The Road to Super Bowl XXXV

Area dancers show pregame joy, nerves By BABITA PERSAUD © St. Petersburg Times, published January 29, 2001 [Times photo: Kevin White] One of about 500 local dancers at the pregame show performs as Sting sings Roxanne. TAMPA -- What you didn't see on television was the wide-eyed look on Santoya Fields' face as she walked on the field and saw a packed stadium. The Giants were practicing; she was just yards away from them. "This is so exciting," said Fields, a high school student from St. Petersburg. She was beaming, her eyes and mouth agape. For 500 local dancers in the pregame show, Sunday proved to be truly super. It was what they practiced for all week, every afternoon, some after a day at school. It also was what Tom Cooney of Palm Harbor had waited seven years for. Cooney, dressed in black and hardly showing the emotion he was feeling inside, performed the national anthem in sign language, something he had done in stadiums across the country for 38 years but never for the Super Bowl. Cooney was shown on national TV, standing in front of Ray Charles and the Backstreet Boys. But for many other pregame performers, their only audience was in the stands. But it didn't matter. Just as it didn't matter that many of them had to wear bathing suits in the chilly air of twilight. They were inches from the action. "I had a dream about this last night," Fields said. "The Giants won and we got to party with the team." Danielle Cordano, 15, could hardly sleep. "I'm nervous," she said. "I've never performed in front of so many people." The dancers waited on the field, by the 20-yard line, behind the yellow rope. Some dressed as pirates, others held hula hoops for the beach scene. The stage was wheeled on field. Fake palm trees were carried out. So were other props: an oversized beach ball, a lighthouse. Then the dancers, on cue from a lady with headphones, took to the field, covering it with hundreds of dancers in bathing suits, hula hooping. There were some concessions to being so close to the action. After each scene, the dancers had to run back to the sidelines and change right there, their costumes hanging from rolling metal racks. "All I saw was all this flashing," said Elena Rewolf, 16, wiggling into her gold lame skirt. Sting was getting ready to sing Desert Rose, and she had to hurry up. "I will treasure this forever." Past 14 Days March 16, 2008 March 15, 2008 March 14, 2008 March 13, 2008 March 12, 2008 March 11, 2008 March 10, 2008 March 9, 2008 March 8, 2008 March 7, 2008 March 6, 2008 March 5, 2008 March 4, 2008 March 3, 2008 Search further back Today's Super Bowl story lineup The champions Rockin' Ravens MVP caps Lewis' strange journey 'We're the greatest of all-time' Q&A with Brian Billick Modell savors a Super year at last in a different city Ravens win doesn't improve Cleveland's mood I see your return, and raise you one Ravens defense stakes its claim Columns Mizell: Trent in land of wonder Shelton: Baltimore's defense leaves a lasting impact Fry: QB Collins should shoulder the blame Ginn: CBS' new replay system a look into the future Zucco; For some, it's the party, not the game Deggans: Pregame coverage lacked local images Auman: Third quarter tests Internet's immediacy Trigaux: Ads, not football, supreme in Super Schmooze XXXV The Giants Giants grasp for answers Q&A with Jim Fassel Postgame analysis Dungy a bit surprised by game's outcome Ravens rose on Giants' mistakes Inside the game Super Bowl XXXV by the numbers Breathtaking returns: Starks, Dixon, Lewis Sehorn coverage error leads to touchdown Look familiar? Defense gets ball, offense runs First quarter: Play by play First quarter: Best & worst Penalty negates a big play for the Giants Second quarter: Best & worst Second quarter: Play by play Third quarter: Play by play Third quarter: Best & worst Best 36 seconds in Super Bowl history Fourth quarter: Play by play Fourth Quarter: Key Play Fourth quarter: Best & worst Local impact Big game and week before it seen as win for bay area What they're saying: Stupidity rules the roads Beyond the sidelines Four bars' patrons quaff winnings of Bud Bowl Big crowds, big spenders Altruism? That's the (free) ticket Many avoid traffic nightmares Tickets stolen? Too bad Unusual musical pairings bring fire to day's festivities Area dancers show pregame joy, nerves Corporate America buys star execs ultimate party Some just don't care about the big game On Super Bowl Sunday, the party's anywhere Celebrity watch Brought to you by ...