IRVING, Texas - The Dallas Cowboys' bye weekend: A mid-season opportunity for players, staff and Cheerleaders to take a much-needed break, rest those muscles and maybe even change scenery for a day or two. The Cheerleaders in particular have been training rigorously since spring, plus appearing around the world, teaching dance clinics and performing at each home game. So a little time off couldn't be better!

(Hold on DCC . . . better toss that weekend-getaway bag back into the closet until sometime in 2008! You've already got big plans for the bye weekend. It's the 17th Annual Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Competition.)

Held at world-famous Texas Stadium, the location was by no means a quiet place during the Cowboys' bye weekend. In fact, the place was bustling with activity and sounds at the field level, in the stands, the concourse and even the Stadium Club. As one of the state's most prestigious dance, drill team and cheerleading competitions, it appeared that anyone "in the know" knew to be present for this special event.

After all, this isn't merely a production in which the Cheerleaders' organization simply adds their name to it. This is truly a hands-on event that takes months of preparation. One might be surprised to see just how involved these elite Cheerleaders are in the two-day competition. Deryn Derbigny, a second-year veteran, explained,

"I think it's really great that we get to work the event and not just host the event," Derbigny said. "It's really fun that we get to interact with the kids, sell merchandise, sign autographs, and even help direct them to the field."

The proximity of the individual Cheerleaders really is worth noting.

"You know, they see us the entire time so I think it's a really special experience for them as well," Derbigny said. "They get to meet every Cheerleader today."

The contest featured private dance academies, school groups and city teams ranging from age 6 through high school. Over 1,000 participants representing Texas and Louisiana were there for the opportunity to show the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders just what they were made of and to hopefully snag a prize or two.

The awards included impressive trophies and some invitations to perform in the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders' Christmas Halftime on Dec. 16, 2007. The Dance and Cheer Overall Grand Champions would be invited to perform their award-winning routines during pre-game ceremonies.

While the shining trophies were clearly in view for all to see throughout the competition, and every team hoped for at least one, it's the chance to perform in front of 65,000 fans during a game at Texas Stadium that's exhilarating for such young performers. One charismatic dance director, Delisa King, of King and Roberts Dance Studio, gave last-minute instructions to her dancers while simultaneously putting the final touches on each of their costumes.

"We've been doing this about 14 years now and we have a blast," King said. "It's the highlight of our year. Getting to perform at the Cowboys game, these girls get pumped and we are ready to go!"

One couldn't help but wonder while watching a group of tiny performers on the 50-yard line if this was a glimpse into the future of DCC - maybe the rookie class of 2016?

While groups continued their performances on the field, upstairs in the Stadium Club the soloists, duets and trios were being judged on the very same dance floor in which each DCC auditioned for the famous squad. The mood was quieter, the judges closer and the nerves might have been just a bit more prevalent as each young talent took to the floor. Just after two young girls from the Johnson School of Performing Arts in Killeen finished their duet, they were met with hugs from their supporters.

One dancer expressed, "I was definitely nervous but I think it went pretty good. We tried our best and that's all you can do."

Later, as awards were being presented on the field, young dancers lined the rails with anticipation, hoping to hear they'd won. The crowd cheers were certainly higher-pitched than those usually heard at Texas Stadium, but the enthusiasm was as deep. As each winning team accepted their shiny, new trophy they also happily accepted a big hug from the smiling Cheerleader who presented their award. One young team from Jana's Dance could hardly contain their excitement as they tried to manage a trophy that was about as tall as the dancers who'd won it.

When asked if the trophy was heavy, they answered in unison while giggling, "Noooo." When asked if they were cold (it was after all, a little chilly in the shade for spaghetti straps), they again answered all together, "Nooooo," faces beaming. It appeared that winning a nod from the World Famous Cheerleaders was plenty to keep these kids warm - and giggling.

So how about that bye weekend? Third-year veteran Nicole Hamilton summed it up.

"The part that I look forward to the most is meeting all the little girls," she said. "They are so excited to see us and that makes it worth waking up at six o'clock in the morning to come and see their smiling little faces."

Congratulations to the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Competition 2007 Grand Champions

At Saturday's Dance competition over 1200 young performers took the field and danced their hearts out with the 57 of them, from the Candy Crocker School of Dance in Tyler, ultimately winning over the judge�s hearts. On Sunday the field belonged to the Cheerleading squads with Irving Elite Cheerleaders, from Irving, outscoring all of their outstanding opposition. Both Candy Crocker Jordan and Tiffany Guzman deserve praise and congratulations for the efforts they, and their team members, put into perfecting their presentations. As the Dance and Cheer Grand Champions, both teams will showcase their winning routines during pregame ceremonies on December 16th when the Eagles come to town for the last regular season home game for the Cowboys. And during halftime, the Grand Champions will be joined by more than 600 other Competition dancers and cheerleaders for the DCC�s annual Christmas Extravaganza.