Monday, March 31, 2008

Cheerleader of the Week - Melissa Rycroft

Cheerleader of the Week


2nd year veteran Melissa Rycroft



Melissa is a 24 year old Land and Marketing Coordinator from Dallas, TX


Lifetime goal: "Just to be happy, keep smiling, and have no regrets about any of the decisions I've made."

Sunday, March 30, 2008

DCC Alumni Update: Micaela Johnson

2003-2005 Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader alumni Micaela Johnson is the current Miss Nebraska USA 2008. Johnson is currently attending the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and is an aspiring actress.

From the MissUSA.com interview:

Name one personal accomplishment (in addition to being a State Titleholder) that makes you especially proud.
Micaela: One of the personal achievements I am most proud of is being a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader. It was the opportunity of a lifetime, allowing me to experience many wonderful things I had never imagined possible.

To read the rest of the interview and for more information on Micaela and the Miss USA pageant, with video and pictures go to:
http://www.missusa.com/delegates/2008/files/NE.html

For more information on Micaela, please go to:
http://www.micaelajohnson.com

Watch her compete for the title of Miss USA 2008 on April 11th, on NBC!


DCC Prep Class: Behind The Scenes


IRVING, Texas - Imagine two scenarios. In the first, you park your car at Texas Stadium for the first round of DCC Auditions, nerves in full swing, wondering if you really should have tried this new hairstyle today and debating between wearing the blue or the red (you've packed both since you're just not sure). Your bag is extra heavy because you haven't really figured out which shoes to wear yet --the dance shoe, the high heeled shoe, or the sneaker?? You walk up to take your place in line, not quite knowing anyone else standing there and you are just hoping your internal butterflies will decide to take a rest... sooner than later.

In our second scenario, you park at the stadium and look for your new friends (you met them at the official prep classes and have been gossiping with them, dancing in the DCC studio and getting geared up for the big day together for weeks). You are armed with the perfect audition outfit and hairstyle... You know this because you asked the staff at the official DCC Prep classes and they gave you some real advice and tips. You are excited but relaxed too because you've had a weekly preparatory class where every single question you can imagine has been answered; you have been rehearsing the style with the DCC veterans and now it's up to you to go have fun and if all goes well, claim your spot to the next round.



Every year the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders hold a series of Official Prep Classes to give all interested applicants an edge in the process. Some applicants choose to attend all available classes and some attend just one or two. The classes are valuable on so many levels. The first and most obvious is that applicants can get some level of comfort by attending even just one class. There's the opportunity to ask questions each week, get one-on-one advice about personal audition-day appearance, and to practice the type of dancing that the Cheerleaders are famous for. There are also killer stretches and challenging warm-ups in each class.



DCC hopeful, Jacqueline Hardy has added to her skills set including the dance terminology taught in Prep Classes. "When they say 'kick ball change, pas de bouree, and pirouette', I'll know what they're talking about now."

Jennifer Devendorf another of the applicants adds, "I think it's a great opportunity to not only learn the choreography, but to learn the style, and really get a feel for the technique and also get a chance to work on our flexibility."

There are even more reasons to attend. This is important so listen up... To show up every week and get a chance to say, "Hello," personally to the DCC staff is a smart move. Listen, you've got about two minutes to make a lasting impression at the Preliminary round of auditions. Prep classes afford each applicant an opportunity to maximize their exposure and face-time. After all, these classes are held by the actual DCC staff and veterans.



Shelly Bramhall, Associate Choreographer for the team also directs many of the Prep classes. She explains the elements of the classes. "We try to cover our traditional walk, kicks, turns, and a combination every week in the style that we perform at the football games."

Additionally, coming to class shows that you are committed and very interested in doing what it takes to make this elite team.

Bramhall adds another nugget of inside information, "The girls walk in the door and Judy Trammell (official team choreographer) gets a chance to peek in and see them in class. She then has an idea about their strengths over a twelve week period."



This can be very advantageous when a strong applicant struggles with an off-day during the audition. Trammell has the ability to defend the candidate to the panel of judges because she's watched them work over a period of time.

While the classes are a smart step in the audition process, they're simply fun too. Ladies are ushered through the hallowed halls of the Dallas Cowboys Complex, into the brightly lit DCC studio for an evening of heart pumping warm ups, combinations and choreography. While auditioning may be serious business, prep classes allow for some light moments and kidding around with current and past Cheerleaders and staff.



Stefani Peterson enjoys the Prep class series, "Meeting new people, making new friends and dancing the different styles has been fun; plus it's neat to dance with the Cheerleaders."

Peterson's thoughts must be shared by many this year. The classes have been so popular that after filling to maximum capacity, additional classes were recently added to the schedule to meet the demand.



It seems that attending Prep Classes calms the nerves both on a weekly basis and on audition day. An applicant can't really know this until she appears at the first day of auditions, but the process is both exhilarating and unavoidably overwhelming. Why not take advantage of being prepared to the fullest while auditioning with 40-plus familiar faces? There's nothing better than having a friend encourage you just before or after you've performed for the judges.

Now, if there were just prep classes for all the rest of those interesting challenges out there!

via: DallasCowboys.com

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Cheers to Fitness

For many of us, casual Friday is a day worth looking forward to all week. The mood seems a little lighter, the environment a little more relaxed. But for the students of Denton Creek Elementary School in Coppell, a recent Friday morning was anything but relaxed.

In fact, the mood was downright fun and the volume was turned up a few notable notches. The school gymnasium seemed to rock with the level of cheers and enthusiasm.

Why so pumped? Well, for starters, three members of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders spent the morning with the students. Megan Fox, Makenzi Swicegood and Deryn Derbigny, all veterans of the glamorous squad, also happen to be members of the team's "power squad", the fittest of the fit so to speak.


So why were they there? The purpose of the visit was obvious through the presence of the fourth member of this group, Sgt. Jay Johnson, a nationally known fitness professional and trainer to the DCC. The kids were in for a serious boot camp . . . and some serious fun.
The group was invited to Denton Creek Elementary School by Coach Larned. His goals were simple. He wanted to reiterate the importance of fitness and nutrition to the youngsters in a fun presentation.


"We want the kids to know that fitness is not work; you can enjoy moving and it's fun," Coach Larned said. "Plus they'll learn about nutrition and how to better help their bodies."
The children filled the gymnasium and were treated to a genuine "boot camp" series of exercises lead by Johnson. But they weren't alone. The three enthusiastic cheerleaders worked right along side of the kids. Johnson not only lead boot camp but offered real advice too about nutrition, encouraging the kids to stay away from sodas and doughnuts and make better choices when it comes to diet.


"Fitness is simple. It's not rocket science and anyone can do it," said Johnson.
It's no secret that obesity levels in our country have reached an alarming number. Coach Larned is acutely aware of that.


"Obesity is a problem in our country - especially in our state - and I'm thrilled that our state has gotten involved and that our schools are holding kids responsible," Coach Larned said.
After the children completed a series of exercises in the gymnasium, they were broken into groups for the course created for them outside. Once back inside, they were allowed to ask the Cheerleaders questions. Those questions ranged from "Who is your favorite Cowboy?" to "What's your favorite color?"


When the Cheerleaders were asked by one student who their role models were while growing up, the ladies answered unanimously that their parents were the role models that guided them. When the same question was asked of the kids, one little voice answered excitedly above the others, "Beyonce!"


What a reminder of how impressionable these children really are. Coach Larned took advantage of that fact by bringing in the world-famous ladies and their trainer.


"If I could have one Cheerleader out here every day all year long I would have no problems . . . the level of excitement has raised the roof," Coach Larned said.

via DallasCowboys.com