Becoming a Professional Cheerleader is not as difficult as you think. This 5-step process is your key to success
Photo courtesy: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders
Professional cheerleaders are ambassadors to their sports team. Whether they cheer for an NFL or NBA team, these women play a huge role in engaging fans not only in the field at home games but also from across the globe. To be a professional cheerleader is truly rewarding and unforgettable. The position is prestigious (not to mention thousands of women audition for limited, coveted spots) and takes a lot of commitment, hard work, and preparation at the physical, mental, and emotional level.
Perhaps the most important thing you need to consider is the time commitment you're able to make as a professional cheerleader. All teams require you to have a flexible schedule so you can attend thrice a week rehearsals, perform at home games, and participate in the team's charity events and yearly photo shoot.
Before anything else, decide which squad you want to be part of. If you already have a dream team, the next thing you should do is to visit your team's page and check their audition details. See their requirements and audition dates so you can get yourself ready ahead of time.
This article will guide you on how you can become a professional cheerleader.
1. Prepare your body
Photo courtesy: Detroit Lions Cheerleaders
Professional cheerleading is a sport and cheerleaders are no different from athletes. They carry the same risks as they do. Therefore, a very important prerequisite to professional cheerleading is physical fitness. Are you able to run a mile without feeling fatigued? Can you grab your right elbow with your left hand? Can you straighten your leg?
You need the stamina to execute moves that require high bursts of energy. Stamina will help you endure hours of practices and performances on game days and other cheer events. To build stamina, you need regular aerobic workouts. Cardiovascular exercises like jogging, cycling, swimming, and plyometrics help you withstand moderate to intense work.
Flexibility is another thing to develop. Flexibility allows you to perform high kicks. It improves your posture, gives you a leaner look, and helps you avoid getting yourself injured when doing quick and intense dance moves. To build flexibility, join a yoga or pilates class. Barre workouts are another great option.
Keep yourself in tip-top shape through proper diet. You won’t be able to benefit from your workouts without the right nutrition. Avoid unhealthy, processed carbohydrates like white rice, pastries, and soda. Focus on keeping a clean diet that’s high in protein and fiber. Don’t forget to drink liters of water to stay hydrated.
2. Prepare your image
Photo courtesy: Denver Broncos Cheerleaders
Decide what your outfit and makeup will be. Your looks matter. Your goal should be to make judges see you as a great fit for the team. Again, the first thing you should do is to check your team’s homepage for the prescribed outfit on the audition day. Do not miss out on this. In general, cheer teams require candidates to wear a glamorous crop top/two-piece and dance shoes during the preliminary round. For the interviews, a more conservative attire may be required.
To help you make the best choice possible, check the outfits of last year’s candidates. You can see audition photos in your team’s website or Facebook/Instagram/Twitter page. Some teams encourage candidates to wear an attire that features their team colors so judges get a good idea of how they would look in the team uniforms.
When it comes to makeup, choose colors that complement your skin tone. You also need to check the current “look” of your team’s cheerleaders. Do they wear red lipstick or prefer nude and pink shades? Remember that some pro cheer teams have a signature lip color. Stay on the safe side by looking through their current photos. Nearly all cheer teams feature solo shots of each member so you get a closer look on their makeup.
If you’re not used to wearing eyeliner and mascara, make sure you do during the tryouts. This will make your eyes pop and your face stand out. Stick with matte neutrals like brown, black, and dark gray. We encourage you to use sweat-proof makeup products (from your foundation to your blush) so that you look fresh throughout the audition.
Lastly, the way to know if your “makeup look” of choice works for you is to take photos of yourself in it. Try various options and pick the best one that accentuates your natural beauty. A popular brand that pro cheerleaders swear by is M.A.C.
3. Prepare your hair
Photo courtesy: LA Rams Cheerleaders
Your hair plays a vital role in your performance. Nearly all cheer performances involve a hair toss and the last thing you want is hair that’s difficult to manage and doesn’t move with you when you dance. A good hairstyle can also improve your appearance ten-fold by putting emphasis on your best facial features.
Professional cheerleaders wear their hair completely down. When it comes to color, choose one that matches your skin tone. If you are going to go with blonde or any of the red or strawberry blonde tones, you should really go to a professional to make sure it is done correctly. You can easily color your hair using brown tones at home but it can look flat and dull if the product does not come with natural lowlights and highlights. Don’t be afraid to stick to your natural hair color. You already look great in it!
To choose your hairstyle, check the current hairstyles of your team’s cheerleaders. Do they curl their hair to make it look big, bouncy, and sexy? Wavy and curly hair are the thing these days with a lot of cheer teams (Dallas Cowboys, 49ers Gold Rush, Houston Texans, etc). However, there are also teams that welcome bob styles such as the Denver Broncos cheerleaders.
Avoid bangs. Notice that current pro cheerleaders do not have bangs. The reason for this is that your bangs will stick to your forehead or end up in your eyes when you dance.
4. Prepare your dance technique
Photo courtesy: Boston Celtics Cheerleaders
Dance ability is one of the judging criteria for the cheer tryouts. Although some teams do not require you to have years of dance experience, it is still highly encouraged. If you don’t normally dance, consider taking dance classes that offer Hip-Hop, Jazz, and Ballet so you get to learn basic pro cheerleader moves and easily pick up dance choreography in each audition round. There will also be a portion during the tryouts where you will be asked to perform your own routine. Having a solid background in dance will help you be creative with your freestyle performance.
Aside from Hip-Hop, Jazz, and Ballet, other dance styles for arena cheerleading preparation include Bellydance, Bollywood, and Zumba. Taking dance classes that offer these styles can also develop your flexibility. Most importantly, watch videos of your team’s dance routines. You can find these videos on their homepage. Some teams even feature choreography videos from last year’s auditions. Try practicing them at home. If your dream team offers prep classes, we encourage you to take them. Though they are not mandatory, you will be taught dance routines which will be a bonus on your part.
Also, find out if your team requires candidates to use pom-poms at the auditions. To stay on the safe side, start practicing the use of pom-poms while dancing. Doing this will have you swinging the poms like a pro. As an added benefit, the poms will add weight to your hands when you rehearse, giving you a great workout!
5. Prepare your mind
Photo courtesy: Colts Cheerleaders
An important part of the audition process is the interview portion. Not only will you be judged based on your physical fitness, appearance, and dance ability, your knowledge about your team and how you respond to questions will also be checked. The reason why teams add an interview portion in their auditions is that they need to evaluate how a candidate would perform when interviewed by the media. Professional cheerleaders make a lot of media appearances and should, therefore, speak eloquently and sound intelligent. Judges will also want to know more about you – your interests and personality.
Learn about the league, study your dream team (history, staff, key events, players), and visit news websites to get a feel for current events (check CNN.com). You may want to participate in a local Toastmasters® group to hone your speaking abilities in public. During the tryouts, expect to be asked why you want to become a professional cheerleader, who your role model is, what you do for a living, and more.
Lastly, remember that your goal of becoming a professional cheerleader will not be realized unless you set your mindset for success. Your progress largely depends on the way you think. Adopt a positive and strong attitude that will give you the drive to put in long hours so you can get to where you want to be. Don’t forget to have fun!
Can you picture yourself dancing under the bright lights alongside gorgeous cheerleaders, cheering at professional-level sporting events?
If you would love to join a professional dance team audition but have no idea on how to get started, my book entitled “Professional Cheerleading Audition Secrets: How To Become an Arena Cheerleader for NFL®, NBA®, and Other Pro Cheer Teams” will guide you every step of the way.
I decided to write this book to help you discover reliable tips and advice on adopting the right mindset, maintaining your image, staying fit and beautiful, and more - based on my 20+ years of experience in the cheerleading industry.
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