Information | 2026-2027 Season Tryouts

We are so excited to begin a new season of MTDT with our upcoming auditions!

For anyone with a conflict or anyone that lives out of state, video auditions will be accepted on a case by case basis. This must be emailed to Brooke (brooke.legens@mtsu.edu) and approved by April 19th!

Please see below for more information. We will also send reminders out leading up to tryouts!

Upon arrival to auditions, all applicants must provide:

• a recent physical (dated within the past 8 months)
  • Video applicants will need to submit this prior to the first practice in June
• Headshot
• Two letters of recommendation from dance coaches

Both in-person and video auditions: $30

The payment link will be provided on the Application submission confirmation page. If you have trouble locating it, visit the Rec Portal (click Spirit Programs) for the page.

You must complete this application and pay to be fully registered!

1st Round
Virtual Solos.

All solos must be a minimum of 1 minute long and filmed within the last 3 months.

All Solos must be submitted through the application or via email to brooke.legens@mtsu.edu no later than 11:59pm on May 10, 2026.

Invites for 2nd round in person auditions will go out no later than May 12, 2026

Saturday, May 16th
10:00am-12:00pm
Interviews

• Auditioning dancers will be given a number and time slot when they receive their email invite.
• Attire: business casual

1:00pm-4:00pm
Clinic/Learn Tryout Material

• Attire: any appropriate dance attire
• Bring turners, tennis shoes and poms 

Sunday, May 17th
12:00pm-4:00pm
Audition groups begin (potentially ending earlier depending on turnout)

• Attire: black, blue, or white dance top, black dance shorts
• Hair: clean and secured out of your face
• Makeup: full performance makeup

You will need to stay until all groups and callbacks have been completed. Team announcement will be made following the group rounds. 

• Right & Left Side Triple Pirouette
• Right Side Quad Pirouette
• Leg Hold Turn
• A la second turns (right side) 2 eight counts
• A la second turns- rotating spots (right side) -hit all sides
• Advanced turn combo of choice ( Combo = 4 eight counts)
• Aerial ( right/left or both)
• Regular Jete (right and left)
• Leap in second/center leap (right and left)
• Switch leap (right side)
• Calypso (right and left)
• Switch tilt (right side)
• Tilt (right and left)
• Double Toe Touch
• Headspring
• Kip Up
• Rubberband (optional)
• 540 (optional)
• Flexibility features (legs, back etc.)
• Any other tumbling skills or acro

• May 31- June 4: Training Camp # 1 (at MTSU)
• June 20- Kids Camp (at MTSU)
• July 13-18: Training Camp #2 (at MTSU)
• July 19: Recruitment Intensive (at MTSU)
• August 16: Media Day
• August 17-22: Training Camp #3 (at MTSU)

Dance Team members will move-in early on campus the week prior to school start (exact date to be determined)

We are so excited to begin a new season of MT Cheerleading with our upcoming tryouts!

For anyone with a conflict or anyone that lives out of state, video tryouts will be accepted on a case by case basis. This must be emailed to Brooke (brooke.legens@mtsu.edu) and approved by April 20th!

Please see below for more information. We will also send reminders out leading up to tryouts!

Upon arrival to tryouts, all applicants must provide:

• a recent physical (dated within the past 8 months)
  • Video tryouts will need to submit this prior to the first practice in June
• Headshot
• Two letters of recommendation from cheer coaches

Both in-person and video tryout: $30

The payment link will be provided on the Application submission confirmation page. If you have trouble locating it, visit the Rec Portal (click Spirit Programs) for the page.

You must complete this application and pay to be fully registered!

Saturday, May 2nd
10:00am-2:00pm
Clinic/Learn Tryout Material

• will function as an instructional clinic, where candidates will learn and refine the fight song, tumbling technique, and stunting skills while receiving direct coaching and feedback.

Sunday, May 3rd
9:00am-1:00pm
Groups begin (potentially ending earlier depending on turnout)

• Cheerleading attire
  • Black, blue, or white top
  • Black shorts
  • Cheer shoes
• Hair: clean and secured out of your face
• Makeup: full Game Day makeup

Will serve as the formal evaluation, during which candidates will be assessed on fight song execution, running and standing tumbling, and stunt performance. Individual interviews will also be conducted as part of the selection process.

Final team selections will be made following evaluations, with a brief team practice and team photos scheduled later that day.

Stunts

Performing your respective part in coed stunts and/or group stunts (main base, side base, back spot or top person), everyone will be evaluated on a variety of stunts that will include, but are not limited to:

Group

• Switch ups & twisting Switch Ups
• Full ups
• 1.5 ups
• Double ups
• Low-High/High-High tick & Full Arounds
• Back Handspring ups
• Rewinds
• Double Downs
• Flipping Dismounts, etc.

Coed

• Basic toss stunts required
  • Hands
  • Extension
  • Lib
  • Cupie
• Top person must be able to show all body positions
  • Heel stretch
  • Scorpion
  • Scale
  • Arabesque
  • Bow and arrow
  • Additionally, must have double down from a front and side body position

Standing & Running Tumbling

• Standing tuck
  • Required on all surfaces: mat, grass, gym floor, etc.
• Standing back handspring (one and/or two) to a minimum of a layout
• Minimum of a round off back handspring layout
• Fulls (running and/or standing)
  • Strongly recommended

You must also be open to trying new skills.

• June14-18: Training Camp #1 (at MTSU)
• June 20: Kids Camp (at MTSU)
• July 6-10: Training Camp #2 (at MTSU)
• July 11: Recruitment Clinic (at MTSU)
• August 16-21: Training Camp #3 (at MTSU)
• August 22: Media Day

Cheerleaders will move-in early on campus the week prior to school start (exact date to be determined)