Behind-the-Scenes

2008 Cheerleader Auditions Finals (Part I)
By Kristi Scales

Saturday, May 24th

Can you look forward to something but also have a feeling of dread at the same time?  I feel that way while driving to Texas Stadium this morning for the Final Round of cheerleader auditions…mixed emotions.  This is definitely the most enjoyable day of auditions because each of the finalists (including the returning veterans who are trying to make the squad again this year) show off their talents in a solo performance.  There will be lots of creative routines today, I’m sure, and the dancing will be excellent.  But I also dread this day because we’ll have about 80-to-90 girls, and half of them won’t make the squad.   Over my past five years of judging, the auditions have become increasingly competitive and more difficult to judge.  Because the semifinal round was chock-full of really talented dancers, I’m expecting today to be a particularly tough round to judge.

The final round starts early, even for the judges.  We have to arrive at Texas Stadium by 8:30am.  Thanks to CMT production crews, we have our judges’ room set up down in the Cowboys locker room.  To make it look good for the cameras, they have several jerseys hanging in lockers.  Kelli, the DCC director, will join us momentarily and give us final instructions before the competition begins.  CMT has set up the lights/cameras to get the perfect angle…but let me move a couple of the players’ jerseys which have been strategically placed in various lockers.  Two of the jerseys are for players that aren’t with the team anymore.  Okay…so most people watching the CMT Cheerleader Show don’t know or don’t care that Jason Ferguson and Tyson Thompson are no longer with the Cowboys.  But there will be some die-hard football fans who may notice….so let me turn that “28 Thompson” jersey around so that it just shows “28”…maybe the die-hard fans will think the jersey belongs to first-round pick Felix Jones who now wears #28.

Sorry to digress…back to cheerleader stuff. more >>