Forget them, Cowboys! How about them Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders who electrified El Paso fans Saturday night at the Abraham Chavez Theatre?
This is the first time, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders create a special show, outside of their USO Tour overseas, and take it across stages in Texas. El Paso was the last city on the inaugural five-city tour.
After coming out in their signature uniforms to deafening screams and applause, the cheerleaders danced in both big groups as well smaller groups and a few like fan favorite Reece got to do solos in different dance outfits.
The talented dancers are generally known for their high kicks, in unison splits and precision. But seeing it up close and personal in dazzling, shiny and even lit outfits, and set to the popular music is just mesmerizing.
The fans — from young girls and teens to adult women and some men — couldn’t get enough of the Cheerleaders’ riveting dance moves, from twirling on stage like a ballerina to flips and jumps and dancing spectacularly in line. Their last performance was their iconic “Thunderstruck” which many watched through their phones as they recorded the popping dance number.
It was a thrilling night for El Paso fans, who not only enjoyed the dancers but also for a unique perk — a chance to vote for a finalist to make it straight through to the final team audition June 14.
Director Kelli Finglass introduced eight young women, four who claimed El Paso as their hometown, who auditioned in two groups of four. Some of the competitors brought a strong fan base but all were well received as they danced their learned choreography and ended it with a jump split arm in arm.
Fans were able to vote for their favorite via a QR code and then Finglass later announced that a dancer named Nadia, who is from El Paso, will be going straight to the final audition in Frisco, Texas.
Finglass seemed to be impressed with both Nadia and her fanbase, as friends and family cheered her on.
Audience member Stibaly Aguirre said she voted for Nadia and was happy to see her do well.
“I loved the experience and it represents us well to have somebody with such good technique up there. I was a dancer in my life before so it’s easy for me to spot good technique,” she said.
Finglass and Head Choreographer Judy Trammell chose another dancer, Savannah, who attended the University of Florida in Gainesville, to also go straight to the finals.
The other group of El Pasoans who had a great night were members of the J2K Dance Studio who got to open for the cheerleaders.
Coach Jennifer Morales said the group was super excited, and just a bit nervous, to perform for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.
“They took it very seriously and worked so hard. They wanted to be at the level of the DCC cheerleaders,” Morales said.
For those looking to get more cheerleading in their midst, tune into “America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders,” when it returns for season two June 18 on Netflix.
MarÃa Cortés González may be reached at 915-546-6150; mcortes@elpasotimes.com; @eptmaria.bsky.social on Bluesky, and @eptmariacg on TikTok