It takes a lot more than pompoms and a winning smile to become a member of one of the nation's most iconic cheerleading teams in the world as CMT discovers in the two-hour special, Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team. CMT cameras document the audition process as 1,000 women descend upon Texas Stadium for Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders open auditions. CMT cameras will capture the entire journey of the 2005-2006 squad from auditions, through training camp, all the way to the first home game, with unprecedented access. "Through the years, I have found that most people don't truly understand what it takes to be a cheerleader," says Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders director Kelli McGonagill Finglass. "This CMT special breaks through the mystique of the organization to reveal a group of women with extraordinary talent, sacrifice and diversity. I am proud for the nation to see how truly impressive the ladies are while always embracing a humble, hometown girl spirit." With unlimited access, CMT's original special will take viewers every step of the way, as the field of candidates is whittled down from more than 1,000 to just 38. CMT will go behind the scenes throughout the three audition phases -- preliminaries, semifinals and finals. Then it's off with the 45 remaining candidates for a grueling three-month training camp to learn more than 50 song-and-dance routines for the upcoming football season. Ultimately 38 women will be selected for the 2005-2006 Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders squad, and CMT will be there as they perform at the first home game against their rivals, the Washington Redskins.
Beauty is the name of the game as the training camp candidates get major hair makeovers in preparation for their first solo publicity stills.
Training camp gets underway as the girls are introduced to a grueling schedule of dance rehearsals with choreographer Judy Trammell and fitness instructor Jay Johnson.
Watch Now:iTunesIn week three of training camp the rookie candidates are brought in for their DCC makeover. Under the scrutiny of Kelli Finglass, new hairstyles and make up applications give the girls the DCC look.
Watch Now:iTunesThe summer is coming to a close, and there are now 36 girls poised to become America's sweethearts. Kelli and Judy are concerned the team is not ready and there may have to be more cuts.
The candidates find themselves in front of the camera for a crash course in how to deal with the media. The judges from the open call are brought back to have their final say.
Super Bowl XXX MVP Larry Brown and current Dallas Cowboy Ryan Fowler school the training camp candidates with the ultimate football challenge.
Six hundred hopeful candidates arrive at Cowboys Stadium for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders preliminary auditions.
Watch Now:iTunesThe new candidates' eyes are opened when they get a taste of what it is to be a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader. As girls struggle to learn the dances, the reality of being "Big Time" sets in. Melissa Rycroft meets the new ladies for the first time.
Watch Now:iTunesThis is the inside story of selecting this year's Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders squad with all the emotion and drama as hundreds of women hope to fill the 45-member team.
Watch Now:iTunesIf the candidates thought auditions were tough, they have no idea how brutal training camp will be. Week One at Valley Ranch starts with the girls finding out how they scored with the judges.
Watch Now:iTunesThis is the inside story of selecting this year's Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders squad with all the emotion and drama as hundreds of women hope to fill the 45-member team.
Watch Now:iTunesHundreds of excited and anxious Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders hopefuls arrive at Texas Stadium for the preliminary auditions. After performing their freestyle dance routines for the judges, only half make it to the semi-finals.
The rookies get to wear the iconic Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders uniform for the very first time during a professional modeling shoot.
The training camp candidates don’t know what hit them when tough as nails and brutally honest guest choreographer Kitty Carter teaches a class.
After saying goodbye to one of their own, reality sets in for the remaining training camp candidates: nobody's position on the squad is secure.
Only two weeks into training camp, it's time to start making cuts. While “veteran” cheerleaders model bikinis for their upcoming calendar shoot, anxious training camp “rookies” dance their hearts out.
Watch Now:iTunesMaking it this far is one thing - enduring Training Camp is another. The hopeful group of 43 is far from the final squad, and DCC Director Kelli Finglass quickly reminds them that there will be cuts.
Watch Now:iTunesIn the final audition, the competition really heats up. Now, surviving candidates must go head-to-head against experienced veteran cheerleaders for a coveted spot in the DCC Training Camp.
Watch Now:iTunesThe end of training camp is just around the corner and after Kelli's annual etiquette luncheon the girls are on their best behavior.
It’s only the third week of training camp and it’s already time to make cuts. Who will survive? The week starts with uniform fittings where even the wannabes get to try on the famous blue and white star studded outfit.
Watch Now:iTunesKitty comes to a rehearsal and stirs thing up; the new candidates bond, then are judged as they perform at a mock appearance; Travis Wall comes to town.
Watch Now:iTunesKelli and Judy make many tough cuts to keep up the quality of the team, which causes emotions to run high; Melissa Rycroft offers invaluable field experience.
Dreams are on the line as the tryouts for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders 2013-2014 squad begin.
Watch Now:iTunesFor the first time, the magnificent Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, is the venue for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders auditions. Over 600 candidates with dreams of making the 2010-2011 DCC team arrive before sunrise for the preliminaries. Only 96 ladies will be invited to the semifinal round. At semis the following morning, the candidates are expected to learn an intense and intricate DCC combination and the world-renowned DCC kick-line choreography in under an hour -- and then, exhausted and nervous, perform both dances in front of the judges. The intensity of the competition comes to an end when 47 girls are invited to join 27 returning DCC veterans at the finals auditions.
Watch Now:iTunesDCC training camp comes down to the last grueling rehearsals and whose long legs fit into the famous kick-line. The cheerleaders attend a poolside bikini boot-camp for last minute toning.
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