Villagers’ granddaughter performs with Indianapolis Colts cheerleaders

By Jessica Shumaker
The Villages Daily Sun
December 4, 2010

THE VILLAGES — When Don and Annie Ennis’ granddaughter performs, it’s not in a theater or in front of a microphone.

The 21-year-old’s stage is the turf of Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, and she dances for tens of thousands of football fans packed into the stands.

Their granddaughter, Megan, is a cheerleader for the Indianapolis Colts.

When she told her grandparents that she made the squad back in May, the two said they were happy for her.

“We’re very pleased, we really are,” Annie said. “She’s always been a dancer — I can’t remember a time she wasn’t taking dance classes.”

Annie said it was only natural that Megan would become a cheerleader. She remembered a family trip more than 10 years ago in which she and her husband took their granddaughters, Megan included, to New York City.

“She was interested in being a professional dancer,” she said. “We went to see ‘The Lion King’ and ‘Riverdance.’ That seemed to be a real turn-on for her.”

Proud grandparents

Don said he, too, is very proud of his granddaughter.

“She’s a very sweet, innocent girl,” he said, noting her accomplishments as an art student, as well as her dancing. “She’s been dancing since she was in Pampers, I say.”

It wasn’t easy to become a Colts cheerleader, Megan said.

Fresh out of high school, Megan auditioned at 18, but was cut before the end of the process. A few years later, during her junior year of college, she was encouraged to try again by a cheerleader she knew from her hometown of Peru, Ind.

Pushing through a last-minute case of cold feet, she jumped into the audition process, a grueling schedule of elimination rounds that narrowed the field of more than 300 women to 32.

As she learned new dances, she continually made it through each round until the final showcase event, where she was selected to join the team. As a whole, she said the audition process was difficult.

“It was extremely tough, because it was around finals time,” she said. “You had to prioritize, stay up late and make sure you knew the dances. You basically had to keep your head in it, and you couldn’t let any self-confidence issues get the best of you.”

So far, she said her rookie season has gone well.

“All of my squad is absolutely wonderful,” she said. “There are no cliques, there are no bad vibes, which is something you have to consider when you have 32 women working together all the time.”

In her new role, she enjoys the public appearances and volunteer work the women do, as well as performing itself.

“It’s such a big rush,” she said. “You’re in the tunnel, you’re all suited up. It’s just the biggest rush ever. It’s wonderful and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

Of all she does as a cheerleader, she said, it’s easy to identify her favorite part.

“(It’s) definitely the performance aspect,” she said. “I love learning new, different types of choreography. It’s kind of a challenge and I definitely enjoy a challenge.”

Dancing is also a way to support the team, she said.

“We basically show our team spirit through our dances. It’s high-energy, positive, entertaining and something that’s a reflection of us,” she said. “Dancing is a reflection of your feelings, so our dances are always high-energy, and the crowd loves that.”

As for the future, Megan is set to graduate in May from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, and she said she is interested in continuing her participation with the squad.

“I want to continue two, three more seasons,” she said. “I have to try out each season, but if they’ll have me back next year, I’d be more than happy to return.”

Her current year will continue through the next audition process next spring. So far, she has already seen the role’s positive impact on her life — boosting her confidence and bringing her new friends.

“Being a professional dancer and representing the Colts organization has been a total dream come true,” she said. “It’s just been everything and more.”