We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kylie Snyder a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Kylie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?
I have learned from watching others; I think that is so important to always watch those around you and let it inspire you to grow in any aspect that you can. While I may not have been the star dancer on the team with the most tricks, I would always watch the girl who had incredible technical training, or who lit up a room with their smile, or who made each fan feel special during game day, or the Captain who helped every teammate out. I have been surrounded by really incredible women who have absolutely helped shape me into the Coach that I am now.
I wish I would have started training earlier! Of course, there is always a way to say “I wish I would have done XYZ” so I try not to sit in that too long, but it certainly would have sped up my process in my dance and performance abilities.
I think the most essential skill to being an effective leader is to listen to those around you. It is hard to trust and to work for those who can never be told they are wrong, so I strive to make people feel comfortable, confident, and seen. I think that the best way to do this is to listen to what others have to say and watch how they react. Each person is different and their needs should be handled differently.
The obstacle that stands in my way the most is definitely the “not good enough” voice in my head. After years of rejection from teams that I had tried out for, it was really easy to tell myself, “You shouldn’t be on a team, you shouldn’t lead these girls, nobody wants to learn from you” and that is really not beneficial for anybody, but it is easy to let those voices take over.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
It is such an honor to lead the Baltimore Blast Cheerleaders, but if you were to have asked me 10 years ago if this is what I would be doing, I would say there is no way I would ever be qualified for that role!
I grew up as a competitive gymnast, where I rapidly learned what discipline and hard work looks like. I pushed myself really hard every practice and loved how it felt when I saw results. Once my gymnastics days were over, I found my love of dancing and performing. I had such a late start that I never got the technical training that I (still) wish I could have gotten at a young age. Because of this, I always felt so far behind my peers in dance. In high school, I joined the poms squad and dance company. By college, I was constantly trying out for different teams, but were rejected from so many, simply because I was lacking in technique and performance. I nearly quit trying because I was so defeated, but I knew that I loved to dance and, in the end, that was all that mattered. I found a club that accepted me and helped me continue to dance and grow. After college, I did not feel ready to hang up my dancing shoes yet, but there really weren’t many opportunities for a dancer post-college. I had some friends who had turned to professional cheerleading, and while I did not think I had a shot, I tried out in 2018 and made a team in the MASL, the Baltimore Blast Cheerleaders. My coach saw potential in me and wanted to help me grow into the performer she knew that I could be. I owe her so much because she helped me find the confidence in myself to be the dancer I am today. I have been with that team ever since (8 years now!) and became Captain my second year, finding my new love of leadership, and have turned over to coaching. It has been a blessing.
The Baltimore Blast Cheerleaders are a team of women who cheer in the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) and perform throughout every home game, providing entertainment via sidelines, on-field dance performances, and fan interactions. Our season typically begins in late summer with prep classes to help give women a sense of who our team is and if we are a good fit for them. In early autumn, we begin our audition process, which consists of an open call audition where we teach a short routine that is auditioned the same day. At the end of the day, we go through with our first round of cuts. This is the hardest part of the job. I never want to take away someone’s dream, especially since I know exactly how it feels and it is the worst feeling in the world. I always try to uplift those who do not make it by telling them that this particular “no” does not define them, they are incredible and should be so proud of themselves. After the first round, we transition into a Training Camp, where we spend the practice working out, learning a sideline dance, and cleaning the audition dance, meaning we go through every step and talk about where arm/foot/leg/hand/etc placement is, where your angles are, where are you looking, is the foot pointed or flexed, etc to make us look like a team. This is particularly important since we have a fast-moving season and need teammates who are flexible and able to pick up on cleans quickly. The last day is the final audition, where the candidates audition the sideline dance and audition dance and we see how they would work together as a team. Our team is announced that week and we hit the ground running!
Our season runs until the MASL completes their championship game. By this point, our team has performed about 15 sidelines per game, a celebrate dance, a pre-game dance, a Junior Blast routine, a Here For A Blast routine, and 1-2 routines per game totaling at least 12 games. It is hard work but it is the most rewarding, most fun after-work activity we could ask for.
Our girls each have full-time jobs outside of this job. We have a team full of teachers, nurses, scientists, marketing professionals, fitness instructors, mothers, and students. This shows how determined each woman is to make their dreams a reality.
Something I am most proud of the Baltimore Blast Cheerleaders is our Junior Blast and Here For A Blast program. Many years ago, our Director, Liz Guaraldo, created a Junior Blast program to allow little girls ages 5-18 to dance with us and get a feel for what it is like to be a cheerleader. In the morning, we host a 3-hour practice, where we get to talk to the kids, teach them a full 3-minute routine, and perform with them at halftime that night. It is the greatest feeling to see the little girl’s eyes light up when you walk past them, holding your shoulders back to walk up to them with a bright smile in your cheer uniform. It makes you feel like such a superhero. We get to talk to them about what we do, and then being beside them on the field for them to feel the same feeling is amazing. Then, just a few years ago, our Director realized “Why do we only have this for children? We should ask their moms and any other woman to come dance with us!” Thus, Here For A Blast was born! While the day is structured the same as Junior Blast, here is where we allow woman ages 18+ to dance with us. This has quickly become one of the most heartwarming events I have ever been a part of. There are professional cheerleader hopefuls, retired cheerleaders, mothers of our teammates, mothers of Junior Blast participants, and women who have never danced before on the field with us. My 89-year-old grandmother danced with us one year! It truly is an event for anybody. When we all run off of the field after dancing together and the crowd is cheering for us, there are so many tears of woman saying “I just did that” and so much pride that it is the most special moment. THAT is why I continue to do what I do. There is no greater feeling than seeing other people feel inspired and proud of themselves.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
I think my main goal is to inspire others. This platform has given me such a blessing of being able to help these aspiring cheerleaders to become the best dancer, performer, and teammate that they can be. These women work hard day and night and sometimes it wears them down. I want to be the person that is there for them, to tell them “I am proud of you”, that I am seeing how hard they work, that I know they can do what they want to do, that those negative voices in their head are not beneficial and that we see you for who you are. I love being relied on and trusted and being a Coach has been a gift.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
I think that it can be hard to realize just how hard dancers work before you see the final product on the field or the stage. Knowing how much time goes into learning a dance, cleaning every part of the routine, setting the formations, ensuring everyone is moving similarly to make it look uniform, practicing outside of practice, and prioritizing our own health and fitness is a lot of work outside of our own careers and family lives! I think that the new Netflix show of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders has really opened many people’s eyes into how much time and effort goes into dance and how much we sacrifice simply because we love to do what we do. What is so rewarding is seeing people begin to understand how hard we work and really appreciate it. When we have non-dancers who go to games all the time and come up and say “Wow, you girls are great, I can tell you work really hard” it is such a rewarding moment because it is like yes, we do!!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://baltimoreblast.com/about-the-baltimore-blast/cheerleaders/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baltimoreblastcheerleaders/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BaltimoreBlastCheerleaders/
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/X7f_29AnLmA?si=oR0d7Yn_kKcFPh00
Image Credits
Mikayla Mellis (@mikmellisphotography)
Gerard GCF Photography (@g28646)