The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, the name itself brings to each of us images of an American icon - beautiful ladies decked out in blue and white uniforms cheering America's Team on to victory; precision dance routines that require a combination of stamina, flexibility and timing that would leave most of us gasping - yet they smile and dance on; or for some, it's the time that we met one of them and she signed an autograph and we spent a few minutes talking...the images differ, but each holds a special place. And today's phenomenon of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders is equally special. Everywhere across the country or around the world that any of these young ladies appear thousands of fans congregate looking for the opportunity for a photograph, an autograph, or a few moments to say hello. America's Sweethearts have truly become the darlings of the National Football League.

The Beginning...
The Dallas Cowboys have always had cheerleaders. As was the standard in professional football throughout the 1960's, the CowBelles & Beaux were high school students from the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex managed by Dee Brock. They cheered on the football teams success all the way to the 1971 Super Bowl Championship. But, during the Cowboys preparations for the defense of their World Championship title in the 1972 season, a new idea was born.

Tex Schramm was the Cowboys general manager and recognized that professional football had become sports entertainment. He knew that the public liked pretty girls.

He talked the idea over with Dee and the decision was made to expand the established football tradition of sideline cheerleaders into a glamorous, choreographed squad of accomplished dancers that would serve as a counterpoint to the game itself. The Dallas Cowboys introduced their "new" Cheerleaders at Texas Stadium wearing new star spangled uniforms and debuting an innovative and exciting new form of gameday action. For the first time ever, anywhere, jazz dancing was blended with beauty and brought to a football field...and the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders were born.

The Discovery...
While the crowds at Texas Stadium responded enthusiastically to this new facet of professional football, it wasn't until January of 1976 that the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders took their next big step. During a break in the action at Super Bowl X in Miami, an astute television cameraman let his lens wander over to the sidelines, catching a row of lovely young women wearing their striking blue and white uniforms. One of the Cheerleaders caught his gaze and winked. 75 million viewers - a full one third of the nation - were watching. And they didn't take their eyes off what they saw.

The television appearances have continued throughout the years. The Cheerleaders have sailed on "The Love Boat" twice, battled the Dallas Cowboys on "Family Feud", visited with "Harry & the Hendersons", made a "Salute to Lady Liberty" and celebrated the "Billy Bob's New Year Special" for CBS. They have joined NBC for three "Academy of Country & Western Music Awards" shows and a "Nashville Palace Show", and been the guests of Phil Donahue, Geraldo and "The Wheel of Fortune". They've even spent their Saturday night dancing on "Saturday Night Live", made appearances with Jay Leno and David Letterman, and performed alongside celebrities such as Clint Black, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Reba McEntire, Jessica Simpson and Billy Gilman.

The International Appeal...
1978 brought the beginnings of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders international activities. A performance at the Mirage Bowl football game in December of that year took the squad on a very successful 10-day tour of Japan. Other international promotional tours have included a return to Japan for American Airlines, a trip to Australia for Philips Consumer Products, and appearances in Peru sponsored by the Saga Company. In fact, their international appeal has proven to be a tremendous marketing tool for companies around the world needing to make an American "splash" with their campaign, including the National Football League. When the NFL wanted promotional appearances for American football in Mexico and Japan, the group they asked was the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.

The Show Group...
Wherever crowds gather, the Cheerleaders unique brand of entertainment and appeal has been sought after and much appreciated. As their reputation has grown, so too have the opportunities for these extraordinary young women to share their range of talents. The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Show Group was developed specifically for that purpose. Their elaborately costumed and fully choreographed musical variety show, "America & Her Music", has proven to be a crowd pleaser at national conventions, corporate events and government gatherings.

While the high-profile experiences of being a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader are unique, for many of the members of the squad the most rewarding of their activities are in somewhat less glamorous surroundings. In 1979, the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) requested their presence on a USO Christmas tour of installations in Korea. The ladies performances were so enthusiastically received by the thousands of American troops serving their country so very far from home that a tradition was born.

The Cheerleaders, the DOD and the USO have since teamed up an unprecedented 49 times to boost the morale of the men and women of our U.S. military at hundreds of bases and outposts around the world. If our country's forces are stationed there, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders stand ready to offer their own brand of thanks to these dedicated young Americans. The one-hour variety shows bring standing ovations and tears to the eyes of the audiences and the entertainers alike. The ladies have their meals in the mess halls and share in close conversations about the Cowboys, happenings in the States and loved ones at home.

It is a special time. So special in fact, that in 1991 the Cheerleaders were honored to receive the USO's prestigious "50th Anniversary Award" and in 1997 their many years of distinguished service to the men, women and families of America's Armed Forces was recognized with the presentation of the USO's first ever "Spirit of Hope" Award. The entire Dallas Cowboys organization is extremely proud of the high regard this nation has for the Cheerleaders and for the distinction they have earned in having performed for more troops overseas than any other entertainer...ever!

Community Service...
Most of the Cheerleaders non-game appearances are done for charity. They have lent their support to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, the Salvation Army, the Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon, the George Lindsey Celebrity Golf Tournament for Special Olympics, the Association for Hearing Impaired Children, Veterans Administration Hospitals , the March of Dimes, American Heart Association, Arthritis Foundation, Cancer Society, United Way, Variety Club Telethons, and the Make A Wish Foundation - in addition to their annual visits to numerous nursing homes and children's hospitals.

The Individuals...
This unique group of young women has a deep responsibility: they assume a corporate identity, yet they cannot lose sight of themselves as individuals. It is a basic concept of the organization that each person in the stadium or in the audience has a mental picture of their ideal girl - and the squad offers someone for each of them to identify with. As in the past, almost every phase of the American woman is represented: teachers, secretaries, company executives, homemakers, nurses, students, medical technicians, fashion coordinators, accountants, sales and advertising representatives, file clerks, receptionists, cashiers, dental hygienists, flight attendants, etc. Some are single, some are married - several have children. Typically they range in age from 18 to 36, although there is no upper age limit. They are from small towns and big cities. Some have been performing for years with extensive dance backgrounds and some come to the Squad with no training at all, but have the gift of showmanship and the ability to learn.

What they all have in common is the dedication to responsibility and commitment to excellence that being a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader requires. They subject themselves to rigorous physical conditioning, an exhaustive year round rehearsal schedule and stringent rules and regulations that govern their part-time life.

The Traditions...
Whether at a football game, a charity performance, or a sponsored autograph session, when a DCC appears in her uniform many hours have been spent in preparation and the DCC staff maintains protective control over the situation. Under the guidance of Ms. McGonagill Finglass hundreds of requests for interviews, photographs and appearances are carefully screened. Many of them must be rejected for a variety of factors which make them unsuitable by DCC standards. All appearances are arranged by contract, and if the stipulations are not fully met, the Cheerleaders will not appear. If overnight travel is required at least one member of the administrative staff will always accompany the girls. They will travel in a group, return as a group and are not allowed to go out on their own at any time during the trip. Escorts, transportation, lodging, itineraries and all other details of the trip are agreed upon prior to departure and deviations are not permitted.

All of the many precautions are to protect the image of the DCC as a whole and each Cheerleader as an individual. Their fans want and expect a first-class organization and first class young women representing that organization. Someone that they can admire and respect. The Dallas Cowboys are that kind of organization, and the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders are a reflection of that image.

Now in their thirtieth season, they are as popular as ever...if not more so. National television audiences have followed them on Entertainment Tonight, visited with them on Montel Williams and Vicki, and accompanied them on ESPN for their annual DCC Calendar photo shoots for the last six years. Yet through it all, they remain committed to their long established standards of excellence and dedicated to the heritage of their tradition.