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Fox 5 has shots of the calendar and the party. Click here to go there now!

By Meagan Clark
DallasNews.com
September 4, 2013

Ready? OK! The eighth season of Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team premieres at 8 p.m. Friday on CMT. On the night of the final rehearsal last month, we got to go behind the scenes and talk to a few veteran cheerleaders to see how they were handling the pressure of trying to be one of the 37 who make the roster.

Jenna from California, Kelsey from Minnesota, Jasmine from New Jersey and Jessica from Iowa made the cut as newcomers last year, but even returning cheerleaders have to audition every year and hope a newbie won’t outshine them. We asked them about their experiences leading up to this season:

What’s it like being on camera while you’re auditioning?

Jenna: Being on camera for the Making the Team show, it’s a little nerve-wracking, especially coming in for your first year, you’re just like, ‘OK, I’m just trying to prove myself. I’m just trying to get on the team.’ But at the same time, there’s a camera right up in your face, the whole time you’re dancing. It’s a little distracting… Coming in for my second year, it’s better because we just learn to ignore it.

Jasmine: It’s just stressful. It never really gets easy, because you know the world’s gonna see it, and if you mess up, someone’s gonna notice it.

Jessica: As hard as it is having the cameras around, with the added stress and pressure, it’s kind of nice that we have these little moments captured because then my family got to go through the process with me. It’s kind of a blessing in disguise.

What did you learn from your experiences on the team last year?

Jenna: They’re teaching me little things like how to speak, how to present myself.

Kelsey: Our first public appearance, we had to mix and mingle with all of these people we didn’t know. I had never been in a situation like that where you’re representing the whole organization, you’re wearing the uniform and so much is expected of you, you have these standards to uphold. I definitely think I’ve developed a lot more confidence and have developed how to be a role model and a leader.

Does everyone get along or is there drama the cameras don’t catch?

Kelsey: It’s kind of like a sorority because everyone has the same drive and passion for what we’re doing. Everyone just automatically clicks. It’s kind of like going through rush, you’ve gone through so much to make it together that you just bond over that. So everyone is really close, surprising as that is.

What are your plans if you don’t make the team?

Kelsey: You’re living your dream, so you really don’t want a plan B, as sad as that sounds. If I didn’t make it back on the team, I’d probably go back and get my master’s (degree).

Jessica: Some girls move back home.

Kelsey: Other girls go on to try out for other professional teams. If you love dancing and it’s your passion, you try everything to make it on a team.

Jasmine: DCC is like a platform. Girls can use being on this team to help them in their future, like being a director of another team. Making different connections has helped a lot of people to open studios, teach Pilates, yoga. … Not making it back isn’t the end of the world, it’s just something to say we did, and I loved it and I can move on and try something else.

Videos by Tommy Noel/The Dallas Morning News

Fins cheerleader, an ex-Texan, decided she could (shhh…) do better than the Dallas Cowboys squad.
By Ben Crandell
SouthFlorida.com
September 4, 2013

As a Miami Dolphins cheerleader, Lauren Jones is quick on her feet, and knows how to tip-toe around an indelicate question.

The Plantation resident — direct from cheerleader central casting: statuesque, blonde, smile like a 200-lumen flashlight — was raised deep in the heart of Texas. Dallas Cowboys country. But when she decided to pursue an NFL cheerleading job, her No. 1 choice, she says, was the Miami Dolphins’ squad.

Because the Cowboy cheerleader mystique is so old school, right, Lauren? Plus, the owner’s an idiot. And, c’mon, can you win with Tony Ro…

PHOTOS: Miami Dolphins cheerleading practice

“No, no, they’re great. The Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders are great,” she says, her voice lowering with each word. “That’s all I can say,” she says, with a laugh. “Emily was a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader.”

“Emily” would be Emily Snow, who has been coming in and out of the room during a cheerleader practice session this week at Sun Life Stadium. Snow is the director of the Miami Dolphins cheerleaders, Lauren’s boss.

Both have been plenty busy lately, with the squad practicing for the upcoming football season and for Thursday night’s unveiling party for the 2014 Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders Swimsuit Calendar, a runway show at Liv nightclub in the Fontainebleau hotel. A limited number of tickets ($25) are available for the event, a fundraiser for Miami Dolphins Foundation community-service efforts.

The Dolphins cheerleader “style” is among the reasons Lauren, a.k.a. Miss September, moved from Austin three years ago to try out for the squad. She prepared by watching all the NFL cheerleader teams online, and the Dolphins stood out.

“I loved the style. I thought that it was glamorous and it was fun. And they were still very athletic,” she says.

Lauren just graduated from Nova Southeastern University with a B.S. in exercise-sports science and wants to continue her studies and become a physical therapist. Or she could open a bakery.

Last month, the AOL online foodie travel series “Anthony Eats America,” featuring actor and comedian Anthony Anderson (“Law & Order,” “Guys With Kids”), posted a segment with the host and Lauren preparing her mom’s carrot cake recipe in a suite at Sun Life Stadium. (AOL’s story, she says, is that they wanted to do a baking story in Miami and Googled “Miami” and “bake” — and happened to stumble across her cheerleader profile reference to her mom’s cake. Uh, OK…)

The five-minute show (See: On.aol.com/show/anthony-eats-america) reveals that the name of the decadent recipe is Get a Man Carrot Cake. Sorry, fellas, it works. She’s engaged.

IF YOU GO
The 2014 Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders Swimsuit Calendar will be unveiled at 8 p.m. Thursday at Liv nightclub in the Fontainbleau Hotel, 4441 Collins Ave., Miami Beach. Tickets: $25 donation at DolphinsCheerleaders.com/Unveiling, where you also can order the calendar ($14.99, plus shipping).

Auditions for the Los Angeles Xplosion dance team are just around the corner. Make sure you’re ready for tryouts by attending the team’s prep class THIS Saturday!

Click here for additional details!

I’m not sure how late I am on this news. I’ve been checking the Jills website, and realized a couple of days ago that they had updated roster. I’m not sure when they did it, but the page looks very similar to the way it looked last year, so I didn’t notice. Forgive me Jills, if I’m horribly late to the game. As for the rest of you click here to get to know the 2013 Jills!

So the Houston Texans Cheerleaders have been doing those “Freestyle Fridays” for several weeks. I highly encourage you to watch, to see what kinds of shenanigans these women get up to. [Click here for the full complement of HTC videos.] Freestyle Friday’s happen at the gym, on the field, at the grocery store, and wherever they can think of to do it. Gotta keep it fresh, you see. The most recent one took place at the swimming pool. And there is a bonus water slide video that should not be missed.

When I discovered Freestyle Fridays, and saw what was going on, I thought “Yes, Sasha. These are your kind of people.” Given the vast array of choreographic styles represented, I felt that the only thing missing was the Carlton Dance (look it up.) I expressed an devout hope that at some point, the Carlton Dance would be included in a future FF video. I was saddened by the absence of my favorite dance in the subsequent videos, but hey, they’re busy. And though I have had the occasional flip-out in reaction to some (real or perceived) slight to this website, I don’t truly believe all that many people know about UC. We used to keep stats, but that was years ago. So now I have no idea. And with the regular NFL season coming up, I expect the HTCs are busy with other things besides surfing this site.

Fast-forward a couple of weeks. I checked my email and found a note that the Texans had done the Carlton Dance. They had actually done it. Right after I mentioned it, I think. They’d made a special effort to do it (for me? No way!) and – tragically – I’d missed it.

Before I go any further, I’d like you to watch the following video.

In your grandma’s days, they called this a failure to see the forest because of all the trees.

I was looking at video. I really was. But I was looking at the girl on the bottom, and did not even see what the girls behind her were doing. Come on, you have to give me that. It’s difficult to identify the Carlton Dance when it is performed in a kneeling position, ok? And I was looking at her trying to figure out who that is because she’s such a shorty. (Ahem, I mean to say “vertically challenged.”)

But I should have known. When FIVE of them busted out of line, I should’ve known something was coming.

Check it out (fast forward to about 1:50)

They really went for it, and I have to say, this was a moment that absolutely warmed the cockles of my dried up little peach pit of a heart. Made me want to hug somebody. I sure do loves me some Texans Cheerleaders. And now I have to go back and watch this like 14 more times so I can figure out exactly who all is in that human totem pole, because they are all going on my List.

Rock stars! I wish I had some pull and could get you a lollipop or an evening off of practice or something.

The Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders Training Program is a unique concept in the world of pro cheerleading in general, and NFL cheerleaders in particular. I believe the program began back in 2006 (but don’t hold me to that date) and has grown in success (and size!) since then.

Every year at tryouts, candidates are asked to indicate on their application whether they’d like to be considered for the program. During the the audition process, MVC staff keeps an eye out for young ladies who have all the raw materials to make a successful MVC, but aren’t quite there yet in terms of making the team. When the auditions are over, the staff reviews the list of those who are interested in the program but didn’t make the team. It doesn’t matter how far they made it during the audition process. (In fact, they didn’t even have to audition at all. You can audition for the training program by submitting a video and resume.) Then they offer Training Program invites to the 30+ individuals with the most potential.

The program itself is a huge commitment, lasting for an entire year. During that time, the members meet weekly for workshops, fitness training, and rehearsals. They are coached on poise, public speaking, dance technique, dance styles, and much more. And of course they also have opportunities to perform at a few MVC events and at a Vikings game. I’m sure it is also a major bonding experience for all the ladies involved.

The program’s directors, Erin Newburg and Beth Hoffman are MVC alumni. Both were on the team for five years and served as captains for several years, so they know of what they speak. Throughout the year, Erin and Beth provide guidance on what each individual candidate needs to work on to improve her chances of making the team at the next audition.

It’s a lot of work, but it’s a win-win for everyone involved. The ladies who complete the program have an extra advantage at audition time. Can you imagine going into an audition, knowing exactly what the judges are looking for from you specifically? They know what’s expected, they’re prepared, and they have a supportive group with them through the entire audition process. Even those who choose not to audition, or do audition and don’t make the team have benefited from making friends and learning new things – even if what they’ve learned is that the level of time and energy required is more than they expected or are able to commit to.

The MVC staff, on the other hand, have a group of candidates who have already proven their mettle. For most NFL dance teams, the audition process is less than a week. It’s enough time to check a few references, and to see if a particular individual has the talent, the dance ability, the right look, and a pleasant personality. But it isn’t enough time to tell if she has the commitment, the responsibility, and common sense to do the job well – and for a whole year. Participating the the TP gives the judges a lot of assurance in that area.

Needless to say the MVC Training Program is a big success. Not every member of the TP auditions and/or makes the team, but plenty do. The current squad of 35 includes 14 training program alumni: Alissa, Danielle, Emily, Jeannie, Karen, Katie, Kayla W., Kelsey, Michelle, Molly, Rachel, Rhea, Starla, and Tracy. Karen is a team captain this year. A few, like Kelsey, Starla, and Rachel, participated in the training program for more than one year before joining the MVC squad. Now that is dedication.

Let’s hear it for the rookies who graduated from the Training Program to the MVC squad this year!

Emily, Kayla, Katie W., Kelsey
Michelle, Rachel, Starla, and Tracy

Retiring from the squad doesn’t mean it’s the end of the game. Once a fan, always a fan, for these Minnesota Vikings Cheerleader alumni! And if there’s a chance to get back on the field for one for more go – heck yeah! (Thanks for the pics, Polly!)

Well done Jasmine, Brittney, and Jordan! How you were not completely terrified, I will never know.

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