“People think what we do is not that hard,” a cheerleader’s voice narrates in the opening scenes of America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. “But our job is to make it look easy.”
Making it look easy is at the center of everything the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders do, and Greg Whiteley’s (Cheer, Last Chance U) new seven-episode docuseries chronicles just how much work it takes — mentally, physically, spiritually, and emotionally — to make everything as seamless as a 36-person chorus line of high kicks.
Led by longtime director Kelli Finglass and head choreographer Judy Trammell, DCC hopefuls go through a rigorous audition process: Hundreds of skilled dancers apply each year, and both rookies and veterans go through the same audition process each season. From the time of finalist auditions depicted in Episode 1 of the series to the official 2023 team, the number of candidates is whittled down from 76 to 36, and each part of the process feels more cutthroat than the last. Withstanding this amount of pressure and expectation takes an extraordinary amount of talent and presence of mind, and the women in the cast of America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders bring it all to the field — until they’re cut, that is.
“There are certain people that you feel compelled to focus on,” Whiteley says about the women he and his team follow through the series. “You have to trust that instinct
and be open to wherever their story is going to go. We were fully prepared to just keep filming with somebody that didn't make the team.”
Below, meet the subjects of America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, the rookie and veteran candidates, coaches, and executives who make the dream team come to life, year after star-spangled year.
A former DCC herself, Kelli Finglass has been leading the team to greatness since 1991, and has been credited as the visionary who turned the squad into one of the world’s most recognized brands. “The new energy from the rookie candidates to the veteran candidates,” Finglass says in the doc. “That’s what keeps me energized through the years.”
Judy Trammell is Finglass’s other half, developing choreography for the the team. She’s also a DCC alum, or as Finglass calls her, “an iconic ’80s DCC cheerleader.” As Trammel recalls, “In 1980, when I auditioned, 2,000 girls showed up. When you see old videos of it now, it’s funny to watch. We wore little shorts sets and heels. I don’t think that in those days, the girls were as technically trained. The girls now are far more superior than what we had.”
Top brass Charlotte is also the daughter of legendary Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, and she’s directly responsible for hiring Kelli to direct the cheerleading team.
“Hiring Kelli was one of the greatest decisions I’ve ever made. I need someone around me that I can trust. I need someone who will lie awake at night and try to solve problems, and tries to make the vision happen.”
Rookie Charly has a lifetime of training as a ballet dancer: “Technique and ballet are pretty much the basis of dance. And then from technique, you can go into style and genre. I’ve been doing ballet since I was 2 years old. Ballet is a great base to have … there’s a right and a wrong to technique, and I always like to get it right.”
A full-time orthodontist, rookie Anisha turned heads at DCC auditions with her Bollywood-inspired solo.
“If I know I have five minutes between patients, I try to run one or two full routines. It’s tough, but worth it. When I was in dental school, I was on the Golden State Warriors [cheerleading team]. The Warriors is very hip-hop, and it’s on a court so the things we did there are different than what you’d do on a football field. DCC is very up on your toes, and very technical.”
Kelly V, who’s from Weehawken, New Jersey, credits her parents for supporting her dance career throughout her life.
“I have wanted to be a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader my whole life. I just didn’t think it was in the cards for me, considering I live in New Jersey. I want to make my parents proud, because they know how bad I want it, and they’ve sacrificed so much. I just want to show them what I did, [and say] you didn’t sacrifice all this for nothing.”
Kelcey balances a high-pressure full-time job as a pediatric nurse with her leadership role in the DCC.
“You learn to expedite your meals when you’re busy like me 18 hours a day. DCC is more of a part-time job — as a nurse I work 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., then go to practice and get home at midnight, sometimes 1:00 a.m. A lot of us work full-time jobs and come to DCC at night, so it can be really exhausting …but there are moments here that are so special, I’ll cherish them for the rest of my life, but it’s worth it.”
Ari returns to the DCC audition process after being cut from the team in 2022.
“I had always wanted to do DCC. It was my dream. I decided I was going to try out in April of 2022, and got cut at the end of July. It was devastating. After I got cut, I wondered where to go from there — I knew deep down I would never would want to do another NFL team. And that’s what it is [about DCC], they set the standard.”
Reece says it’s her faith that inspires her to compete at such a high level.
“Through middle school, I was experiencing a lot with self-image. I’ve really, really started connecting with my relationship with Jesus. It’s a relationship more than it is a religion, and I’m a firm believer that my relationship with Christ has gotten me to where I am today.”
Victoria is a second generation DCC — her mom and closest confidant, Tina, was also on the team in the ’80s.
“I get some comments saying y’all are too close, that’s unhealthy. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. She’s my rock, my person, my biggest supporter ever.”
Madeline has always had DCC in her blood — her mom is a former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader, and her late father used to work as the team’s cinematographer.
“I knew I wanted to be in DCC when I saw Thunderstruck for the first time. It’s powerful. You are getting hyped and riled up before the game even starts. I’m here to be part of a great organization that cares about their fans and their tradition. I’m here to show the gift I was given — I’m here to dance.”
Sophy has been competing in dance since the age of 5.
“What I like most about being a part of DCC is the team bond and relationships formed. All the girls are genuine, helpful, and kind. They are all rooting for each other and genuinely want to see each other succeed. This special and unique sisterhood among all cheerleaders is like nothing I have ever experienced before. I feel extremely blessed to be dancing beside such amazing, strong, hard-working, and unique women that I look up to so much.”
Anna Kate is the younger sister of Caroline, a now-retired five-year veteran of DCC. The two live together during Anna Kate’s audition process.
“I get in my head a lot. I feel like I’ve practiced enough to where I know it, but I do feel like there’s a lot of pressure having [my sister] Caroline in DCC for the past five years.”
Caroline is Anna Kate’s older sister, and newly retired from the DCC. Recovering from surgery, Caroline sometimes questions her path now.
“We’ve had a few arguments, but for the most part it was a blessing for me that as I was leaving DCC she was coming in. It sort of lightened the blow a bit, so I didn’t feel so isolated from everything I’d been around for the last five years.”
Another retired DCC member, Kat is Caroline’s best friend.
“I’ve never had a job longer than DCC. I don’t want DCC to be the highlight of my life. I can’t peak! I cannot peak at DCC. But it’s so hard to do it by yourself, I love having other girls with me to be like ‘It’s OK girl, I’m sad too, but get your ass up because we have practice.’ I don’t have that now.”
Tudum had the chance to chat with Victoria, Kelcey and Reece from the team, and talked to them about what’s going on in their lives now that the America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders season is over. Catch up with them in the video below.
