What I Learned Half Naked: Tales of a Pro Cheerleader

Leslie Shaw-Hatchard shares the full experience of being a professional cheerleader in Texas. For the first time ever she honestly reveals a hidden and sometimes questionable side of cheerleading. The book is titled “What I Learned Half Naked: Tales of a Pro Cheerleader” as it documents the many lessons Leslie learned in uniform during her cheerleading journey. The book reflects good and bad times spent working as a cheerleader, choreographer, assistant director and director. Leslie was privileged to spend time working with the Dallas Mavs, the Dallas Cowboys, the Dallas Burn, the Coca-Cola Cheer team and the Dallas Sidekicks.

Leslie has spent the last 19 years performing and teaching dance throughout the U. S. as well as France, Germany and Switzerland. Her dance training began at the age of 5, and has since developed into a professional career, with such credits as performing for the National Football League, National Basketball Association, National Soccer League and the Major Indoor Soccer League. Leslie’s involvement with professional sports began in 1990 when she was selected as one of 36 Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders from a field of over 300. In 1991, Leslie began dancing for NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, and she continued entertaining basketball fans as a Dallas Mavericks Dancer for the next five years, receiving recognition in 1996 as the Dallas Mavericks Dancers’ Veteran of the Year and Dancer with the Most Positive Influence. In 1997, Leslie joined the dance team for the Dallas Burn, Dallas’s outdoor soccer team. She most recently was the founding Director for the NBA D-League Texas Legends Dance Team in Frisco, TX in 2010. For eleven years Leslie was the Company Director at the Broadway Dance Center in Garland, Texas. She regularly choreographs award winning routines throughout Texas and the U. S. She often serves as a guest instructor and professional adjudicator for Marching Auxiliaries Dance, Crowd Pleasers drill team organization, and Halftime Entertainment (HTE). Leslie has been married for 15 years and resides in McKinney, Texas. She teaches full time as a dance instructor at Power House of Dance and is currently the Cheer Power Director in Frisco. Leslie is also the proud mother of 11 year old daughter, Kennedy and 13 year old daughter, Madison. Leslie recently completed writing her first book and is looking forward to its release.