Tips from Kelli of the Raiderettes and Erin of the Chiefs!

NFL and NBA auditions are right around the corner, and our favorite former cheerleaders remember just what it was like!

Kelli, Los Angeles Raiderettes 1990 - 1996, Line Captain and Dancer of the year in 1995, says:
Come to the audition over-prepared in every way especially on your routine. Practice the moves until you can do them in your sleep then it will be second nature so you can really have fun for the judges. Smile and show them how much you love to dance and you can't go wrong!

Erin, Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleaders 2004-2006, says:
Realize that you're being judged not only on your dance ability and appearance but your character as well! Be respectful, helpful, and NICE to the other girls auditioning, as well as judges and any other personnel. Remember, these girls are going through the exact same experience as you - you might even make some great friends!


Thanks for the tips! Be sure to forward this Facebook page to a friend and spread the LOVE! Be sure to see Pro Cheer and Dance Audition Tips page on Facebook.

Recent "Ask A Pro" questions

Below are the lastest questions we have recieved from our website. Thank you for all the questions and to Laura for answering them! Keep the questions coming by going to www.wecovercheer.com/Ask_A_Pro.html


Melissa in Nebraska:
After a long day of competing I always have really sore feet. Do you have any suggestions for improving this? Do you wear any type of shoe inserts?

When I was an NFL cheerleader, we had to be on our feet for 6 hours in 2-inch heeled boots, walking on concrete, performing, kicking!! It was agony by the end, so I feel your pain. :( I have found that insoles generally crowded the shoes and made my feet even more uncomfortable, but taping the balls of my feet with athletic tape helped. You need to be careful not to limit your movement so you can fully point and flex your feet! Be sure to try this at practice before going to a competition to make sure that precautionary measure works for you.

Alyssa in Nebraska:
Laura thank you for taking questions. I was wondering, to be a professional dancer, what techniques of dance should I be working on to perfect?

This is a great question, because pro dancing is indeed very different from competitive cheerleading and dance. Dance technique is still crucial; most teams include double or triple pirouettes, leaps, jumps, axels, and high kicks in their choreography. You'll find one squad's dance style really varies from the next, so research the team for which you are auditioning and take class from their choreographer or attend one of their prep classes a few months before auditions. Usually pro dancing requires more exaggerated movements and a great deal of personality. We call it "hair-ography" because you learn to work with your hair while dancing!!

Craig in Kansas: Whats it like being tossed up in the air? I play football and see the cheerleaders on the sidelines and always wondered what its like being tossed so high?

Haha... Craig, honestly I have only been a top flyer once or twice and that was back in high school! I remember it being an adrenaline rush, but too scary for me. Flyers must have a great deal of trust in their teammates! In fact, pro cheerleaders rarely are involved in stunting. The only NFL stunt team is the Baltimore Ravens, but it is more popular in the NBA as seen with the Denver Nuggets and the Portland Trailblazers.

Amy Day, Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleader

Today we feature Amy Day, 6th year veteran with the Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleader, 2-time swimsuit cover model, captain, choreographer and ProBowl Cheerleader. Amy has also played an integral role on the Chiefs Cheerleader Variety Show performance troupe, traveling around the world entertaining and showing appreciation to United States military.

Hi Amy, tell us more about the CC Variety Show, As Time Goes By: Memories Last Forever.

The show is a journey from the 1940s to today. We feature music from each year that captures the spirit of that time. There is singing, dancing, acting, and over 40 costume changes. A narrator introduces each decade, describing moments from that ear such as the price of gas, popular movies, and events that were taking place.

What is your favorite part of the show?

We end the show with a patriotic section. I think that every girl who performs the show agrees that is the best part!

Where have the CCs performed?

We have traveled to Cuba, Italy, Egypt, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, and Germany. We have performed at numerous events in Kansas and Missouri, as well as Seattle and Omaha, and most recently Maryland.

What else do you do for the troops besides the show?

When we visit the bases, we truly get to know them. We want to meet as many troops as possible before the show and personally invite them to come. We want to know about the base, who these men and women are, what is their job, where are they from. Doing the show is so much fun, but my fondest memories come from conversations I've had one on one.

What did you do during this particular trip?

We went to Bethesda hospital in Maryland, where we met "wounded warriors," soldiers who were severely injured in Iraq. They were some of the bravest men I have met. Near the end of our trip, 176 troops were returning home from Iraq at the Maryland airport, and we were the first ones to greet them as they stepped off the plane. Seeing them reunited with their families is something that I will never forget.

As you retire, what are your top 3 moments as an NFL cheerleader?

Cheering at the Pro Bowl in Hawaii. Traveling to Egypt to perform and seeing the pyramids! Then probably my last home game cheering, it was very special.

Why did you initially try out for the NFL?

I grew up dancing and bumped into a girl with whom I used to dance, who at the time was a Chiefs Cheerleader. I honestly had no idea I could try out to do that! So I kept in touch with her and auditioned two months later and made it!

Of course your reasons for returning are quite different, wouldn't you say?

Yes definitely. It's just in your blood! I feel that I have grown so much from being a part of the Chiefs organization. It's more than just dancing in front of 80,000 people. I have had the chance to participate in so many events that I never would have experienced. I have been able to reach out to my community and make a difference. I made the best friends of my life! Chiefs is more than just a team. We really become a family. Our squad really takes the time to bond as sisters.

Any advice to girls considering auditioning for a pro squad?

Talk to as many people as you can who have cheered. You need to want the experience with all your heart because it is a huge commitment. Look at your life and schedule and make sure it is going to work. It is sometimes difficult to balance a full time job, a family, your friends, your own life, and professional cheering. If you decide it is something you want then just be positive. Go into auditions with an optimistic attitude. I guarentee you will get something out of the experience no matter what the outcome is.

As Amy closes her chapter with the Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleaders, she is excited to serve future professional cheerleaders and dancers as a Going Pro Entertainment Consultant. Meet Amy on Saturday, March 7 at the Kansas City Fluid Dance Convention through the Going Pro Agenda. Learn more at http://www.goingproentertainment.com/going-pro-kansas-city-1

JAMfest Results

Congrats to all teams yesterday at the Wacky Jam in Omaha, NE. Our photos will be posted soon online, but below is the link to the results.

http://jamfest.com/Events/Results/2008-2009/WackyJAM.pdf