I recently had the privilege of interviewing DCC Alumni, Pamela Jagger Purcel. Pamela cheered for the Dallas Cowboys for 3 years from 1997-2000. Pamela’s work ethic and dedication to her craft was immediately evident from the start of our conversation. We exchanged many stories, laughs and experiences, then quickly realized how many similarities we share. We graduated from performing arts high schools, our fathers served in the Air Force, we spent some of our childhoods’ growing up in Fort Worth, and even attended some of the same ballet intensives.

Pamela’s dance resume is extraordinary. She graduated from high school a year early to spend what would have been her senior year training at the prestigious School of American Ballet in New York City. She was one of 15 young women chosen from their summer intensive to attend their year-round training program. Pamela also spent time training at the Rock School of Ballet in Philadelphia and performed with the Pennsylvania Ballet. After spending a couple of years up north, she decided to make her way home to Texas to attend college and teach dance.

Pamela graduated college with a triple component bachelor’s degree as an invited member of the Golden Key International Honor Society and the Sigma Tau Delta International English Honors Society. While completing her studies, she continued to perform as a member of the American Spirit Dancers. She performed at international sporting events in France, Spain, Chicago and Florida. Pamela mentioned to me that dancing for this team is what inspired her to audition for DCC. There were a few DCC Alumni on the team with her, and their stories encouraged her.

Although Pamela made the DCC team on her first try, she mentioned that it was no easy feat transitioning from classical training to the DCC “Pom” style. I completely related and we bonded over how our biggest challenge in training camp was picking up the fast-paced choreography. She said that she felt she almost had to “untrain her brain” to learn choreography in a new way. Being classically trained myself, I could relate!

Pamela was a part of Show Group while on DCC and had the opportunity to perform on many USO tours in Hungary, Bosnia, Macedonia, and Germany to name a few. She even got back to her ballet roots when she performed in her pointe shoes for the troops! Some of Pamela’s favorite memories as a DCC include her time spent teaching at the DCC kid’s camps, and the camaraderie she gained with her teammates through their travels and experiences together. She said that she will never forget all of the hilarious moments and stories they shared, and is grateful she was able to experience the DCC sisterhood.

Shortly after Pamela retired from DCC, she was asked to direct the Dallas Cowboys’ new arena football dance team, the Dallas Desperados Dancers. Pamela grew the Desperados dance team into a sought-after performance group that performed internationally. In 2008, Pamela opened a dance facility in Frisco Texas called Legacy Dance Center. She’s trained hundreds of dancers every year and is passionate about supporting and helping her students grow. Pamela believes, “Dance technique cannot be self taught nor learned from books. It is an art form that must be passed down from dancer to dancer.”

Pamela now resides in Dallas with her husband Scott, who is the Director of Broadcasting for the Dallas Cowboys. They share two children. I feel lucky to have heard Pamela’s story. Learning how she has always challenged herself in all aspects of her life left me feeling inspired, empowered, and grateful to be a part of the same sisterhood as Pamela.