[DCC Q&A: Mysteries of the DCC World]

1 hour ago, GingerJ said:

She certainly has a huge job, thank you for sharing that! I can't imagine how much she is responsible for and deals with, because I imagine everybody in Dallas wants to be tied to those brands.

That also explains how picky she can be about girls who audition. There have been many conversations here about some of her comments or some of the things that have been a dealbreaker regarding particular girls. 

But bearing responsibility for the DCC brand in every single place and way every single girl represents it would certainly afford you a critical eye! Good for her!

Once there's a team, is she warm or engaged with the team or is she more celeb-level to them?

She is always warm and knows everyone by name. She is not necessarily involved with our daily operations because she has the entire DCFC to brand. But she is aware of all things DCC. We have the marketing dept, sponsorship & promotions, gameday production & our dept that all work together throughout the year. Next week, I'll post pics from our staff meetings so you can see how we roll.

[DCC Q&A: Mysteries of the DCC World]

Just now, bigskygirl said:

@ShellyB  As the All-Star girls been chosen yet?

Yes....the AS's for 2016 are Emma, Katy, Ashley, Rachel & Kinzie

[2016 Tryouts and Training Camp Spoilers and Spoiled Speculations]

6 minutes ago, RhiRhi said:

A lot of the time these insiders come in swinging, accusing people on the board of being haters but they usually come around and see it's a pretty good group here. Nice of Shelly to answer questions. 

Didn't come in swinging, just offered to be direct. Happy to answer legit questions. I would say a majority of the posts have been inquisitive and pleasant. Can't change the fact that haters gonna hate. But we can offer them the opportunity to ask the sources and get real answers. ?

[2016 Tryouts and Training Camp Spoilers and Spoiled Speculations]

@nmvrn....don't think so. I think the answering will fall into my wheelhouse. 

[2016 Tryouts and Training Camp Spoilers and Spoiled Speculations]

17 minutes ago, bigskygirl said:

@ShellyB  Were you on the Show Group judges panel in Season 10, and do you know why Angela was not chosen to be in Show Group for three years? Was it because she was turning down performances? Did she change her mind about trying out for her fifth season, but she was not allowed to go on the Swimsuit Calendar Shoot?

Yes, I was on the panel season 10. The decision was made for multiple reasons, some of which you mentioned. Show group is an even bigger commitment to the team. She was a great group leader and assistant to Judy throughout her last season. She didn't go on the calendar shoot because she had already booked travel to Australia by the time the arrangements were finalized for the shoot dates. It's not the first time a vet missed a shoot. 

[2016 Tryouts and Training Camp Spoilers and Spoiled Speculations]

50 minutes ago, PrincessLeia said:

Thank you for answering the question regarding Yuko. I cannot wait to see her story on the show. I've been one of her biggest fans since auditions, and figured she must be the cat's meow if Kelli gave her the opportunity to fix her visa issues. I think it's awesome to have a girl from Japan on the team- such a fascinating and unique culture. 

I'm definitely snarky sometimes, but I love this show and the girls I know who have been on the team. 

Show group looks incredible. 

 

@ShellyB Did they have new choreography for SG this year? The clip of one of the dances looked unfamiliar and BADASS!

Denise DiCharry did the new show group piece. She's the former director and choreographer for LSU Tiger Girls. Super talented and we were lucky to bring her in this past Spring for master classes and subsequently setting the new funk routine. 

I like snarky, as long as it's not mean and hurtful. You gotta be able to laugh at yourself. 

[2016 Tryouts and Training Camp Spoilers and Spoiled Speculations]

1 hour ago, RhiRhi said:

For some reason the 'grandma' comment from Tina Kalina bothers me the most over all the years, that just seemed really cruel. Like Kelli brought in her bitchy friend to snark with.

I always thought Shelly seemed smart to stay behind the scenes (by choice or not) 

Can't speak on why certain comments were made. Keep in mind it could have been a small soundbite of a complete conversation. Hours and hours of footage, edited and condensed for a one hour episode. 

I stay somewhat behind the scenes, but you never know where I pop up. My role is more on the creative side along with contracting shows and appearances and travel with the team. 

[2016 Tryouts and Training Camp Spoilers and Spoiled Speculations]

13 minutes ago, bigskygirl said:

Was it CMT's idea to bring in Melissa Rycroft to be a mentor? I know fans were asking for a former DCC to be a mentor. And do the girls who get more no and maybe votes get discussed more by the judging panel? I admit I have questioned why certain girls made the team, cut during TC, or made it to TC, but I am not a judge, Kelli or Judy, and I have not been to one of the games.

With Melissa coming off of a DWTS Mirror Ball win and being a former DCC, it made sense to have her come in. She is relatable because she's been in their exact positions during the early seasons of MTT and can be a "big sister" to turn to when they have questions. 

Maybes are definitely discussed and it's possible that some no's are too. I'm not in deliberations on any of the three days of auditions. 

If you're ever in Dallas, come to a game!

[2016 Tryouts and Training Camp Spoilers and Spoiled Speculations]

22 minutes ago, Pinknblue said:

Please tell us about Yuko's journey to become a DCC!

In the past, it has been clearly stated that no TCC may miss a single rehearsal. Yuko's inclusion on the squad has inspired heated debate here because we've been led to believe she was granted leave to sort out visa issues. We're all curious about why the exception was made! My view is that it's the organisation's prerogative; but still, there must be a compelling reason given the prior emphasis made on the total commitment to the squad. Or, has this sentiment been overplayed in the past by CMT?

The answer to your question is two-fold. On one hand, it is true that there is a lot of emphasis put on total commitment to the team. Along with training camp rehearsals 4-5 nights a week, 3-4 hours a night ( much longer when filming), the girls have their daily jobs or school. If they are chosen to move into finals, they are given a calendar for the summer that includes every possible scenario leading up to the first game. We always tell them "look this over, consider your personal life and agenda and make sure you can commit."

As far as Yuko's absence is concerned, she was given permission to travel at the most opportune time. She left on a Friday- no rehearsal, Monday was a holiday and traveled back Tuesday. She was at rehearsal the rest of the week...I was there, it was rookie week. I've not been in the mix of what is going on with her visa, I only know that she had one that was short in duration. She was in America about 3 weeks before our auditions started, using up some of her time. 

Trust me in saying that if she was not a viable, qualified candidate to remain on the team, other decisions would have been made. The fact remains that she is cute, talented, fun to watch and extremely personable. Her only fault is that some wires were crossed when it came to her understanding what type of visa she needed. 

We have several audition inquiries every year from people outside of the US. As a rule, we inform them to check all of their countries rules and regulations for requiring visas with extended stay. I know Angela and Jinelle both worked on paperwork a full year before they auditioned. Whereas, other former DCC and training camp candidates from Mexico, didn't need as much lead time. 

[2016 Tryouts and Training Camp Spoilers and Spoiled Speculations]

19 minutes ago, ilovetrashtv said:

Wow, this just took an interesting turn. A celebrity from the show has joined us!!! Can't wait to hear from you more this season @ShellyB. 

 

31 minutes ago, Smplsimon said:

Shelly,

I have a question.  Don't you all worry that your audition process is super-flawed.  After all, Kelli has tried out multiple years and not even made it to training camp.  This year, she finally makes training camp and is apparently so awesome that she made show group!  Now, I doubt she got THAT much better between last year and this one.  Instead, it makes me think your decision-making process leaves something to be desired.

I don't think it's flawed at all. Yes, it took Kelli longer to make the team, but every year the audition process is different. The prospects are different, coming with different talents, etc and the judging panel fluctuates slightly. When it comes to finals, veterans thrown in the mix, the interview process, test scores, final talent audition and the semi finals choreo are all factors and tally up. Those points fall into three categories: yes, no, maybe. Maybes are placed into round table discussions. As I originally stated, I don't think an audition has gone by that I haven't questioned the yes's and the no's. I'm not in the judges deliberations, so I don't know what is discussed. We are so happy that she is a DCC, she's extremely poised and gracious. And the icing on the cake is she was chosen for Show Group! 

[2016 Tryouts and Training Camp Spoilers and Spoiled Speculations]

7 minutes ago, ilovetrashtv said:

Wow, this just took an interesting turn. A celebrity from the show has joined us!!! Can't wait to hear from you more this season @ShellyB. 

I'm no celebrity. Just someone that deeply cares about the past, present and future of an organization that I became a part of 27 years ago. 

[2016 Tryouts and Training Camp Spoilers and Spoiled Speculations]

@Pinknblue you are correct! CMT can't show everything. Hours and hours of footage that must be edited to fit into an hour. I'll be happy to answer your questions.

[DCC Q&A: Mysteries of the DCC World]

@GingerJ Charlotte's official title is Executive Vice President and Chief Brand Officer. DCC is just one facet of her job. Under her eye, the Dallas Cowboys and Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders are carefully branded with sponsors, endorsements and various charities. Charlotte is the brainchild behind The relationship with The Salvation Army & our nationally televised Thanksgiving half times. She is the first woman in the NFL to be name as Chairman of NFL Foundations, which spearheads philanthropic support for players, youth football, medical research, etc. 

[2016 Tryouts and Training Camp Spoilers and Spoiled Speculations]

Just giving all and any that want to know, a chance to come straight to the source. There have been plenty of posts that were lovely and supportive of many of the girls over the years. It's the few unecessarily hurtful ones are questioned. Maybe my "lumping together" is because I didn't feel the need to call anyone out by name, I only stated there were two that were slightly accurate. Most are without face. I've only seen a handful with a real name and picture. 

Out of the gazillion things posted, I mentioned the few things that stood out as hot topics, i.e. rehearsals, weight/body types and abilities. Being on tv, doesn't shield DCC from criticism...it comes with the territory. But for every critic, there are 10x the amount of supporters. The reasoning for our Fan Votes is because of the show. We DO recognize that fans want to know more, be involved, etc. and look for opportunities to have them participate...thank you for love. 

For those that are offended that  a staff member would respond, it was done with collective thought. We love legit conversation...so if you wanna know, just ask. 

[2016 Tryouts and Training Camp Spoilers and Spoiled Speculations]

After 11 seasons...I finally discovered the blogs! Wow so many people with theories, thoughts and provocations. Where do I begin??

There are two people on here that seem to "be in the know" of how things are run. It's safe to assume that one is either a friend of a DCC or former TCC and the other is likely a part of the production crew. But neither are 100% accurate, after all, it's second hand knowledge. 

I will tell you that our DCC staff consists of 8 people, 5 of whom have worn the uniform for a total of 21 years and over 120 years combined with the organization, #beyond the boots!! Each staff member has multiple duties that are creatively intertwined with the end result being the perfect squad each season. But our jobs don't end at announcements. Beside the games, there are appearances, sponsor events, corporate shows, USO tours, media events, charity functions, nursing home visits, etc. that all have to be coordinated to function cohesively into a rigorous rehearsal schedule. And about rehearsals, some of you are correct in stating Kelli & Judy are not at all rehearsals, one part is missing...together. There is ALWAYS a staff member at rehearsal, whether the cameras are there or not. Sometime it's both of them, one of them, me or Shelly Mc. Not only do we multitask our DCC duties, but also our personal lives. Imagine that?!?!

How easy it is to sit behind a screen and even more so, a screen name, with an avatar as your profile pic and cast opinions on people you watch on tv? We, staff and DCC, are all aware of the comments, judgements, etc. At least for every girl, whether they've been cut at auditions, training camp or have made the team, they have all been real. If you think you "kill it" doing Thunderstruck, post a video! If you want to debate "fit vs. curvy", post a pic! Want to discuss technical ability vs. showmanship, show us what ya got! 

It's hard enough to put yourself in front of 15 judges, let alone the armchair quarterbacks.  But speaking of judges, the diversity on our team comes from our panel of judges. Our audiences all have different tastes & likes. Therefore, having a panel of judges that come from many backgrounds, helps us choose the absolute best. Trust me, I have questioned the no's and the yes's, the why's and why not's. Our process is the most fair and diplomatic I've seen and I've judged my fair share of competitions. Every girl in training camp is given a fair shot, with notes and critiques beyond non filming days. It's ultimately up to the individual to rise to the task. Wearing the uniform is more than beauty and talent. The few women chosen each season are also full of heart. To paraphrase...When you dance in their boots, see what they see, hear what they hear, feel what they feel, THEN maybe you'll  understand why they do what they do.