Over 600 excited and anxious Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders hopefuls arrive at Texas Stadium for the preliminary auditions. After performing their freestyle dance routines for the judges, they anxiously await the reveal of who gets to move on ... only 130 make it to the semi-finals. At semis, they’re taught the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders’ style of dance, along with the legendary kick line. Amid tears of joy and disappointment, only 60 girls are called back for the finals, where they’ll compete against the seasoned veterans to earn a spot in the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Training Camp.
In the finals audition, the competition really heats up. Now, surviving candidates must go head-to-head against experienced veteran cheerleaders for a coveted spot in the DCC Training Camp. All trying out are interviewed by judges, have their backgrounds checked and are asked to perform solo dance routines. Which candidates can handle the stress and “WOW” the judges to prove they are the total package? Only 45 have what it takes and in a dramatic DCC upset, returning veteran cheerleaders are not invited back to the squad.
Training Camp begins! The newly elected training camp candidates are excited, even star struck, as they meet the veterans for the first time at Valley Ranch. At the first team meeting, anxiety ripples through the ranks when DCC director Kelli Finglass announces that a couple of the more seasoned veterans have failed the written test. Veterans come up short again during the body fat evaluation—some of them have put on weight, while the rookies test lean and mean. The vets’ experience finally shines through at the first dance rehearsals, while the newbie rookies struggle to learn the choreography. But veterans are warned they too are eligible to be cut from the squad this year!
Only two weeks into training camp, it's time to start making cuts. Uniform Fittings is the first order of business. It's a bittersweet moment when the rookies are measured for their uniforms because they have yet to really earn them. From the famous knotted blue blouse to the belted white shorts, the rookie candidates hope Kelli confirms that they have the DCC "look." Then the group competes in a grueling army fitness test to try and earn the privilege of being on the elite "Power Squad." At that evening's rehearsal the first cuts will be made. Who will be warned and who will be told, "This will be your last night?"
After saying goodbye to one of their own, reality sets in for the remaining training camp candidates: nobody's position on the squad is secure. Hard charging, Kitty Carter is asked to work with the weaker girls and whip them into shape. The rookies are given “makeovers” to transform them into the image of a DCC. Can these makeovers give them enough confidence to raise their performance? Tonight is proof that your past can come back to haunt you as girls are called into Kelli’s office. How many live to dance another day?
The entire squad needs a wake up call and guest choreographer Kitty Carter gives it to them. She takes the group through a grueling dance rehearsal only to leave a few girls emotional wrecks. Then it's time for a lesson in DCC etiquette. The fashion dos and don'ts put the squad on notice that they must perform off the field in the perfect DCC style. When Jay shows up with Dallas Cowboys football players, the game is on, in the 1st annual Vets vs. Rookies football game. The night's rehearsal is a challenge as the pace quickens and missteps on the dance floor lead to more girls falling short of the mark. Kelli continues cutting as she looks for the best 36 in the room!
Some fantasies come true, as the remaining lucky training camp candidates model the iconic Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders uniform during a sexy cameo photo shoot. Later, a seasoned veteran lends a rookie a hand (and a few of her signature moves) when the young newbie is asked to dance with more sex appeal. At the Dallas-Fort Worth airport's USO, the DCC say an emotional goodbye to troops shipping off to Iraq and Afghanistan. Then, the final dance rehearsal of week 7 has a surprise guest judge who puts everyone on edge. Ultimately, in Kelli's office, the tears flow as some dreams surprisingly come to an end.
With more cuts looming, and only two rehearsals left, the girls struggle into their famous white cowboy boots for the first time. Then, Judy and Megan Fox dish out the critiques as they run through their final dance routines. In the blistering heat of Texas Stadium, Jay puts the girls' endurance to the test with an event he calls Pom Pom Punishment. It's four minutes of non-stop madness that should get the girls in shape for their pre-game dance, kick line, and flying splits. Later, Kelli and Judy make their final decisions as the girls dance their hearts out on the practice field. Suddenly, a veteran is on the bubble. Amid tears of disappointment, Kelli makes the very last cuts. Relief fills the hearts of all as the '08-'09 squad is announced. It's off to the team photo and some poolside sun bathing, as the girls bond at the DCC annual campout. Join 65,000 screaming Cowboys fans as the cheerleaders hit the turf and wow the entire stadium and themselves during their first Dallas Cowboys football game of the season.
For the first time, the magnificent Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, is the venue for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders auditions. Over 600 candidates with dreams of making the 2010-2011 DCC team arrive before sunrise for the preliminaries. Only 96 ladies will be invited to the semifinal round. At semis the following morning, the candidates are expected to learn an intense and intricate DCC combination and the world-renowned DCC kick-line choreography in under an hour -- and then, exhausted and nervous, perform both dances in front of the judges. The intensity of the competition comes to an end when 47 girls are invited to join 27 returning DCC veterans at the finals auditions.
The 47 new girls invited to attend DCC finals auditions have had two weeks to prepare, but are they ready to swap dance moves with the 27 returning DCC veterans? From judges' panel interviews to elaborate solo dance routines, all the girls are scrutinized and critiqued. And for the first time ever, the DCC combination dance and kick line portions of the audition are performed on the field. This year, the judges view the performances on the mammoth 60-yard long HD screen hovering from the roof of Cowboys Stadium. From this vantage point, the slightest misstep, bad hairstyle, gaudy make-up or flabby tummy is magnified and seen like never before. At the end of the day, 44 girls are invited to training camp.
DCC training camp begins. The training camp candidates arrive at Valley Ranch for the first time and have the opportunity to meet their idols and mentors -- the DCC veterans. DCC director Kelli McGonagill Finglass and DCC choreographer Judy Trammel lead the orientation meeting with each training camp candidate and veteran, sharing a little known yet surprising fact about themselves. The following day, before the first night of rehearsals, the veterans break the tension and promote team bonding when they host a luncheon for the rookie candidates. DCC alums join the party and offer some insightful advice to all in attendance. That evening, the first night of rehearsal reveals these rookie candidates have a long way to go if they are going to take the field with the vets for the first game.
In just the second week of rehearsals, the first cuts of a training camp loom. Before the arduous rehearsals begin, a few select veterans in training camp are sent to film a segment for Good Morning America and they help to make a life-long dream come true for one lucky lady. Then, the rookie candidates are fitted for their DCC uniforms. It's a process that is tinged with excitement and optimism as these girls hope to one day wear the iconic blue blouse and belted white shorts on the field at Cowboys Stadium. To date, the training camp candidates have learned four routines and this week's rehearsals are important for all. The evaluation of the candidates' mastery of these dances will be meticulous under the watchful eye of DCC Director Kelli McGonagill Finglass and DCC Choreographer Judy Trammell. Four candidates are called into the office for a meeting with Kelli and Judy. Who will be warned and who will be told, "This will be your last night"?
Week four of training camp begins with the rookie candidates getting their DCC "Makeovers." From having their hair and make-up revamped to receiving full body tans and teeth whitening, the rookie candidates are transformed into the DCC mold and in the process instilled with a new confidence and drive to make the squad. Next, both rookie candidates and veterans audition for the illustrious DCC Show Group. The evening is a magnificent showcase of the girls' talents and abilities to perform powerful dance moves and acrobatics. But only a select group will be chosen for this squad. As rehearsals begin, the training camp candidates know there are more cuts coming. DCC Director Kelli McGonagill Finglass and DCC Choreographer Judy Trammell are looking for marked improvement by everyone. Three candidates are called into Kelli's office for a face-to-face meeting about their progress. The atmosphere is tense and emotional for all, but cuts must be made. Who lives to dance again at Valley Ranch?
The end of training camp is approaching, and DCC cameo photos are on the schedule. The training camp candidates and veterans are readied for their close-ups, dressed in their fitted DCC uniform with their hair and makeup flawless. It's a joyous time for them, but there is a purpose to the glitz and glamour. DCC director Kelli McGonagill Finglass and DCC choreographer Judy Trammel are searching for the perfect DCC package, and these photos are a tell-all. The good and the bad is revealed. Next, technical director Kitty Carter shows up at Valley Ranch and directs the girls through rehearsal. With Kelli and Judy looking on, Kitty is quick with her blunt honesty in calling out the glaring mistakes made by the candidates and veterans during drills and routines. Kelli's and Judy's eyes are opened to a wide array of lingering problems with this class -- from performance issues to weight gains. Tonight, no one is safe from being scrutinized. Eight girls -- vets and candidates -- are called into the office. Who stays? Who goes home?
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders 2010 squad must be announced in the next two days. It's no secret it is crunch time and the pressure is relentless for the training camp candidates. The time to impress is now. On a blistering, hot Texas evening at a local high school football stadium, the girls take to the turf for their one and only field rehearsal. DCC director Kelli McGonagill Finglass and DCC choreographer Judy Trammel are joined by DCC technical director Kitty Carter to observe and critique from the stadium seats. Here, the mirrors and pristine dance floor are gone, and the field proves to be a strange and trying surface for the rookie candidates to perform their routines, kick line and flying splits. For Kelli and Judy, this field rehearsal reveals potential problems with how some of the girls manage and stand out on the field. The following evening, back at Valley Ranch, Kelli and Judy focus on the training camp candidates throughout the final studio rehearsal. Both know the squad must be chosen tonight, and the candidates' performance throws Kelli and Judy into a cloud of uncertainty. After hours of deliberation, Kelli and Judy finally address the girls. Fear, nerves and heartbreak set in as Kelli announces whom she wants to see in her office. But, by the end of the night, are they completely sure they made the right choices? Are there still others -- both candidates and veterans -- who will be sent home during the squad photo shoot the next day?
Thirty-four rookie candidates and veterans suit up for the squad photo. But a day of celebration and joy is dampened by the fact that DCC director Kelli McGonagill Finglass and DCC choreographer Judy Trammel have yet to officially announce the 2010 squad. Tensions run high among the girls as Kelli and Judy inspect each in the DCC uniform. Will the girls win Judy's and Kelli's approval, or will this be the last time some of them wear the iconic star-spangled uniform? With the squad finally set, the 2010 DCC take to the turf of Cowboys Stadium for their first field performance in front of 85,000 ecstatic fans. For the rookies, it is a once-in-a-lifetime moment, and the veterans cherish the reignited excitement once again. Next it's time for the 2011 DCC Swimsuit Calendar photo shoot, and we follow the veterans on their trip to an exotic location in Mexico. The tropical surroundings and top model treatment have the girls letting their hair down as we get an inside look at how this celebrated calendar comes to life. Finally, the DCC Show Group is scheduled to take to the stage at Cowboys Stadium for the Super Bowl Kickoff event. These girls are the most accomplished and powerful dancers on the squad, but the staging is tricky and rehearsals reveal they have yet to master the choreography. By show time, Judy and Kelli make the necessary adjustments and the DCC deliver another explosive performance.
DCC training camp opens, and many of the new candidates have had to uproot their lives and move to Dallas with no guarantee of becoming a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader. DCC director Kelli McGonagill Finglass is quick to state there will be no tolerance of missed practices, lax effort or foolish decisions outside the DCC. Simply put, if you screw up, you're cut.
Begin the journey to see who will survive the most demanding dance audition in professional sports. Five hundred ladies will put their dreams on the line as they try to become a famed Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader for the 2014-2015 season. Kelli Finglass, the DCC director, has a mandate to have a squad of 36 -- making this a super competitive year. New to the mix are two celebrity judges -- former DCC and Dancing With the Stars winner Melissa Rycroft and platinum-selling country music recording artist Neal McCoy. Quickly, it becomes clear to all the judges that the level of talent is very high as they witness jaw-dropping dance moves. This means tough choices must be made to whittle the number down to 110 girls, who will then move on to the semifinals. After they learn a DCC routine, feel the unfiltered excitement of making the cut and the agony of crushed dreams as 55 girls are chosen for finals.
The original 2 hour special that helped launch the "Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team" series.
The one-hour special features current cheerleaders Cassie Trammell and Sunni Cranfill and former cheerleader Trisha Trevino as they juggle work, school and practice all while planning their dream wedding. If there’s one similarity among Texas brides-to-be, it’s the person standing beside them throughout the entire wedding planning process – their mother. This is no exception for DCC cheerleader Cassie Trammell, daughter of DCC choreographer Judy Trammell. In the weeks leading up to Cassie’s big day, Judy is right by her side, whether it’s for dress fittings, cake tastings or her bachelorette party. The same goes for third-year cheerleader Sunni Cranfill, also featured in the special, as she plans for her June wedding. Because her mother lives farther away, Cranfill enlists the help of DCC director Kelli McGonagill Finglass in picking out her reception dress and the white cowboy boots that will go with it. Trisha Trevino, who retired from cheerleading in 2010 after six years, also turns to Finglass for guidance as she begins preparations for her 2013 Dallas wedding. Trevino makes a special trip back to Valley Ranch to surprise her former coach and see what motherly wedding advice she can offer. Throughout the one-hour special, each bride demonstrates how the DCC organization has become such an integral part of their lives, providing love and support leading up to their memorable day.