What made you want to tryout?

It’s always been something I wanted to do, so when the opportunity came up I decided to go for it.

How did your training when you were younger, and then on Baker’s dance team help you prepare for this?

I’ve been dancing competitively since I was 3, it’s been a huge part of my life. I was trained at one of the best dance studios in the Midwest (Priscilla and Dana’s School of Dance.) One year I had to memorize 20 competition dances, so their training helps me memorize dances very quickly. At Baker, I was captain for two years. With my dance and training background I was able to help the team with cleaning and polishing our dances.

Madison Kristofferson at a Baker football game.

What was the process like? How did you register for tryouts?

I first had to fill out an application, send in a resume and photo, and receive an acceptance.

I attended a few prep classes in Dallas before the audition process started. The auditions started May 2. The first day I had 90 seconds to freestyle to show the judges what I was capable of doing along with introducing myself. We then waited for the first round of cuts to be made.

The second day consisted of learning a DCC (Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader) style routine and their kick line. We then performed those in front of the judges and waited again for the second round of cuts. All of this was done in full makeup, Dallas wear outfits, and curled hair, while CMT filmed this entire process.

If you were selected, you were asked to return the following weekend for finals to perform a solo routine and perform the DCC routine and kick line on a 60-yard jumbo screen at AT&T stadium.

And then waiting grueling hours for the results for training camp.

What has the experience been like? (The tryouts themselves, and also the people you have met)

Amazing, but it was not what I was expecting. Being interviewed for a television show was something I have never experienced before. I met a lot of great girls across the nation that I will continue to stay connected with.

When will the final team be announced?

After the 6 week training camp. (Training camp begins on June 1)

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed the experience and I am so happy I did it. Although it wasn’t what I was expecting, I was definitely ready to be back in Kansas.