From SeawayNews.com

At left is Cassondra Ruest, a Cornwall native who has been added to the Montreal Alouettes cheerleading squad.

Cassondra Ruest has a problem. The thing about her new job she is most looking forward to is also the same thing that is making her more than just a bit nervous.

But it’s a great problem to have.

The soon-to-be graduate of Concordia University has been added to the cheerleading squad for the Montreal Alouettes.

Ruest, a Cornwall native, said in an interview she can’t wait for the Alouette’s season opener this summer – but it will be the first time she has performed in front of a stadium full of people.

“This is one of the biggest things I’ve ever done,” she said.

Ruest has been a student of dance nearly all her life. She is in the final year of the dance program at Concordia and has lent her services to small-scale music videos, promotions and the like.

But this was one of her first high-pressure auditions…and she nailed it.

“It’s stressful,” she said, adding about 150 young women turned up for the audution last weekend. “You just go in as a massive group and they split you up.

“They teach you the routines – it’s pretty lengthy.”

Officials reduced the crowd of hopefuls to 50, and then the girls were split into small groups of five and told to perform the routine again.

“Then they announced the call-backs, and I wasn’t one of them,” she said. “I didnt think I had made it.”

What she didn’t know was that Alouette cheerleading officials didn’t need to call her back, they’d seen enough and had already made the decision to keep her.

Ruest is one of six rookies on the 33-member squad, but the only Anglophone.

“I can understand what they are saying, so I should be ok,” she said of the Francophone-dominated squad.

The CFL schedule is expected to be released next week, but Ruest said the cheerleaders are already at work rehearsing.

[Montreal Alouttes Cheerleaders]

By Andrew Soong
The Suburban Newspaper
September 26th, 2012

The Montreal Alouettes Cheerleaders are not just a few pretty faces shaking pompoms on the football field’s sidelines.

“We are the link between the stands and the football field,” said Als’ Cheerleaders’ Coordinator Annie Larouche.
“We are also the ambassadors for the team and represent the team when the players can’t.”

The 32 members of the Alouettes cheerleaders are chosen from as many as 200 applicants annually from around Montreal drawn from various professional backgrounds contrary to pop culture. Returning cheerleaders are also subject to try-outs as well keeping the team sharp with the skills for on and off the football field.

According to Larouche cheerleaders must be “dedicated between February to November with solid dancing skills and energetic personality.”

“I have been dancing since I was three-years-old and this is challenging with dancing,” said four year veteran Als cheerleader Marjorie who is also a mechanical engineer. “The kids are always happy to see you and you get to interact with fans.”

Practices are mandatory over the course of their season with the Als and can go late into the evenings as the squad practices and perfects their routines. All CFL cheerleading teams are showcased at each Grey Cup even if their team does not travel to the final. According to Larouche “everybody wants to be part of the team including practice.”

“I danced with the team until one-week before I gave birth and we have another member who still helps out even though she’s pregnant,” said Larouche about the commitment of members of the team. “It may not be cute, but we still dance.”

In addition to their practices and participation at games the cheerleaders interact with the community at large. Members of the cheerleaders often take part in the outreach programs offered by the Als’ organization including visiting schools with the “Back to School with CN and the Montreal Alouettes.” According to Marjorie “it’s always nice to make at least one little kid happy.”

Profiles are now online for the 2010 Montreal Alouettes Cheerleaders. Click here to learn all about the ladies on this CFL dance team!