Indianapolis Colts Cheerleader Hopefuls Push Through Football, Physical Tests
By Dana Hunsinger Benbow
Indianapolis Star
Editor’s note: Indianapolis Star reporter Dana Benbow is following Leanna Elmore, 23, of Crawfordsville through the final weeks of Indianapolis Colts cheerleader tryouts, including a hectic night of auditions Tuesday.
Leanna Elmore dazzled the interview portion in her blue sapphire business suit. She was well-spoken. Eloquent.
As judges spouted out questions, she rattled off answers, not missing a beat.
What’s your favorite quote?
“A scripture,” said the 23-year-old Crawfordsville woman, who is one of 49 women who has made it to the final three weeks of Indianapolis Colts cheerleader auditions. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Favorite memory at Purdue University (where Elmore graduated in 2012)?
“Dancing at the first Purdue football game,” she said. “All summer long practices outside in the heat. Just imagining the stadium full on that first game. It lived up to all the expectations.”
The panel of judges smiled. Elmore did too as she walked out of the meeting room at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center Tuesday, where auditions were taking place.
“It was much better than I expected,” she said. “I came in really nervous but by the time I was ready to speak and sat down I was good to go. I just felt that calm flow over me.”
Not so much when it came to the next challenge: the football test.
“That was rough,” she said, as she turned in her paper,
After all, it didn’t just ask no-brainer questions like, “How many points is a touchdown worth?” It had obscure questions like, “What is a gunner?”
Elmore got tripped up filling in the different players in the right positions on a formation.
“I’m ready to dance,” said a flustered Elmore after the test, who has been dancing in all forms since she was 2.
But first she was on to the fitness boot camp, where she was tested on how many sit ups and push ups she could do in two minutes. She was also in for an intense sprint test that had the cheerleader hopefuls run until they dropped out.
Elmore did well. Not spectacular. Out of 24 women in the group, she fell out about halfway through.
“I wish it was more distance running and not sprints,” said Elmore. “That was tough.”
But what wasn’t tough for Elmore, who has won plenty of national dance competitions, was the final portion of Tuesday’s auditions: showing off her dance skills.
She snapped each move crisply. She kicked her legs high. She smiled. She flipped her hair.
After a solo dance routine that Elmore choreographed herself, she was praised by Colts choreography coach Michelle Allison for her unique dance style.
“I felt like I finished out strong, showcasing what I can do, what I feel like I’m best at,” said Elmore at the end of the night. “I feel like i did pretty well throughout the day but I felt like I really finished out strong.”
Elmore and the other 48 women will return Tuesday for the next portion of auditions, tweaking and learning more dance routines.
It’s all preparation for the final night of tryouts April 17 at the Hilbert Circle Theatre, on which the final squad will be chosen.
