Washington Redskins Cheerleaders and Rome in a Day

First Ladies of Football
From the Redskinettes to the First Ladies of Football, the Redskins Cheerleaders are the longest running cheerleading team in the NFL. Founded in 1962, and originally named the Redskinettes, this team has brought worldwide recognition to the Washington, D.C. area, the Redskins football team, and the NFL.

Partnered with the largest and most prominent Alumni Association among cheerleading teams--in 2008 over 1,000 strong--the women who have cheered and continued to support the Redskins have also helped raise millions since the team’s inception and support more charities and community events every year.

In the most powerful city in the world, the most popular professional sports team is only a part of FedExField. The Washington Redskins Cheerleaders are growing across the country and around the world. They are lighting up the airwaves and the media with new routines, uniforms, attitudes and have raised the bar of excellence for every other NFL cheerleading squad.

Adorned in burgundy and gold, flanking the field on every side and executing routines that would make even the fastest football player gasp for air, these ladies strive for one thing--to make a difference.


The Legacy
The Washington Redskins Cheerleaders are the oldest active cheerleading organization in the NFL. On September 30, 1962, 30 talented and beautiful women made their debut as the Redskinettes. As they marched down the field in their Native American costumes to join the band, they stepped into history and the tradition began. In their 45-year history, these ladies have become the most talented, innovative and personable in the NFL.

In the early 1980s, the Redskins Cheerleaders toured China to promote American-made products; toured Turkey, Italy, Sicily, Spain and France as part of the USO; filmed TV commercials for Sassoon and Barbara Ellen; were featured on the David Letterman’s Top 10 list and won the ESPN celebrity pool tournament. They have been featured in National magazines such as Newsweek, FHM, Ebony, Black Hair Magazine, Salon One, Cosmopolitan, Maxim and Sports Illustrated; performed with Country Grammy award winner Gretchen Wilson, Latin sensation Ricky Martin, Larry King, Jerry Lee Lewis, James Brown, K.C. and the Sunshine Band, the Pointer Sisters and Nancy Reagan; and filmed two E! Channel specials, are the stars of Comcast SportsNet show “Beauties on the Beach”, Are the Champions from the battle of the NFL Cheerleaders at the 2007 Super Bowl and were featured on the NFL Networks Cheerleader Challenge. Men’s Journal called the 2007 squad the Best in the NFL and Michael Strahan wrote in his book that the Redskins Cheerleaders are the Hottest in the NFL.

With their international appeal and stardom on the rise, the First Ladies of Football have transformed into the NFL cheerleaders of the millennium by breaking new ground with their sleek new style and amazing talents. From the simple, yet very visible redesign of the uniform, to the rejuvenated commitment to charity and community, these ladies have established themselves as the premier squad in the NFL.


Stephanie Jojokian
Director & Choreographer
In 2004 Stephanie was hired as the first full-time Choreographer in Redskins Cheerleader history and only the 2nd in the entire NFL. She has choreographed and performed for Master P’s 504 Boys “Whodee” Video, Crystal Waters “Just Say Hey” Video and danced with Darrin Henson in his “Darrin’s Dance Grooves 2” Video.

Stephanie has performed at the Kennedy Center and in New York City as a member of the modern company, Tony Powell Music & Movement, as well as at Dance Place as a member of Carla & Company. She has traveled to more than 30 Countries on 10 AFE Tours. Stephanie is now honored to be the choreographer for the Redskins cheerleaders and National Champions, Redskins Jr. All Stars (competitive team).

Before that she was the director/choreographer for eight seasons with the NBA’s Washington Wizards NBA Dancers, where she danced for two seasons prior to taking over the leadership. She studied dance at UNC-Greensboro and Alvin Ailey in New York City.

Stephanie is the co-founder of Capitol Movement (www.capitolmovement.org) the areas largest dance company and non-profit. She works with hundreds of local dancers each year to stage an annual benefit concert.

She currently teaches master classes locally and abroad in Japan and Slovenia. She currently teaches master classes locally and abroad in Japan and Slovenia. Stephanie lives in the DC area and takes dance classes regularly in New York City to help keep the Redskins Cheerleaders at the top of the NFL!


Melanie Coburn
Director of Marketing
In 2001, Melanie Coburn (Treanor) took over the task to make the Cheerleaders grow as a business and was brought on to be the squads first ever Marketing and Events Coordinator for the Cheerleaders.

After being a cheerleader at Seneca Valley High School in Germantown, MD, Melanie spent a year (under the direction of Stephanie!) on the Nationally ranked University of Maryland Dance Team. She spent four seasons as a Redskins Cheerleader and was one of the 12 members to first go on tour in 1999 with Armed Forces Entertainment. Since that time, she has been on 10 tours to more than 30 countries with A.F.E. and has also booked events all over the world. Some of the exciting trips have included Fleet Week in New York City, AAFES Appreciation Week in Guantanamo Bay and ESPN’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, AL!

In 2000, Melanie received her BS in Marketing from the University of Maryland. Since taking over the position Melanie has helped elevate the squad to the next level. Because of her tireless effort the Cheerleaders can now be seen at well over 300 events all over the US and the World each year. Not to mention she has enabled the Cheerleaders to receive more perks through the dozens of corporate sponsorships she has negotiated.

In 2008, Melanie’s title was changed to Director of Marketing and the Washington Redskins Cheerleaders are more visible than ever and have more corporate branding than any other squad in history. In August 2008, Melanie married her husband Derek in a beautiful ceremony in Aruba. It took place at the Radisson Resort, the same resort the 2008 Calendar had taken place.



Rome In A Day
As the saying goes, “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” For Washington DC based Rome In A Day, the group couldn’t agree more. The name is a satire, intended to convey the point that in an industry where there is such a focus on instant gratification, great things still take time, patience, dedication and, most of all, hard work.

The band originated as a solo project sparked by front man James Stevens. In August of 2005, James began assembling a group to bring his solo compositions to the stage in a full band environment. Through this search James met Adam Lee, the first and last drummer to audition for the new project. It was then that the idea of expanding this solo effort into a full-on rock band became a realization. For over a year James and Adam played local and regional shows often with friends filling in on bass.

The name Rome In A Day was christened in April of 2006 followed shortly thereafter by the band’s debut recorded offering, a five song EP entitled “Thin Air.” The band started to really settle into its own in December of 2006, when Ali DiPippo came onboard to play bass guitar. In Ali, Rome In A Day discovered not only an accomplished bassist and vocalist, but also an exceptional talent for songwriting. Ali’s progressive rock background added an edgy twist to the material that has been regarded as a cornerstone of the band’s new sound. The trio continued to perform and write original material when in April of 2007 the final piece joined the puzzle in the form of bassist Jay Brazao. With Jay completing the lineup, Ali shifted to her more natural role of lead guitarist and the rest as they say, is history.

Rome In A Day has performed at several of the region's top venues such as the 930 Club (Washington DC) and Ram's Head Live! (Baltimore), as well as several notable out of town venues including Grape Street Pub (Philadelphia) and Arlene's Grocery (New York). Performance highlight's of 2008 include "Shamrockfest" (DC's largest outdoor music festival), Dewey Beach Music Festival, Steamtown Original Music Conference, DC101's Last Band Standing Competition, and performing before a Washington National's MLB Game.