Will Age Prevent You from Making Your Dream Pro Cheer Team?
Image credit: Pelicans Dance Team
Straightforward answer? No.
For teenage aspirants, there are some professional cheerleading teams with a minimum age requirement of 18. Meanwhile other squads require a minimum age of 21. The key is to confirm the minimum age requirement of your dream team by visiting their website. Younger aspirants have an advantage, and that's having more preparation time for the auditions. For instance, you can plan to audition by 19 or 20 and train all year round as well as hone your dancing. You will also have more time to improve your public speaking and experiment with makeup styles.
For older aspirants, know that there is NO maximum age requirement. But what’s really important is that you look healthy, fit, and young for the auditions. So if you’re 45, but look like a 27 with the vigor of a teenager then you’re very qualified to audition and be part of your dream squad.
Anyways, enough with worrying about the age requirements. How can you start preparing for the upcoming auditions? This article will show you 5 ways.
1. Polish your dance techniques
Every aspiring professional cheerleader is highly encouraged to join preparatory dance classes. This is the best way to learn some new moves, improve body flexibility, and lose weight. Joining prep classes is also a plus before auditioning as you get to know other aspirants and form new friendships before the auditions. Some judges subtly screen aspirants by secretly attending prep classes. You can register for the classes but prepare some cash as most dance prep classes and clinics aren’t free. Or if you want, you can polish your dance techniques alone and create routines yourself based on team performance videos that you watch.
2. Find your right makeup style
Dancers always wear makeup during performances and even on auditions. It is best that you find a makeup style that flatters your face before an audition. Practicing to apply makeup is also a useful skill to learn not just for pro cheer auditions, but also for future performances if you get accepted into the team.
3. Get in shape
Strict workout and a proper diet are surefire ways to make you appear young, healthy, and fit for the auditions. So before the auditions arrive, plan your diet and workout regimen.
For advice on a proper workout and healthy diet please check out these articles:
- Pro Cheer Health: 6 Simple Food Swaps to Improve Your Diet
- 5 Quick Ways to Improve Your Audition Prep Workouts
Get advice on sleep and lifestyle by looking at these articles:
Image credit: Colts Cheerleaders
4. Practice facing the public
Audition interviews are done by a panel of judges and are usually open to the public in your home team’s stadiums. It's possible that you're also going to face hundreds of people there. Be prepared to speak in public and build your confidence.
Read also: Audition Advice: Useful Tips to Gain Confidence When Speaking In Public
5. Research and prepare for the interviews
Research on what it takes to join your pro cheer dream squad by visiting their pages for schedules of the preliminaries to final auditions. Schedules and registration forms for prep dance classes and clinics are also posted there. Be sure to visit our blog regularly - we post the latest updates on NFL and NBA professional cheerleading/dance team audition announcements.
Age is just a number. Appearance, energy, confidence, and a positive attitude are what will help you make the team (regardless of when you're going to audition). Be prepared and rock your auditions by staying miles ahead of other candidates. Know what it takes to succeed by researching and actually doing the work!
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