My interview with Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader Sam Clark.
Age?
21, Junior at SMU
Hometown?
San Diego, California
Major/Minor?
Communications/Dance Minor
Have you always had an interest in cheer/dance? What is your experience?
Yes I started dancing when I was two. I went to a performing arts boarding school in North Carolina for dance. I love dance!
How did you get started at DCC?
I went to an audition for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and made the cut!! All my training as a young girl helped me to succeed in this endeavor.
What does a typical week look like in the life of a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader?
I have practice Monday-Friday with games on Sunday during the football season. We meet at our training facility, Valley Ranch, at 6 and usually finish around 9:30 but I have had nights where we work until 3:30am!! Although gym hours are not required, I do have to stay conscious of my diet and exercise.
What is your favorite part of your job?
I love being able to perform in front of a giant audience. I have auditioned to perform solos in some football games and this year I auditioned to be a backup dancer for Selena Gomez for the Thanksgiving game. I am so excited!! I will cheer for the game and then dance for the show. My experience with the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders is so worth the hours spent in the car driving to and from practice everyday. My team is also very involved in charity work, which I love to do. We participate in Race for the Cure, Salvation Army and USO tours to name a few.
Do you get to hang out with the Dallas Cowboy football players?
We are associated with the football team for charity events, christmas parties and other various professional encounters.
What is the social life like being a cheerleader?
I am still in college, so it’s nice that I’m living in my sorority house because then I still feel connected to my sisters and being on campus gives me many activities to do. It’s a good balance to be part of my campus and college life but also have a career and other friends on the team.
How long do you plan to stay with the Cowboys?
Since the team holds auditions every year, I will re-audition for next season. I really hope to stay with the team for a long time because new and fun perks come every year, such as positioning on the field and calendar shoots.
What are your plans after SMU and the Cowboys?
I would like to take advantage of the great networking I have experienced being a part of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and hopefully stay in Dallas to keep dancing and pursue another professional career. I believe that everything happens for a reason and I believe I have met the best people through cheer for connections and direction in the workforce.
What do you like to do when you’re not cheering?
I love to hang out with my theta sisters! I also love my job at a dance studio. I spend most of my time doing normal college girl things though like studying and sleeping.