Dance First Think Later..

Three years ago, Amelia Sargent and I sat down and created the Summer Intensive. Fueled by our shared passion of making movement fun and accessible, we combined our dance and fitness experiences together to create a dance intensive for everyone. Little did we know that just a year later the world would be captivated by the stories of the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders in a Netflix docuseries. The show accurately depicts the trials and triumphs most of us professional dancers have experienced and new dancers joined the Intensive with questions about the professional world of dance and cheerleading. Amelia danced for the Chicago Luvabulls for four years and even auditioned for DCC! Leading up to the third annual Summer Intensive, I thought it was the perfect time to ask her about her experience.

Jess: Talk me through your dance career! How did you get started and what put you on the path of Luvabulls?

Amelia: I started getting really serious about competition dance in middle school — I had my eyes set on making the high school team and heading to nationals. That was the dream: to dance on a big stage. I trained hard, took private lessons to work on my technique, and made varsity my sophomore year. From there, I started choreographing, teaching, and coaching throughout high school and into college. That’s when I realized I wanted to dance for an NBA or NFL team.

When I landed an internship in Chicago, it wasn’t just for the job — I knew the Luvabulls were one of the top pro teams, and I was determined to audition. I studied their style, took classes to build stamina and sharpen my choreography skills, and really immersed myself in Chicago’s incredible dance and fitness scene to prepare.

Jess:  What was the audition process like? Do you remember the year you first made the team?

Amelia: Auditions were intense — over 300 dancers lining up outside the United Center early in the morning. Leading up to that, there were clinics to learn choreography and get noticed.

The first year I auditioned, I had just moved to the city and didn’t make it past round one. The next year, I got further — made it to finals but was cut before training camp. That loss lit a fire. I was heartbroken but more motivated than ever. I knew I was meant for that team. I showed up the next year with the mindset: they need me. Let’s have fun. And I made it.

Jess: The intensive is loosely based off of those choreography clinics – only with much less pressure! In the audition process, dancers are expected to learn the choreography and immediately perform. It’s such a skill to be able to see and then do, let alone see and perform while you do!

That mentality you adopted is such a HUGE part of success in doing just that: “they need me.” It’s so interesting what doors start opening when we understand our value and worth and feed ourselves those mantras!

Jess: Once you made the team, did you have a favorite moment as a Luvabull?

Amelia: Dancing on the roof of the United Center with my teammates was surreal — that view of the city with my best friends? Unforgettable. I loved the women I danced with and the high standard we held ourselves to. The work was hard, but it was a blast. We put out an incredible product and truly had each other’s backs.

Jess: My favorite part about my dance career was also performing. It feels almost odd to refer to a performance as a product, but you’re right. You spend so much time perfecting these routines in order to deliver them powerfully! And the comradery of your cast, team or crew really does add to this sense of accomplishment.. it’s a privilege to share the experience with people you worked so hard with.  

Jess: Is this new DCC docuseries anything like the Luvabulls experience?

Amelia: Absolutely. I actually auditioned for DCC in 2017 and have teammates who danced with them, so I know that world. The doc gets a lot right — the intensity, the pressure, the energy. There are definitely some strong similarities.

Jess: What, if anything, would you change about the industry?

Amelia: What I do wish is that the industry — especially at the pro level — would evolve to better support dancers. These athletes deserve resources, fair pay, and respect for what we bring to the table.

Jess:  What should those of us who are fans of the DCC docuseries know?

Amelia: Season two needs more dancing!! 

But seriously, it’s very real. The downtime, the stretching, the getting cold and suddenly having to perform again — it’s all part of the grind. What you don’t always see is the waiting, but that’s the gig. It’s raw and accurate.

Jess: You continue to make dance a priority in your life. You’ve started your own company (Dance First Think Later) with a mission to help everyone go for it and dance without fear. What do you hope dance can do for the world?

Amelia: Dance can change the world — I’ve seen it do that. It builds community, confidence, and resilience. It’s radical in how it reconnects people with their power.

My mission is to keep sharing movement with as many people as possible, especially those who feel like it’s “not for them.” It is for you. And I’ll keep creating spaces and programs that center joy, empowerment, and expression. Rage against the patriarchy, heal through music, celebrate being alive. That’s what I’m here to do.