Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Auditions Draw Women From Australia, Japan

Dallas News
May 4, 2013

ARLINGTON — Jinelle Davidson doesn’t know much about football. It’s not really big in Melbourne, Australia.

Yet, she flew 19 hours to join the hundreds of girls at Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders auditions on Saturday anyway.

Davidson has been Rugby League cheerleader for the past seven seasons back in her home country. After seeing country mate Angela Rena make the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders a couple of years ago via CMT’s Reality Show, ‘Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team’, Davidson decided to try it out for herself.

“I was just really inspired by her,” Davidson said of Rena. “I love cheerleading so much that I wanted to come and have a go here too. … The NFL, it’s not big in Australia, so I’ve had to learn a lot so far.

“It’s really complicated.”

Davidson wasn’t the only international auditioning. Natsuki Kaito-Fritz, 31, was an “office worker” and cheerleader for Japan’s football league up until three years ago, when she came to Dallas and won a spot as a Mavericks dancer. She left the Mavericks and tried to dance for the San Antonio Spurs, but couldn’t dance due to visa issues.

“I kept getting approached to try the Cowboys,” Kaito-Fritz said.

Kaito-Fritz was one of two from Japan. Another came from Canada, another from Guam.

Kaito-Fritz didn’t made the first cut, as did Davidson, both advancing the semifinal round on Sunday.

“I’m really just kind of going day-by-day,” Davidson said.

She’ll last at least one more.

Paige Larkins, #71, of Temperance, Missouri and Shelby Haire of Frisco where among the 400 plus who tried out at the preliminary auditions for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders held at Cowboys Stadium Saturday May 4, 2013.(Ron Baselice/ The Dallas Morning News)
Photo: Ron Baselice/Staff Photographer

Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader hopefuls line up to getstamp a stamped signaling all their paper work was handed in before the start of the preliminary auditions for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders at Cowboys Stadium Saturday May 4, 2013.(Ron Baselice/ The Dallas Morning News)
Photo: Ron Baselice/Staff Photographer

Jessica Tame of Round Rock uses a stair rail as a ballet barre to stretch as she waits for the preliminary auditions for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders to begin Saturday May 4, 2013 at Cowboys Stadium.(Ron Baselice/ The Dallas Morning News)
Photo: Ron Baselice/Staff Photographer

Nikki Kirby, #13, of Surprise, Arizona catches her breath after she danced in the preliminary auditions for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders held at Cowboys Stadium Saturday May 4, 2013.(Ron Baselice/ The Dallas Morning News)
Photo: Ron Baselice/Staff Photographer

Shanelle Paine of Van Alstyne, Texas warms up before the preliminary auditions for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders begin Saturday May 4, 2013 at Cowboys Stadium. (Ron Baselice/ The Dallas Morning News)
Photo: Ron Baselice/Staff Photographer

Shauna Hamby came from Boone, North Carolina to attend the preliminary auditions for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders held at Cowboys Stadium Saturday May 4, 2013.(Ron Baselice/ The Dallas Morning News)
Photo: Ron Baselice/Staff Photographer

Dancers had 90 seconds of freestyle dancing to make an impression on the judges at the preliminary auditions for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders held at Cowboys Stadium Saturday May 4, 2013. (Ron Baselice/ The Dallas Morning News)
Photo: Ron Baselice/Staff Photographer

Yijiao Zhuang of Dallas Is reflected in her makeup mirror as she makes some last minute adjustments on her hair before the preliminary auditions for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders held at Cowboys Stadium Saturday May 4, 2013. This was her first time to try out.(Ron Baselice/ The Dallas Morning News)
Photo: Ron Baselice/Staff Photographer