (WSA), Kim Dornak (ECDA), Dick Fox (Cheer Ltd.), Lisa Saline, Jeannine Sentilles (Mardi Gras), and Billy Smith (Spirit Celebration) was established in September.

There are currently 22 IEP member companies, 21 US based and 1 International. Current members are American Cheer Express, AmeriCheer/AmeriDance, Champion Cheer & Dance, Cheer America, Cheer and Dance Extreme, Cheer LTD, Cheer Star Productions, Contest of Champions, ECDA, JAMZ, KC Christmas, Mardi Gras Spirit Events, Pac West Spirit Group, Redline Cheer & Dance, Spirit Celebration, Spirit Festival, Spirit Unlimited, United Cheer, UPA Cheer & Dance, US Spirit, WCA, and WSA. All members are strongly encouraged to get involved and either Chair a committee or take part on one, sharing their knowledge and expertise.