From the Court to the Classroom: What Pro Dance Taught Me

I’ve been watching America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders on Netflix, and whew this latest episode where they go through their makeovers brought back so many memories.

Long before dance auditions had this level of intensity and production, I danced for the Atlanta Hawks Dance Team. While it was a different vibe from the stadium lights of NFL cheerleading, it was still intense. We had basketball courts instead of turf, but the jumbotrons were real, the crowd energy was electric, and the expectations were just as high.

And while the outfits may have evolved to become even more detailed and iconic today, the commitment to excellence has always been there. Watching the DCC girls go through individualized styling, performance critiques, and personal branding reminded me of our own transformation moments.

One of the women who truly shaped that experience for me was Jennifer Bell. Not only was she a phenomenal dancer and trailblazer, but she also advocated fiercely for our team behind the scenes. Jennifer was instrumental in pushing for us to be compensated not just for games, but also for rehearsals and appearances. Her leadership planted a seed in me about fairness and visibility for dancers, and it’s a lesson I carry with me to this day.

When I saw that the DCC recently received a pay raise, I couldn’t help but think of Jennifer and all the veteran dancers who’ve made sacrifices for that kind of progress. I’ve been there too. While dancing with The Lion King (Der König der Löwen) in Germany, I was part of a strike advocating for better pay for ensemble members. It was a difficult choice, but it made all the difference. Sometimes real change requires real risk and it’s those moments of collective courage that shift the culture for those who come after.

Even our training as Hawks dancers was personalized. I remember being assigned a specific workout to tone the little bit of back fat I had showing in my sports bra, ha! Everything was curated to support our best selves but it wasn’t about being “perfect.” It was about preparation, presentation, and professionalism. And that’s where the field and the classroom start to intersect.

Because now, years later, I find myself coaching dance educators who are shaping the next generation not under stadium lights (well some are), but in school gyms, black box theaters, and community centers. 

What these women go through as DCC hopefuls the rejection, the joy, the constant evaluation is something I deeply understand. It’s tough to be a dancer......in any capacity! Sometimes it’s not about your talent or work ethic… it’s about numbers. It’s about there not being enough spots on the literal or metaphorical field. That hurts.

But I also see hope. I’m glad Netflix is showing this side of the dance world. The visibility matters. Because, truthfully, funding and advocacy for dance often start with what people see. If more of the world can understand the discipline, vulnerability, and drive it takes to be a dancer, maybe—just maybe—that respect will trickle down to school-based dance programs, afterschool initiatives, and the community organizations who’ve been holding it down all along.

That’s why I'm doing the work I do now with programs like Growing Dance Educator and Dance Stories ATL to not only support dance teachers, but also build pipelines for leadership and sustainability in the dance world. I believe in helping our educators and our students, see themselves as whole artists, worthy of investment, celebration, and visibility.

One day, I hope to help bring a show or docuseries like this to school-based and community dance spaces. Because our stories are powerful and they deserve to be told.