Ask A Pro

Below are the lastest questions we have gotten from our website. Thank you for all the questions and keep them coming!

1. Stacy in Nebraska:
I am on the reserve team for my school but I want to compete more so I have been thinking about contacting a cheer and dance school in town to see about joining an all-star team. Do you know if I would have to quit my school's team? If so, what do you think would be better to do?

Hi Stacy, it is great that you are trying to get extra training and competition experience! Every coach can determine if she will allow athletes to dance/cheer in an outside program, but if the policy has not been made clear, it doesn't hurt to ask! You should find out the practice times of the all star team, and if they conflict with your school's practices or games, be prepared to make a decision. If you are able to make both teams work, will it hurt your studies? Can you fully dedicate yourself to both teams? Will there be expenses with each program? All star vs school squads are very different environments, and if your goal is to perform in college or in the pros, maybe that competitive experience is exactly what you need! Good luck!

2. Meg in Nebraska:
What is your favorite part about cheering?

Hi Meg, being from Nebraska, you can probably relate to my love for my football team - you Cornhuskers fans are crazy! Well, I was raised as a die-hard Kansas City Chiefs fan, tailgating, watching every game, spending time with family wearing red! So my favorite part of professional cheerleading has been the honor of working for the NFL and cheering in the great Arrowhead Stadium. It gives me goose bumps every time!

3. Alyssa in Illinois:
We have to wear our hair down when we dance. Is there a good way to keep it from falling in your face during a routine?

Oh, Alyssa, I feel your pain! In college, our team had a strict rule to dance with our hair pulled back, so my transition to professional cheerleading, where the girls always perform with their hair down, was quite an adjustment! With some hair styles, you pretty much can't avoid hair falling in your face, so work on using your hair as an extension of your performance. Pinpoint moves in the routine where you can toss your head without taking away from the choreography. The more you move, the more your hair will keep out of your eyes! Oh, and don't ever wear lip gloss, which will cause your hair to stick to your lips and act like a glue no matter how much you flip your lovely locks around!