22 Rules Behind The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader Training

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I don't know about you, but I was floored when I watched Netflix's America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, the docuseries chronicling the making of the Dallas Cowboys cheerleading squad. And since Season 2 dropped on June 18, we've gotten even more of an inside look at the inner workings of the iconic team, for better or for worse. The participants' passion, athleticism, and dedication were inspiring, and TBH, it broke down the stereotypes I had about cheerleaders if I'm being totally honest.
The process of making the squad is an intense, months-long affair where sweat, tears, and extreme makeovers are just a small part of the process. After three days of binge-watching the docuseries, here's what I learned about what it's actually like to become a DCC:
Hundreds apply online for the first round of auditions. Applicants turn in one headshot and one full-length photo, accompanied by a 20-second intro and a 60-second freestyle dance video.
In Season 1, Kelli Finglass, the director of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders program, mentions there were around 500 who applied online. In Season 2, Kelli shares that the number could now be in the thousands due to the popularity of the show.
The head of the DCC hiring committee is Kelli Finglass and Judy Trammell, the head of choreography. Both cheered for the team in the '80s. Charlotte Jones, the EVP and Chief Brand Officer of the team, also oversees the program.
From the video auditions, around 75 hopefuls are invited for in-person live solo performances in Frisco, Texas, where a panel of judges votes for contestants to move on to the next round.
Becoming a DCC is highly competitive. Veterans — former team members who made it to the squad the previous year — still have to go through the live solo performance auditions and pass. And after that, they still have to make it through training camp.
After contestants pass the live performances stage, they audition to showcase their moves on the turf. "The audition process is pretty comprehensive," Kelli says in Season 2. "The solos can show us amazing dancers with brilliant technique and years of training, but they're not doing a lyrical, contemporary, modern piece on our football field. A stadium requires an arena performer as opposed to possibly a soloist or a concert dancer." She adds, "It becomes a skill to learn how to project on a football field."
Once they make it through the football field auditions, they're selected for training camp — but the audition process isn't over. Around 45 make it to training camp, with additional cuts to follow as they get closer to the finish line.
Rachel Gill, who previously cheered for the DCC, wrote in D Magazine that "showmanship is a big factor in the judging." She said, "The directors can work with someone on improving her dance skills or be lenient with those who do not learn quickly as long as they execute the choreography when needed. But it is difficult to teach performance showmanship. You either have it, or you don't."
At training camp, potential members get to finally learn the iconic AC/DC's "Thunderstruck" choreography. "I've been watching that dance since I was little, so to actually start learning it was surreal but much harder than expected," said Kelly Villares, who auditioned in Season 1. "The steps, there's so much to think about."
The "Thunderstruck" dance routine has been performed by the DCC since the opening of the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas in 2009, and has been part of the pre-game routine for the Dallas Cowboys. It's performed at every home game, and the iconic choreography is renowned for its precision and flair.
The iconic dance routine features a "Point 1" and "Point 2" position, which are the two positions at the head of the dance sequence. It's an honor to take on these positions as a DCC. Usually, the ones chosen are veterans who demonstrate dance skills, a positive representation of the DCC, and showmanship.
Another part of the making-the-team process includes an ANTM-like makeover session. Recruits are taken to a salon where hairstylists and makeup artists recommend new looks and hairstyles. "We have now seen them dance. We've seen them in an audition, competition environment," said Kelli. "And now, we're trying to make sure they are at their best look."
Having that "DCC look" is a rather high ideal and there's a lot of pressure to live up to the standard and look a certain way. "There's this beauty about DCC that's perfect, and everyone thinks you're this perfect person," said Jayln Stough, who cheered with the team for five years. "We are looking for it to be exact with everyone. To get our makeup done right, our hair done, our nails done. Always smiling, never sad." She added, "That trickles into the locker room. That trickles into our everyday lives."
In the end, out of the hundreds who apply and check all those boxes, only 36 women make the team, comprising returning veterans who have successfully rejoined and the new recruits.
Once they make the team, they get to rock the iconic DCC uniforms. It's rumored that they only receive one pair, which means they have to keep it pristine and stay the same size since it's tailored to their body from when they're first recruited. "You don't get a new uniform," explained Kat Puryear, a retired veteran who cheered for the team for four years. "Once you're fitted for that uniform, that size is the size you get. You don't get to go up. If you go up, they're like, 'Why does this not fit you?'"
Everyone also has to return their uniforms, even those who retire.
Victoria Kalina, a fourth-year veteran in Season 1, spoke about her struggles with depression and disordered eating, and how being a part of the DCC didn't make it any easier. "As a dancer, that's the hardest thing that you can fight are eating disorders, plus depression," she said. "Game time comes, so then you just gotta get into those baby clothes, get into that baby uniform, and that cycle just keeps going."
While there isn't an official height or weight requirement to become a DCC, it's suggested in the series that it helps if the cheerleaders are all around the same height, since they have to support each other physically in the kick line.
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have been a huge part of pop culture since the '70s, and their uniforms are so iconic that they're actually hung in the Smithsonian. "To tell people you were a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader, they all wanted to be your best friend all of a sudden," said one alumnus who danced for the team in the '70s.
The cheerleaders refer to leadership, like Kelli and Judy, as "Ma'am."
For Abby Summers, who auditioned in Season 2 and who grew up in Ohio, it was a bit of a culture shock. "I mean, first the 'Yes, ma'm.' Never said that in my life," she said. "But I do understand that's respect for them."
Being a DCC is incredibly physical, especially since splits are required to make the team, and the team's signature moves are high kicks and the jumping splits. Kat, who danced for four years, said, "Both my hips are torn. Some girls' backs and necks are pretty messed up. A lot of girls get surgery."
"Every single girl is super talented, and I'll be completely honest," said Jada McLean, a five-year vet, when discussing the new recruits and their live solo performances, "I have felt my body break down since I've been here, so watching them can be intimidating because I remember when there was a point in my life that I could do really cool tricks and stuff, and now, I'm just trying to keep my body in one piece."However, many of the cheerleaders share in the series that the moves are just so integral, they can't imagine not doing them.
For the rookies, at the end of their inaugural year, they receive matching pinky rings commemorating their first year as a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader.
At public appearances, a "no-touch" policy is implemented. Fans are usually given a football to hold to prevent physical contact. "The football is so people don't touch us because people get freaking handsy," said Kat. "Especially when they start to know your name."
In Season 1, Sophy Laufer, a second-year vet at the time, experienced an incident where she was allegedly "touched inappropriately" by a photographer during a game. She reported it to her teammates, who told the security guards and alerted the police. However, a statement was shared on the show: "After conducting an investigation, which included reviewing security footage from AT&T stadium, the Arlington police department determined there was not enough evidence to conclude that a criminal offense occurred."
Regarding the situation, Jada said, "Just because we put on this uniform doesn't make us an object. ... I am still a human being who worked hard to put on this uniform. Treat me with respect, even when I have this on, you know?"
Safety is a concern for the DCC, especially since their visibility has grown. Kat said of the fame, "I've had letters sent to my personal address." Kelcey Wetterberg, a five-year vet, shared an incident where she discovered someone had placed an AirTag on her car after she'd driven home. It took a mental toll on her, despite alerting the police and filing police reports. "There's never anything they can do until somebody hurts me," she said.
Being a part of the DCC is considered a part-time, "hourly employment position," although it's mentioned in the series that during a busy season, they can work up to 40 hours a week due to selected additional appearances. Many juggle two or three other jobs on top of their work with DCC.
The requirements are "approximately 10 home games," "3-4 rehearsals a week between 2-3 hours" from late July until the end of the Dallas Cowboys football season, and can include additional appearances. The additional appearances aren't mandatory, but it's considered an honor to be selected, and they're paid. The rehearsals are also paid.Jada told the New York Times in 2024 that she made "$15 per hour" and "$500 per appearance." In Season 2, like many of the other DCC's, she shared that she had another job to supplement her income.
In Season 2, DCC vets Jada McLean, Amanda Howard, Megan McElaney, Kleine Powell, and Armani Latimer led the charge in fighting for better wages. In the end, their efforts resulted in a "400%" pay increase. Although, Jada clarified to Variety that the "400%" increase is multi-faceted.
Jada said that some veterans will make $75 an hour or more, though the NY Times wrote, the organization, in an email statement, said they will "not confirm the new wages.""For some things, it's actually more than that an hour, but it depends," she told Variety in another interview. For example, for practices, it won't be the $75 hourly rate, however, at the games, "you will be paid more than that an hour." She continued, "Some people are like, '400% of what you're making a year?' I wish! But there have been increases in certain areas of 400%.''We pushed, and we got back good results,' said Armani Latimer, a five-year veteran who, like Jada, retired after Season 2. 'I love the fact that I made a change for the girls that are coming up behind me, even if I'm not getting a chance to benefit.'Kelli said in the docuseries, "You guys have moved some mountains this year that will forever change our organization and, hopefully, dancers organizations across the world," and that this change had been "60-plus-years long overdue."
And lastly, if you were wondering whether there are any cheerleader-football player pairings on the show, there aren't and won't be. That's because, according to the series, the cheerleaders sign a "no fraternization" contract regarding the football players that states they cannot "date" or "fraternize" with them.
What an exhilarating watch! Did you catch the series? What did you think? Drop your thoughts in the comments.