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“Making the Team” will never be the same.
When COVID-19 arrived in the U.S. in early 2020, the pandemic nearly cancelled the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders’ season. In an attempt to keep the legendary program on track, DCC director, Kelli Finglass and staff — of CMT’s “DCC: Making the Team” — experimented with software so that dancers across the country could audition virtually.
“We developed a robust audition application platform that allowed people to initially try out from their homes,” Finglass told The Post — confirming DCC will move forward with its new virtual audition process that fans were first introduced to last season.
Season 15 also saw the first-ever DCC Summer Training Camp inside a “bubble,” and the most veteran cuts in the show’s history, as a result of COVID-19. Now, the show will move back to the turf at AT&T Stadium in the Season 16 premiere on Friday at 9/8c on CMT.
Since DCC auditions are now partially virtual, dancers can film their preliminary performances from just about anywhere, to submit online.
“[Candidates] are dancing in front of their homes, fire stations, empty school buildings, in their backyards — that’s where you see them first, in their hometowns. I’ve even met some of the parents of the girls that have tried out!” Finglass said.
After dancers apply online, the preliminary portion is the first of a multi-step audition process — followed by the semi-final, personal interview, written test and final talent auditions for selected candidates. The DCC Training Camp Candidates are selected from participants in the finals.
In Season 16, over 600 candidates submitted online audition tapes for Finglass to critique, which marked the largest training camp the program has ever held. Judy Trammel, longtime DCC head choreographer, returns this season, along with former DCC and current showmanship mentor Melissa Rycroft-Strickland (“Bachelor” nation star and “Dancing with the Stars” winner).
“The ladies from this Season [16] came from 45 different states, and you might see one or two from [New York],” Finglass said. “We’ve even had Broadway dancers and Rockettes try out when they couldn’t dance in New York [due to the pandemic].”
Formed in the 1960s, DCC is one of the most iconic and well-known cheerleading programs within the NFL, as well as the sport of dance. Finglass was a DCC from 1984-1989. She took over as director in 1991.
DCC is widely considered the most difficult NFL cheer squad to make. Veteran squad members must re-audition every year. Finglass was the first cheerleader in DCC history who did not have to re-audition when she was selected back automatically for a fifth season.
“The very talented, technical dancers show up whether they’re live or on video — that I’m convinced of,” Finglass said about wether or not it’s more challenging to judge virtually. “We can see the technique. We also have them do kind of an interview, if you will, and we hear them speak.”
Throughout this season’s process, 25 rookies are chosen to battle it out at training camp in Dallas against 26 returning DCC veterans. And while Finglass said each individual “has their own recipe for success,” — weak high-kicks, not being animated, failure to progress after feedback, shaky technique and lack of confidence is a recipe for elimination.
“First and foremost, [applicants] have to be trained dancers or have great showmanship as performers. Our squad is an elite group of dancers and there’s no getting past that…” Finglass said.
“As far as conditioning, a game is three solid hours of nonstop. We have about 150 musical elements played throughout the game and the girls dance to every one of them.”
Once a dancer has reached DCC status, they must uphold the standards of the program.
“We have a sponsor, Busy Body Prep, that provides meals for the girls, but they’re all fitness enthusiasts before they reach us… We have different health and fitness experts that come in and talk to them, and teach them [healthy living tips]. They also voluntarily take kickboxing classes, yoga, pilates — they do it all,” Finglass said.
When it comes to “the look” of a modern-day DCC, Finglass said the “biggest thing” is for her squad to look diverse.
“These ladies are all so beautiful in so many different ways. The different skin tones and textures of hair. We have a lot of textured curls coming back. We have people taking extensions out and celebrating their hair and I love that, especially this year. Some girls are tall, some are petite, their beauty is really their uniqueness,” she said.
While there are still certain health and safety protocols in place for stadiums and within the NFL, Finglass said that “this season, there is an amazing renewed energy.”
“We navigated last season. This season is going to be exciting, because we have fans at full capacity and we’re back on the turf… It’s that sense of fellowship again, and getting to be on the team bus again, being in the locker room, getting to have a team meal together. There’s just a sweetness that we will never take for granted.
“Season sweet 16 — I like that,” Finglass, who serves as an executive producer on the show, said.
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