Argos cheerleaders make the cut
By Jonathan Brodie
Toronto Sun
March 20, 2011
Participants were literally doing backflips Sunday to make the cut on to the Toronto Argonauts cheerleading team.
“Every year we’re always looking for the total package — great looks, great physique, and obviously dance moves are very important,” said Jorie Brown, head cheerleader of the squad.
The auditions — held at the Renaissance Hotel at the Rogers Centre — opened Saturday with dancers learning basic choreography and going through a gruelling Argos bootcamp.
The tryouts continued Sunday with personal interviews and dance routines.
“(It was) much harder than any audition I’ve ever been to before,” said new Argo cheerleader Jackie, who also cheered with the now defunct Ottawa Renegades.
“It was hard to keep going but there was no way I was going to stop.”
The auditions started with over 125 dancers, with their ranks cut to 34 heading into Sunday. In the end, 24 cheerleaders were given a blue rose to symbolize that they had made the squad.
“I’m just so happy to be a part of it because I know there were so many other girls that were great, as well; so I’m just honoured that they chose me,” said Jackie, who was cut from the team in her first tryout seven years ago.
Since the size of this year’s squad was reduced to 24 dancers from 34 last season, even Argo cheerleading veterans were worried about making the cut.
“You never know when you’re coming back, who’s going to come out, and everyone brings a lot of different things to the team, so there’s always nerves,” said fourth-year Argo cheerleader Alyssa.
