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.