5 minute read
Dancing to Her Dream
BY EMMA WILLE , MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR
Shining lights and roaring crowds, every Sunday, millions of people gather to watch America’s sport, football. Entertaining on the sidelines, dancers and cheerleaders keep the crowd motivated and engaged. However, there is so much more work that goes into being a National Football League (NFL) cheerleader than meets the eye. For Anna Midden (Delta Omega, University of Kentucky), the hard work is worth it as she lives out the passion for dance she’s had since age 3!
Anna has always been a dancer, but in college, she realized it was time to take a break. After starting at the University of Kentucky, she stepped back from dance, hoping to have a “normal” college experience. In the fall of 2020, Anna joined Alpha Chi Omega, jumping into leadership roles with the support of her sisters. Through her involvement and spending time with sisters, Anna unlocked new self-assurance. “I have become confident in myself and the strength that I carry. I have absolutely loved every minute of getting to give back to the chapter that has given me so much,” she says.
After three years of being that “normal” college student she wanted to be, she found herself longing to dance again. “The dream of becoming an NFL cheerleader was placed on my heart during my junior year of college. Initially I was afraid to admit it to others out of fear of failure or uncertainty of how it would play out. In 2022, I finally admitted to my family that I was longing to start dancing again,” Anna says. Soon after, she started taking online technique classes and jumping back into the sport she loved all while her sisters encouraged her to dream big. She began researching NFL cheer programs, where she found the Ben-Gals.
The Ben-Gals are a group of 30 women who perform as the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals cheerleaders. Anna fell in love with the team and the care she saw that the women have for one another. She decided she was ready to audition, and her family and Alpha Chi sisters jumped in to help Anna prepare. “They provided me with encouragements, with creating my audition outfits, with traveling, with even playing music and watching patiently and attentively while I practiced and trained my heart out in preparation,” she says. “They were truly my strength through it all.”
Finally it was time to lay it all on the line. “The tryout process consisted of rounds with cuts at the end of each, leading up to the Final Showcase. We were scored on categories of showmanship, character, fitness, technique and projection” she says. A week after her Final Showcase audition, the team roster was announced, with Anna’s photo right at the top!
After making the team, she jumped into the 2023 season. Still a full-time kinesiology major when she joined the team, Anna made the 90-minute commute from Lexington, Kentucky to Cincinnati, Ohio for every game and practice.
“A typical game day is an entire day event,” Anna says. After waking up at 5 a.m., she started with breakfast, makeup and hair, and then she carefully reviewed her packing list for her gameday bag. By 7:30 a.m. she arrived at the Bengals stadium, dashing through security to unpack in the locker room before practice begins.
“We rehearse all our routines that we will be doing for that game,” Anna explains. “We will do each of these routines over and over until our coaches deem them ready for the game! There can be games where this is a ‘one and done’ for each routine, and other days where we do each routine four to five times in a row.” Then it’s time to take a break, eat a quick lunch and do touch-ups before the game. By 12:30 p.m., it’s time to head to the field to perform for thousands of excited fans!
“A typical game lasts about 4 hours, and the entire 4 hours are full of constant cardio and pure excitement performing for the crowd!” Anna says.
As soon as each game ended, Anna was on the road, heading back to Lexington for classes and work the next morning.
Along with games and practices, the cheer team represents the Bengals organization in many other ways. The Ben-Gals host community events, make charity event appearances and even participate in a program that provides mentorship for girls in the community.
It may seem like a whirlwind for a college student, but Anna’s passion carried her through! She is excited to continue dancing now that she has recently graduated, and she has plans to move to Cincinnati (and cut down her gameday commute!) to continue entertaining Bengals fans while working toward her certified strength and conditioning specialist license.
Balancing it all isn’t easy, but with her passion, selfdiscipline and the support of her sisters, Anna thrives. “Those surrounding me encouraged me to chase my dreams and audition,” Anna says. “Without them, I don’t think I would be where I am today, and for that I am forever grateful.”
