The Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Pro Cheerleader

By Netherfield House Press

Want to become a professional cheerleader? Then prepare with tryout tips from the experts...actual current and former pro cheerleaders, coaches and industry stylists! In this second edition of The Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Pro Cheerleader you'll learn:

•what happens in a pro level cheerleading team tryout

•how to dress for the big day

•what the judges are looking for, and how to show that you've got it!

•professional makeup and hairstyling tips and techniques

•how to take stunning application photos that will wow the judges

•how to properly present yourself in interviews and on paper

•and much, much more!

Featuring chapters by:

•NFL Baltimore Ravens Cheerleaders Coach Tina Galdieri

•NFL Baltimore Ravens Cheerleader Wynter Lloyd

•NFL Oakland Raiderette and Arizona Cardinals Cheerleader Aubrey Aquino
•NFL Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader Cynthia Trinidad

•NFL Baltimore Ravens Cheerleader Lisa Czawlytko

•NFL Houston Oilers Cheerleader Nikki Giavasis

•NFL Tampa Bay Buccaneer Cheerleaders Makeup Artist Sylvia K. Russell
•plus hundreds of insider tips and inspiring quotes from official NFL pro cheer team hair stylists, makeup artists, yoga and fitness instructors, as well as current and former NFL and NBA cheerleaders and coaches!

Give yourself the insider's edge at your next professional cheer or dance tryouts with The Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Pro Cheerleader!

"I really like the way this book flows. It takes you from the decision making process of what squad to try out for all the way through to how to present yourself at your interview. The book is written by a number of exerperienced pro cheerleaders and coaches, so the advice is not only valuable, it's insightful too. You'll find yourself amazed at the small things that make a big difference when trying out for a pro cheerleading squad, and best of all, the tips come from those that know and have been there. Want to make the squad of a pro or semi pro team? This book is worth the price and will get you well on your way to a successful tryout. 5 out of 5 stars."

—Valerie Ninemire, Cheerleading.About.com Guide and Editor of Cheer Coach & Advisor Magazine

• Language: English
• Publisher: Netherfield House Press
• Release date: Sep 3, 2012
• ISBN: 9781935649076

Book preview

The Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Pro Cheerleader

2nd Edition

Netherfield House Press

Copyright © 2011 by Netherfield House Press

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission from the publisher, except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976.

Smashwords Edition

Netherfield House Press

www.NetherfieldHousePress.com

1st edition published in 2006 by Darnell Spirit Productions.

ISBN 978-1-935649-07-6

Library of Congress subject headings:

Dance -- Auditions -- United States

Dance -- Juvenile literature

Dance teams -- Juvenile literature

Dance

Book editing and design: Melissa Darnell

Cover photo courtesy Keith Allison@Flickr under Creative Commons licensing

All other photos supplied by their respective chapter’s author

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Choosing the Right Team

Choosing to Go Pro

The Team’s Performance Style

The Team’s Location

The Time Commitment

Chapter 2: Preparing Yourself Physically

Dance and Gymnastics

Stretches

Hip Flexor Drill

Sitting High Kick Drill

Abdominal Stretch

Regular Abdominal Crunches

Side Abdominal Crunches

Leg Lift Crunches

Killer Crunches

The Lift

Planks

Bench Ab Crunch

Bench Side Ab Crunch

Tricep Lifts

Pushup Jumps

Quick Cardio Workout

High Kicks

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

The Importance of Water

Getting Into Shape

Dieting

Set a Schedule

Good Health or Vanity?

Healthy Eating for Athletes

Bad Carbs

Low GI Foods

Good Fats vs. Bad Fats

Putting It All Together

Making It Last

Mixing It Up

Taking It to the Next Level

Conclusion

Chapter 3: Preparing the Paperwork

Resume

Application Photo

Chapter 4: Application Photos

Set Your Look

Hair

Makeup

Nails

Skin Tone

Tattoos

Clothing

Photo Requirements

Taking the Photo

Background

Lighting

Professional Cropping

Posing

Conclusion

Chapter 5: Preparing Your Tryout Day Appearance

Glam It Up!

Tryout Outfit

Interview Outfit

Makeup

Nails

Hair

Pale Be Gone!

The Interview

Conclusion

Chapter 6: Preparing Your Makeup

Foundation

Beautiful Eyes

Cheeks

Lips

Overall Finish

Chapter 7: Final Tryout Day Tips

Dealing with the Stress

Ways to Stand Out

Making Mistakes

Self-Doubt

Chapter 8: Pro Cheer Coach Interview

Chapter 9: New Team Announcements

Bibliography

CHAPTER

1

Choosing the Right Team

By Wynter Lloyd

Considering that I have lived in the Baltimore area almost all of my life, choosing the NFL Baltimore Ravens Cheerleading Team was not a hard choice to make.

Choosing to Go Pro

I began cheering my sophomore year of high school, following the influence of a friend of mine who had already been on the team for the fall season. After my first year of cheering, I fell in love with the sport and decided I could never give it up. Later, even after four years of collegiate cheerleading for Florida Southern College and Salisbury University, I still was not ready to end my cheerleading career.

I then decided I could either become a coach and influence our future cheerleaders, or continue to participate in the sport myself. While coaching would certainly be a rewarding option, I truly believe that all coaches wish they could still participate in the sport, and I felt the same way. Coaching just would not be the same as being on that field in front of the screaming fans and leading a team on to victory. So I looked into professional cheerleading.

"My absolute favorite part of a NFL game is the National Anthem. Imagine being down on the field while the National Anthem plays, F18’s are flying overhead and as the song comes to an end the crowd gives a thunderous applause that sends chills down your spine!"

"This is only a fraction of what you can experience as a pro cheerleader or dancer. Professional cheerleading has opened the doors to so many opportunities and given me an array of unique experiences and memories I will cherish for life. Getting there requires dedication to your pre-audition training, motivation to try your hardest and a love of performing."

—Bari Yonkers, 5 yr NFL Arizona Cardinals Cheerleader (GPE, March 27, 2010)

The Team’s Performance Style

There are a handful of teams I could have selected from the area, including the MISL Baltimore Blast, NFL Philadelphia Eagles, and the Ravens. I felt I would enjoy cheering for the NFL because of the incredible support of the fans and the prestige, which came along with the idea of becoming a NFL cheerleader. I ended up choosing to tryout for the Baltimore Ravens for many reasons. Cheerleaders of the NFL seem to be based off of technical and studio style dancing. I have never been a studio dancer and had never taken a dance lesson in my life. What attracted me to the Baltimore Ravens Cheerleaders was that their dancing style is more often than not a cheerleader style of dance. I felt I held an advantage here since I had been currently cheering for five years. I also felt I had an advantage in trying out for the Baltimore Ravens because they are the only NFL team to have a co-ed cheerleading team. In my cheerleading experience, I had been a flyer in stunts. Since this team had this unique quality about them, I felt I might have an edge above the rest of the cheerleaders who were trying out.

"Cheering for the NFL has changed my life and blessed me with many incredible experiences and memories. Having the opportunity to support our troops, give back to the community, travel, make lasting friendships with fellow cheerleaders and perform in front of thousands of fans was an honor."

—Lisa Sabath, 2004-2008 NFL St. Louis Rams Cheerleader (GPE, October 30, 2010)

The Team’s Location

At the time of the tryouts, I was a junior at Salisbury University. I considered many factors when choosing to try out for this team. Since I was attending Salisbury University,