DCC Alumni Spotlight – Sydney Durso McArthur

A native of McAllen, Texas, Sydney cheered for the Cowboys from 2008 to 2015. As a teenager, she caught the eye of former DCC, Shelly Roper-McCaslin, at a dance competition after a solo performance, and was encouraged to audition for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. Sydney says she was initially in disbelief, but decided to go for it, and was able to advance directly to the semi-final audition round.

At only eighteen years old, she moved to Dallas to audition, and remembers learning several routines via video in addition to learning a routine in person. Sydney had a background in classical ballet and performed a modern solo before being accepted as a Training Camp Candidate. When asked about her rookie Training Camp experience, Sydney says it was intense, exhausting, and that rehearsals sometimes ended around two in the morning.  She specifically remembers tough practices in what she and her rookie sisters referred to as the “bubble” outside Valley Ranch. CMT was filming the “Making the Team” TV show at the time, but Sydney says she managed to block the cameras out and focus on her dancing.

Sydney has wonderful memories from game days, appearances, and various other performances over the course of her seven seasons with the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. She was a leader for a few years, as well as a member of Show Group. Sydney says in addition to pre-game fun in the locker room, she also recalls no one envying the “sun group” on game days, or, those girls the sun followed from corner to corner as it beamed into Texas Stadium. Sydney had the incredible opportunity to perform for service men and women overseas, making unforgettable memories with her teammates on USO tours. She says those were times when teammates truly felt like family, on holidays spent together overseas. Sydney worked for a wholesale clothing company while cheering, and believes time management is one of the most crucial skills DCC taught her. She also started the game day checklist email tradition, and was a voice on the “Talking Cowboys” podcast where she discussed football and updates with the team regularly.

Sydney now resides in Dallas, TX with her husband and son, where she owns and operates a clothing company, Live Love Gameday. Sydney says she is forever grateful for the relationships DCC has given her, and the way her experiences taught her how to have meaningful interactions with people in any environment. Sydney believes the DCC sisterhood is unique because of what we’ve endured alongside one another, and the memories we share. She regularly stays in touch with former teammates, who have doubled as bridesmaids, and appreciates having a network of DCC sisters to do life alongside!

DCC Rachel W