The Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders are the cheerleading squad for the National Football League's (NFL) Dallas Cowboys. The squad first appeared in 1960 as a cheering squad made up of male and female high school students, calling themselves the CowBelles & Beaux.http://www.dallascowboyscheerleaders.com/history.cfm In 1969, the squad was reformed into an all female group, made up of high school students from the Dallas area. The name of the squad was changed from CowBelles & Beaux to the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders. In the inaugural season of the new squad, the uniforms were changed and the performances altered to feature more dance and less actual cheerleading stunts.http://www.dallascowboyscheerleaders.com/history.cfm

In 1972, the decision was made to impart an age requirement of 18 years and older for any member of the squad, and the uniforms were changed once again to be more revealing. That year, New York choreographer Texie Waterman was recruited, charged with the task of putting to together an attractive and talented adult female squad. This new squad proved successful, and in 1979, a made for television movie, entitled The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders aired, becoming the second most watched made for tv movie of all time. The sequel to this film, The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders II aired a year later in 1980.http://www.dallascowboyscheerleaders.com/history.cfm

Today, the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders are one of the most popular squads in sports, having made appearances at events around the world, and on film and television.

There is a rigorous audition process that prospective cheerleaders must go through, the entire series of tryouts is documented and airs on the Country Music Channel as Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team. In addition to good looks and talent, prospective cheerleaders are required to:

• Be a high school graduate or have a G.E.D.
• Live in or be willing to relocate to the Dallas/Fort Worth area, and have reliable transportation.
• Must be 18 years old by the start of preliminaries
• Provide all necessary documentation to work in this country
• Have read and filled out the application, waiver and disclosure forms
• Provide a photo of yourself
• Pay a non-refundable $25.00 processing fee.http://www.dallascowboyscheerleaders.com/auditions/auditions_faq.cfm

The Cheerleaders offer optional prepratory classes for dancers to prepare for the auditions. There are a number of classes scheduled, and dancers can attend as many as they choose. The audition is a multi-step process that starts with an application. After the application has been received and accepted, there is a preliminary audition, semi-final audition, personal interview, and written test. After the final talent auditions candidates for Training Camp are selected. The final squad is selected from this group.http://www.dallascowboyscheerleaders.com/auditions/auditions_faq.cfm

In addition to their performing at Dallas Cowboys home games, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders produce an annual calendar, put on performances for US military troops throughout the world on USO Tours, participate in a number of community and corporate events, and host a two-session camp for girls.http://www.dallascowboyscheerleaders.com/auditions/auditions.cfm