The Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders have taken centre stage in a new Netflix docuseries. Exposing the rigorous training and standards required to become a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader, audiences and critics alike are shocked at the intense standards posed on the team members.
Who are the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders?
The NFL cheerleading squad for the Dallas Cowboys are one of the most recognisable dance teams across the NFL and wider sports industry. Originating in the 1960s, the squad transitioned from the traditional cheer uniform with little popularity, to the sophisticated dance style and uniforms worn today to boost attendance at the stadium.
New York choreographer Texie Waterman hired dancers over the age of 18 and prioritised athleticism, beauty and strength when choosing the new squad. By introducing a more revealing costume for the dancers, the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders solidified their status as icons in Texas.
They were the first pinups of modern sports, the sizzle on the steak that established the Cowboys as America’s Team as much as the players on the field did. They’re also the reason Dallas women are perceived as some of the most gorgeous creatures on earth — big smiles, big hair, big makeup, big cosmetic surgery, and all.
Joe Nick Patoski
The Audition Process
Netflix audiences were shocked when they learnt of the gruelling auditions and training processes that candidates endure. Applicants must initially submit a video that showcases their dancing in a 60-second clip. If accepted, the candidates will attend a preliminary audition, then onto a semi-final audition, a personal interview and a written test, ending with a final talent audition.
Once entered into training camp, however, a cheerleader’s spot is not guaranteed. The gruelling camp requires candidates to begin the practice at 8 AM and spend the full day at the stadium, even though most women work full-time jobs around the schedule of being a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader. By the end of training camp, ten women are typically cut.
Treatment of the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders
The show sparked uproar by depicting the injury, low pay and mental toll that impacts the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders. Interviewing past alumni of the squad, many women were left with permanent injuries to their hips and back due to the intense physical strain posed by the style of cheerleading the Dallas Cowboys are known for.
Low Pay
One of the main controversies surrounding the famous cheerleaders is low pay. Despite being one of the most popular cheerleading squads globally, the women reportedly earn $15 to $20 dollars an hour.
Charlotte Jones – the Chief Brand Officer for the Dallas Cowboys – defended the low pay, despite reportedly earning $1.5 million per year and being one of the highest-paid women in the NFL.
The facts are, they actually don’t come here for the money. They come here for something that’s actually bigger than that to them. They have a passion for dance. There are not a lot of opportunities in the field of dance to get to perform at an elite level. It is about being a part of something bigger than themselves. It is about a sisterhood that they are able to form, about relationships that they have for the rest of their life.
Charlotte Walsh
Mental Health
Due to the strict training and performance regulations posed on the cheerleaders, many alumni figures have expressed their struggles with mental health whilst on the squad and since leaving. Legacy Cheerleader and recent alum Victoria Kalina garnered widespread support from audiences of the series as she expressed her struggles with depression and an eating disorder. Past clips were shown of Victoria being repeadetly told to lose weight and ‘tone up her tummy’ by Dallas Cowboys officials.
A Legacy
Despite the controversy surrounding the cheerleading squad, the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders continue as a household name across America and are solidified in their status as ‘America’s Sweethearts’. With 500 women competing for a spot on the limited 36-member roster, the popularity of the cheerleading squad continues to grow with more women trying out each season.
With the strict restrictions on women’s weight, looks and athletic ability, audiences are questioning whether the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders are a healthy representation of women, or are negatively contributing to low self-esteem and body image issues.
