This is part two of a two-part series on what it takes to become an Atlanta Falcons cheerleader. The Atlanta Voice was allowed access to the workouts and some of the decision-making processes behind the big day, audition day.There were just 17 spots up for grabs on Monday night. Photo by Kerri Phox/ The Atlanta VoiceWhat began in January with preliminary workouts and routines in front of coaches and veteran cheerleaders ended on Monday night inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium in front of judges. The Atlanta Falcons cheerleader final auditions took place and the Falcons cheerleader squad was finalized. Emotions were high throughout the tryouts and for many of the contestants dreams were fulfilled. For others, the dream was denied, at least for the upcoming season. Falcons Director of Cheerleading Chato Hendrix, a veteran of both the cheerleader and coaching ranks, said the evening meant so much to everyone involved in the process. Having been in the shoes of the women trying out for the team, Hendriz understood that there were going to be emotions all around.“Today is the start of a new chapter, whether they are veterans returning, rookies making the team for the first time,” Hendrix said. “I think that they would all agree that this is the start of something cheer-mazing for them.Falcons Director of Cheerleading Chato Hendrix said the decision on who to keep and who to cut is always hard. “These young ladies have put in so much work, we started our process in January, and here we are four months later ready to pick a team,” Hendrix said. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta VoiceAsked if it was going to be an emotional day for contestants, judges, and for both Hendrix and Falcons Cheerleaders choreographer Jakene Ashford, Hendrix said it was.“These young ladies have put in so much work, we started our process in January, and here we are four months later ready to pick a team,” Hendrix said. “I feel like I am just as nervous as I was in 1998 when I made the team.”Like every cheerleader workout has started since January, the night began with an affirmation that includes, “I’m exactly where I want to be.” The final dancers auditioning for the 17 available spots wore Falcons cheerleader uniforms and wore white stickers on their black shorts with numbers like 300, 301, 302, 310, 311, and 315.Hendrix took the microphone and told the women lined up before her and the judges that, “They couldn’t be more prepared for this moment” and to “just breathe.” The 17 judges for the finals come from all walks of life and included former United States Olympics standout Dominique Dawes, the owner of the Dominique Dawes Gymnastics and Ninja Academy; former Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta Hawks dancer and Real Housewives of Atlanta Housewives cast member Shamea Morton, and Maria Martin, a broadcast journalist with 11 Alive News. Several veteran Falcons cheerleaders also served as guests for the final auditions. Pairs of dancers made their way to the center of the room and began the final audition with a few seconds of freestyle dancing before going into a routine that they had been working on for months. The mark for the routine began when the music got to a countdown, 5,4,3,2,1, and stopped when the music ended. The entire tryout lasted one minute and 23 seconds.Former Atlanta Falcons cheerleaders looked on from behind the judges. For many of the ladies in attendance, this moment is both familiar and stressful. “Very tough, very tough,” Hendrix said about the decisions that had to be made.Numbers 318 and 319 walked out from behind a curtain and out in front of the judges, Hendrix and Ashford. Neither looked nervous and when the music began, they both looked prepared. The dancers looked similar with curly hair, long limbs, and matching energy. The odds of both ladies making the team are slim due to how many talented athletes are vying for the available spots.The auditions began at 6 p.m. and ended close to 8:30 p.m. with the final announcement of the team made at 9 p.m. NOTE: The Atlanta Voice will post a list of the entire 2025 Falcons Cheerleaders roster tomorrow.It was lights, camera, action in Atlanta on Monday night. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta VoiceThe post So You Want to be an Atlanta Falcons Cheerleader-Part 2: The Final Dance appeared first on The Atlanta Voice. ...read more read less