What You Can Learn from Returning Veterans at DCC Auditions
Image source: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Instagram
Every pro cheer team audition is an arduous process. From the preliminary to the final rounds, a lot of cuts will be made to make the best candidates remain for the final squad roster. As a rookie auditionee, your chances of making the final list are slim.
Sure, you may have the talent for dancing and the look of the ideal pro cheerleader. But at the final rounds of the auditions, those who understand and can execute the performance style of their team are the ones who often make it.
The thought of getting rejected in the auditions is scary, especially if you know you lack the experience of being a pro cheer squad member. Rachel Gill, a former Washington Redskins Cheerleader, reviews the fifth episode of the sixteenth season of DCC: Making the team through D Magazine.
In her piece, she recalls what she learned as a rookie auditionee from squad directors and auditioning veterans that made her secure a spot in the Redskins cheerleaders after three attempts. Read on to find out what these important lessons are.
1. Pro cheerleading has a different set of dance intricacies
As Rachel says, “I learned that there’s a specific way to stand on the field (your feet are in ballet third position with your hands on your hips), just as there’s a certain way to shake or “fluff” your poms (rolling your wrists towards yourself in a circular motion). There are tricks to flipping your hair so it stays out of your face while dancing, a specific way to end sideline routines, and so much more.”
What you’ve learned by observing pro cheer performances may not be enough. They might even be wrong. And it’s your duty as an auditionee to know what these intricacies are before auditioning for your dream team. The earlier you know, the more time you can practice and the higher your chances are of reaching the finals.
2. If you don’t get past the audition rounds, it’s just not your year
Rejection is heartbreaking. Not to hear your name called as one of the women who will advance to the next round is enough to make you quickly pack your stuff and go home crying. But that’s part of the process.
Rachel discussed that in the 5th episode of DCC: Making the Team’s 16th season, former DCC Maddie Massingill tells other rookie auditionees that not everyone will win together and your year of acceptance will come. Like Rachel, Maddie also didn’t make the final cut on her first audition. But she stayed patient and dedicated until she reached a 5-year run as a DCC.
The best part of failing an audition is that you have a lot of time to reflect on what you lacked and train to improve on your shortcomings. You may even realize that you’ve failed because you rushed your audition prep. So when your next audition opportunity comes, you’ll be more armed and ready.
3. It takes a lot of effort just to get past the preliminary rounds
One of the common mistakes rookie auditionees make is they think pro cheer auditions are easy to pass. Rachel learned things the hard way. Although she had extensive experience in dancing, she was taking a few years off as a performer which didn’t help her get past the preliminary rounds of her first audition.
Then she realized that she needed to train herself physically and take prep classes offered by the team she was auditioning for. Still, she didn’t make the final cut. But she was given the opportunity to be a team ambassador — a stepping stone that finally made her part of the Redskins cheerleaders.
4. Listening to feedback is very important
We all have our own styles and approaches to dancing that we’re comfortable with following. However, you must remember that a pro cheer squad is a squad. All members should think alike. When a veteran auditionee, judge, choreographer, or squad director tells you what you’re doing is wrong, then you’re absolutely wrong.
You must heed their advice because they see potential in you and want you to succeed. At times, you’ll only receive feedback when it’s already too late. Nevertheless, you should still write down what you’ve learned and improve upon it for your next audition attempt.
5. You should make friends during the audition
If nobody gives you feedback, then you should ask for it. The first step is to make friends with everyone you’ll meet before and during the auditions. Your instructor or that veteran auditionee in the prep class will offer you insights on what judges will look for during the audition rounds.
If they aren’t available, then keep an open eye on who you’ll meet during the audition process. Veteran auditionees are more than happy to share their knowledge as well as the judges. But make sure to approach them during their free time.
After receiving insights on making your dream team, don’t forget to share them with other auditionees. While not everyone can make it, what matters is you have shown leadership and become a good role model for others — these are important qualities an aspiring pro cheerleader should have. As Rachel Gill puts it, “Ultimately, everyone benefits: offering them support and guidance from day one helped make the entire team cohesive and better as a whole."
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