Join the Squad

Squad Benefits

Programming to prepare you for future career opportunities — marketing, nutrition, media relations, resume development, public speaking, etc.
We are sponsored by Nike, and all Squad members receive warm-ups, workout gear, shoes, duffel bags and backpacks.
Strength training to help meet the demands that your body will face throughout the year.
Travel to away PAC-12 football games, Bowl games, and post-season men’s and women’s basketball tournaments.
Complimentary tickets to home football, basketball and Olympic sports.
Complimentary tanning and more through our generous sponsors.
Front row seats for all the UCLA athletic events that you cheer for — you are on the field at the Rose Bowl and on the court in legendary Pauley Pavilion.
Performing in front of a crowd of thousands demonstrating your support for Bruin spirit.

Preparatory Audition Clinic

Our 2024 Prep Clinics took place on:

Sunday, February 4
10 am
John Wooden Center

Sunday, April 14
2 pm
John Wooden Center

If you have questions for our Coaches or would like to receive 1:1 feedback (based on Squad choreography), please email us at spiritsquad@ucla.edu.

If you'd like more information about becoming a Mascot at UCLA, please email us at spiritsquad@ucla.edu.

Audition Application

2024 Auditions will take place in Pauley Pavilion on Sunday, May 5.

Register for the 2024-25 Audition Process.

Registration closes at Noon on Monday, April 29.

Squad choreography is available on our YouTube channel for those who want to practice in advance of the Audition process.

For questions, please email spiritsquad@ucla.edu.

Audition Overview

Qualifications

Proof of admission into UCLA (Visit Admissions Process and Deadline .)
Current UCLA student, have an cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above.
Current UCLA student, not on disciplinary probation.
Sufficient physical fitness, strength, and athletic skills to perform the activities described below.
Candidates who are chosen for the Spirit Squad must maintain their dance, stunt and tumbling skills throughout the summer and the entire season.
Health/hospitalization insurance in an amount comparable to the minimum coverage offered through the University’s student insurance program.

Video Audition

It is recommended that you make every effort to attend auditions. Video auditions will be accepted for all applicants who cannot travel to campus.

FAQ

Do you offer scholarships or out-of-state tuition waivers?
At this time, we have limited scholarship opportunities for the UCLA Spirit Squad. Unfortunately, we do not provide out-of-state tuition waivers. However, UCLA has multiple scholarships, grants and loan opportunities through the Financial Aid office.
Does the program compete at nationals?
The UCLA Spirit Squad does not currently compete in the USA College Nationals process.
Do I need an invitation to attend auditions?
You do not need an invitation to attend auditions.
Can I tryout for multiple squads?
If more than one squad interests you, you are welcome to audition for multiple teams. You will be encouraged to attend all of the clinics leading up to auditions. Following your final audition, you will be asked to list your squad preference — should you make more than one team.
Is there a height and weight requirement?
No, we do not maintain a height and weight requirement. We do require that all potential members maintain the appropriate physique in order to participate in the required activity.
Do I need to have a physical completed by a physician?
No, you do not need to have a physical completed for the audition process. Should you be chosen for the squad, you will be required to have a physical completed by mid-August.
Do I need to audition again if I’m a returning member?
Yes, potential returning members must audition each year and are not guaranteed a spot on the team.
Are auditions open to the public?
No, auditions are closed to the general public.
How many people audition each year?
The number of individuals that audition varies from year to year. On average we have:
For Cheer Squad: Male 10-20, Female 20-40; For Dance Team: 50-80; For Mascots: 5-10.

Cheer Squad Audition

Composition and Techniques

The UCLA Cheer Squad is the officially recognized cheer squad for the university. Our main objective is to support UCLA Athletics (primarily but not limited to UCLA Football and UCLA Men’s and Women’s Basketball) and promote school spirit. We perform at both home and away games, make campus and community appearances and work closely with the UCLA Dance Team, Mascots and UCLA Bruin Marching Band throughout the year. The squad typically consists of 20 members, both male and female, who perform collegiate level stunts (coed/partner stunts and all-girl/group stunts), pyramids, baskets and tumbling. The following skills are highly recommended:

Males: standing back tuck, toss chair and toss hands with a pop off dismount
Female tops: standing back tuck, running pass to tuck, layout or full, ability to fly collegiate level stunts
Female bases: standing back tuck, running pass to tuck, layout or full, ability to base collegiate level stunts

Returning members must audition each year and are not guaranteed a spot on the team for the upcoming season.

Time Commitments

Spring and Summer

Throughout spring quarter, the squad will meet two to three nights per week for practice. Squad members will work on partner stunting, tumbling and material for upcoming events and football games.
The squad has the month of July off.
The full squad is required to attend Skills Training Camp in August.

Rehearsals

Once classes begin for fall quarter, practices are held two to three days per week.
Squad members are required to find an additional two times during the week to maintain their individual workouts.
Typically, workouts with our trainer include TRX and cardio. Rehearsals are with the coach and involve learning and reviewing game material.

Performances

The Cheer Squad performs at athletic, community outreach, campus, alumni, media and community events throughout the year, beginning in Spring Quarter immediately following auditions. The squad performs at:

All home and select away football games
All home and select away men’s and women’s basketball games
Various campus events including: Bruin Day, Volunteer Day, class appearances, grand openings and recognition ceremonies.
Various alumni events including: seasonal kick-offs, dinners and scholarship presentations.
Media events including: TV promotions, sponsorship promotions, commercials and photo shoots.
Community outreach appearances
Community events including: birthday parties, weddings and bar/bat mitzvahs.

What to Expect in Clinics

Candidates are encouraged to attend the tryout clinic(s). They will practice stunting and tumbling and will learn the Fight Song choreography.

What to Expect on Audition Day

Audition Material

Both male and female candidates will perform the UCLA Fight Song.
Female candidates will perform an addition sideline filler routine.
Audition material will be provided to candidates prior to tryouts.

Stunts

Male applicants will be evaluated on coed/partner stunting.
Female applicants will be evaluated on coed/partner stunting and/or all-girl/group stunting dependent on their stunt position. Female applicants who are versatile in multiple stunt positions are preferred.

Tumbling

Both male and female candidates will be given the opportunity to showcase their standing and running tumbling skills.

Game Day Simulation

Both male and female candidates may be asked to perform various game day scenarios in groups such as the UCLA Fight Song, sideline filler routine, time outs and/or quarter changes, free stunting, tuck roll-offs, spiriting, etc. as if they were at a game.

Interview

Both male and female candidates will deliver a personal statement (45 seconds max) and participate in a group interview where up to three questions may be asked.

What to Wear for Audition Clinics and Audition Day

Females:

Sports bra
Spandex shorts
White, athletic shoes -- shoelaces tucked in -- appropriate for stunting
Hair should be styled down and out of the candidate's face -- NO Ponytails
Stage/game-ready/TV-ready make-up
Appropriate bras or sport bras and bloomers/briefs
No jewelry or body piercings, and tattoos must be covered
No ribbons/bows
No food or gum
Overall clean, mature and collegiate presentation

Males:

Blue or black shorts
Clean T-shirt
Small, ankle socks
White, athletic shoes -- shoelaces tucked in (shoes will not be worn during the gymnastics portion of the audition)
Short, clean haircut
No jewelry or body piercings, and tattoos must be covered
No food or gum
Overall clean, mature and collegiate presentation

Dance Team Audition

Composition and Techniques

The UCLA Dance Team is the officially recognized dance team for the university. The team performs and travels to support the UCLA Athletic Department throughout the season. Returning members must audition each year and are not guaranteed a spot on the team. There are nine to fourteen members on the Dance Team. We hold high standards for our dancers: excellent technique, flexibility and tricks including triple turns, leaps, turns in second, jumps in second, switch leaps and leg hold/leg hold turns (tumbling is not required, but encouraged). The Dance Team learns more than 50 routines to music by the UCLA Bruin Marching Band and recorded music for football and basketball timeout performances. Squad members must also be familiar with cheerleading arm motions and be able to work with poms.

Time Commitments

Spring and Summer

Throughout the month of May, the squad will meet 2-3 nights per week to work on dance technique and material for upcoming events and football games.
The team has the month of July off.
The full squad is required to attend Training Camp in August.

Rehearsals and Workouts

Once classes begin for fall quarter, practices are held 2-3 nights per week.
Dance Team members are required to find an additional two times during the week to maintain their individual workouts.

Typically, workouts are with our trainer and include TRX. Rehearsals are with the coach and involve learning and reviewing game material.

Performances

The Dance Team performs at athletic, community outreach, campus, alumni, media and community events throughout the year, beginning in Spring Quarter immediately following auditions. The team performs at:

All home and select away football games
All home and select away men’s and women’s basketball games
Various campus events including: Bruin Day, Volunteer Day, class appearances, grand openings, recognition ceremonies
Various alumni events including: seasonal kick-offs, dinners, scholarship presentations.
Media events including: TV promotions, sponsorship promotions, commercials, photo shoots.
Community outreach appearances
Community events including: birthday parties, weddings, and bar/bat mitzvahs.

Prior to Audition Day

Dancers will learn an across the floor combination, a Fight Song, and a Performance Routine via videos released the week leading up to Audition Day.
The Fight Song involves traditional Pom style dancing, straight-arm motions, and is performed with poms.
The Performance Routine incorporates jazz and/or hip hop.

What to Expect on Audition Day: Before the Audition

Dancers should arrive stretched and ready to perform the across the floor combination, Fight Song and Performance Routine.
This is an opportunity for dancers to warm up and hear the music.

What to Expect on Audition Day: Preliminary Round(s)

Dancers will perform the across the floor combination, Fight Song, and Performance Routine in small groups during the Preliminary Round(s) on Audition Day. The judges will deliberate, and those students advancing to the Final Round will be announced.
Dancers may be asked to perform improvisation across the floor, highlighting any additional dance styles, tricks, or tumbling he/she has. This is the candidate's opportunity to demonstrate skills that are not presented in the Fight Song or Performance Routine.

What to Expect on Audition Day: Final Round

Dancers advancing to the Final Round will stay and perform the across the floor combination, Fight Song, and Performance Routine (a second time).
Dancers will also participate in group interviews. Two to three questions are asked during each interview.
The judges will deliberate, and team selections will be announced later that night via email.

What to Wear for Audition Clinics and Day

Females:

Black Dance Spandex shorts, leggings, unitard or biketard
Black fitted dance top
Jazz shoes
Hair should be styled down and out of the candidate's face -- NO Ponytails
One pair of earrings may be worn -- ALL other jewelry must be removed and tattoos must be covered
Stage/performance makeup
No ribbons or bows
No food or gum
Overall clean, mature and collegiate presentation

Males:

Black pants or shorts
Black form fitting top
Athletic shoes or jazz shoes
Hair out of face
No jewelry or body piercings, and tattoos must be covered
No food or gum
Overall clean, mature and collegiate presentation

Mascot Audition

Techniques

UCLA’s mascots (Joe and Josie Bruin) perform at football games, basketball games and select Olympic sports throughout the season. They also make appearances at special on and off-campus events.

6 Joe's and 6 Josie's are selected. Returning members must audition each year and are not guaranteed a spot on the team.

Mascots must have enthusiasm and coordination to excel as Joe or Josie Bruin. In addition, they must understand the timing of sports so as to effectively follow / lead cheers and make an impact on the crowd.

Time Commitments

Spring and Summer
Mascots will meet during spring quarter to review goals and expectations for the year and will have July off.

Performances

All home and select away football games
All home and select away men’s and women’s basketball games
Select women’s and men’s volleyball games
All home gymnastics meets
Community outreach appearances
Select Olympic sporting events including: baseball, water polo, softball, and soccer.
Various campus events including: class appearances, grand openings, recognition ceremonies.
Various alumni events including: seasonal kick-offs, dinners, scholarship presentations.
Media events including: TV promotions, sponsorship promotions, commercials, photo shoots.
Community events including: birthday parties, weddings and bar/bat mitzvahs.

What to Expect in Clinics

Candidates will practice responding to game situations. They will also have the opportunity to put on the mascot costumes in order to learn dance moves, poses, arm motions, and game-specific reactions.

What to Expect on Audition Day

Candidates will be expected to perform the fight song, lead a cheer, and explain an original mascot skit idea.

Each candidate will participate in a group interview and deliver a personal statement (45 seconds). Two to three questions are asked during each interview.

What to Wear for Audition Day

Blue and/or Gold
Shirt or tank top
Black athletic shorts or leggings
Short, white ankle socks
White, athletic shoes -- shoelaces tucked in
Hair tied back for females, clean haircut for males
No jewelry or body piercings, and tattoos must be covered
No food or gum
Overall clean, mature and collegiate presentation