Each year as football season winds down, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders look forward to the Prep Classes and Prep Intensive to train, motivate and inspire many DCC hopefuls from across the world. Back in the day, the DCC had a Dance Academy at the Valley Ranch studio. All genres of classes were held – ballet, tap, jazz & lyrical – for kids of all ages, complete with recitals at the end of every year. The Dance Academy also offered adult classes where both current and hopefuls trained. These classes were the precursors to the Prep Classes we know today. When the Dance Academy was closed, the studio remained as the training facility and offices for DCC.

1989 brought new ownership for DCFC, which meant change, growth and popularity for America’s Team and America’s Sweethearts. Through great draft picks, trades, and an upward climb to winning seasons, the prestige and popularity of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders grew. Early in her career, Kelli McGonagill Finglass’s keen eye for marketing and business savvy was on full display. She looked back to the Academy and realized there was an untapped area for young women to train to become a DCC. Kelli turned to Head Choreographer Judy Trammell, and in the spring of 1993, DCC Prep Class was born. Every Friday night, two sessions were held from 7-8:30pm and 8:30-10pm. Judy and the Group Leaders came up with the content and taught the classes each week. The classes were often sold out because it was one of the only places in Dallas for adults to take a dance class.

Over the years the classes have morphed with the times, especially during 2020! March 13, 2020, was the last in-person class for that prep season. What was thought would be a two-week rest, turned into much longer. The DCC staff tapped into a new concept of online classes. With each teacher set up in their own space, guided by Dallas Cowboys IT department, the prep classes continued with an added element of having Kelli and Judy join at the end for Q & A. There were often over 250 people in each session from across the planet! Covid also brought about changes in our audition process, but that’s another story for another day.

When the new year rolled around, Prep Intensive was born, both out of necessity and creativity. Fortunately, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have world class facilities that afforded an opportunity to host two separate intensives where dancers could be spaced 6 feet part on the field. The intensives were one day each, jam packed with choreography and information to get people ready for auditions in 2021.

Fast forward through 2022 and 2023 to 2024. DCC Prep Classes are back on the schedule in the DCC Studio at The Star, along with the 2-day DCC Prep Intensive each season. Utilizing our talented DCC Alumni each week, they teach and share their experiences and knowledge. DCC Prep continues to evolve and grow as dancers flood into the studio to absorb all they can as they prepare to audition. DCC Prep Intensive has grown tremendously, as well, and has proven to be an excellent resource for those who are too far away to take the weekly Prep Classes. DCCPI is also a true labor of love from all of those involved in its success. With each prep class and intensive, the goal of the DCC Staff is to cultivate an environment of performance, power, passion, and projection… often imitated, never equaled!

As DCC Prep season closed last week, we are looking forward to seeing all the faces in the DCC Audition process. Applications for Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders are being accepted May 1 -12, 2024. If you or anyone you know is interested in auditioning for DCC, click here for more information!

The two media behemoths have once again joined forces for 2024, but this time it’s to showcase the greatness of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders .On Thursday, Netflix announced its latest series — “America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders”, which will premiere summer 2024.

This series follows the 2023-24 Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders squad from start to finish — kicking off at auditions and training camp and continuing all the way through the NFL season. From Emmy Award-winning director Greg Whiteley and the team behind “Cheer” and “Last Chance U”, the seven-episode series will give viewers unfiltered access into this iconic team and franchise.

Led by longtime Director Kelli Finglass, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders open their doors to document the personal stories behind the uniforms – revealing the drive, hustle, and drama among the cheerleaders and coaches. For many, it’s a dream to make the team – but that’s only just the beginning.

A few more keynotes:

• One Potato Productions and Boardwalk Pictures in association with Campfire Studios
• Executive Producers: Greg Whiteley and Adam Leibowitz of One Potato Productions; Andrew Fried and Dane Lillegard of Boardwalk Pictures; Ross M. Dinerstein and Rebecca Evans of Campfire Studios

“The kind of access and creative freedom we need to make the kind of work we want to make is not easy to come by—especially when dealing with a brand as large as the Dallas Cowboys,” said Whiteley. “To their infinite credit, the Cowboys offered unfettered access for the year we filmed the DCC and left us alone. The result is an authentic portrait of one of the most storied and beloved institutions we have in American pop culture.”

Charlotte Jones, Executive Vice President/Chief Brand Officer and Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders President, echoed the sentiment.“We’re thrilled to see the results of a season spent with Greg Whiteley and a remarkable crew following every step of the way,” Jones said. “The storytelling through this open access will captivate viewers episode after episode and Netflix’s global stage is the perfect platform to showcase it. We went into this understanding that the opportunity to transparently share the journey of our season, and the emotions, challenges and joy experienced along the way, is exactly what our fans and viewers would want. It’s also part of the reason that, for decades, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have earned their place as being ‘often imitated, but never equaled.”

Step into Women’s History Month as Kelli Finglass sits down with former cheerleaders to reminisce about their unforgettable journeys from the 60s through the 2000s. In this exclusive interview series, each episode unveils the untold stories, cherished memories, and behind-the-scenes moments that shaped the legacy of America’s Sweethearts. Be sure to check back weekly as each decade talks with Kelli!

Why Not Cheer – In honor of Black History Month, we partnered with Dallas-native spoken word artist, ShySpeaks, for this performance, celebrating unity and the rhythm of shared history. What an incredible honor to work on this collaboration!

The DCC also danced with the DeSoto Eaglettes and their Director, DCC legend Regina Tucker this month. Getting to work with students from both DeSoto Middle & High School Dance Departments for a prep class was exhilarating. Bringing a little bit of our world to young dancers in the community brought inspiration, ignited fires and created a new bond between both organizations! Click here to watch a little of our day with the DeSoto Eaglettes . Thank you for having us

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Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, Jada, Kally and Chandi along with DCC Alum Regina Tucker And Jackie Bob Pearson  gathered for a special Black History Month Round Table Talk. The ladies discussed the enriching impact of diversity on their cheerleading journeys, emphasizing the importance of inclusion in fostering a strong team dynamic. The representation of black cheerleaders in media was also explored in their discussion, highlighting the positive influence on perceptions and inspiring future generations . Looking ahead, the DCC shared their aspirations for contributing to positive change within the cheerleading industry and society, emphasizing the need for breaking barriers and fostering inclusivity. The conversation with DCC past and present was an insightful and inspiring experience for all.

What an amazing weekend with 180+ DCC Alumni sharing the field with the 2023 squad. Starting Friday evening, some alumni gathered to watch the Cowboys Christmas Extravaganza at the Star, and a few brought along family members to share in the magic of the show and the season. Saturday continued with a full cast rehearsal for Sunday’s Halftime Show. DCC Sisters from over 6 decades….yes, 6 decades hugged, laughed and reminisced about their time on the field. Lots of hard work , sweat and smiles were put into rehearsal.  The day could’t have been more productive, thanks to Kelli and Judy’s efforts to make sure the entire show was cohesive and exciting to watch! Although DCC Alumni had done this before, this time around seemed more special. AT&T Stadium was definitely filled with the Spirit of DCC on December 10, 2023!