Q&A with Rochester's Kyle Tanguay, NFL cheerleader
Kyle Tanguay grew up in Rochester and was an active child, participating in many sports. He discovered dance at the age of 10, following that passion with local dance instructor Jaime Gagner. His outgoing personality and skills powered him through his teen years at Spaulding High School, where he could be found on stage singing and dancing in many shows. He was also active in the local band and as a cheerleader and color guard member. Little did anyone know where the cheerleading experience would lead him.
Tanguay graduated from high school in 2016, and eventually became a student at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. After moving to the City of Brotherly Love, he became immersed in Philadelphia Eagles mania as they won the Super Bowl in February 2018. Kyle’s roommate, Rae Holtzman, was a member of the Eagles cheerleading team and her enthusiasm spurred him to try out for a team that did not have a male member.
His skill, passion and enthusiasm was obvious and although there were more than 100 applicants he earned a place on the squad.
Although Tanguay is settled in Philadelphia, according to his mentor Joanne Houston, who is the music director at his old high school, “Kyle always comes to visit when he is home, he is a genuine loving man.”
Tanguay took the time to respond to questions now that he's about halfway through his first season in the NFL as a trailblazing male cheerleader.
Q. Kyle, tell us a little bit about your upbringing … were you a football fan? Did you ever play?
A: I grew up in New Hampshire and my childhood was filled with love from my very supportive family. We are close knit and always there for one another. When faced with adversity, we survive it together; when experiencing joyous times, we celebrate as a family. My parents, siblings, grandparents, and great grandparents have always encouraged me to pursue my dreams. Although I never played football, I participated in hockey, tee-ball, soccer, basketball, track, cheerleading, and Boy Scouts growing up in Rochester, NH. My parents allowed me to try a multitude of activities and experiences. After finding my love of dance, I studied at Fusion Dance Academy and knew dance was what I wanted to focus on the most for as long as possible. I always had an interest in sports, but it wasn’t until I started college in Philadelphia that I became a passionate fan of the NFL, specifically the Philadelphia Eagles.
Q. Did you relate to your high school cheerleaders?
A: I am still very close with some of my high school cheerleading teammates! A few of us have stayed in contact throughout college. I consider myself lucky to have been a part of such a great high school community … from being a part of the marching band and cheerleading squad to having great teachers as mentors and fellow students as good friends! I truly believe that the support I received from everyone at Spaulding High School really gave me a giant push to follow my dreams and never quit.
Q. Where did you go for after high school study?
A: After high school, I began my freshman year as a dance major at Dean College in Franklin, Massachusetts. However, I was accepted at the University of the Arts as well, and I knew I belonged in a larger city setting. I chose to transfer to UArts in Philadelphia because of its prestigious dance program, the faculty, and its location in the city of Philadelphia. Once I started at UArts, I couldn't picture myself anywhere else, and knew it was the perfect fit for me!
Q. Let’s talk about the Philadelphia Eagles. How did you become affiliated with them?
A: It all started by becoming a fan of the Philadelphia Eagles. Since moving to Philadelphia, I have met some of the kindest, passionate, and humorous people ever, and they are all Eagles fans! I gained so many friends and spent Sunday’s with them cheering on the Birds. One of my college classmates, Azari Ford, became an Eagles Cheerleader the year prior to me. She spoke so positively about the Eagles organization that it sparked an interest in me to audition. I knew being an Eagles Cheerleader was something I could see myself doing and I wanted to do everything I could to become a part of the team. I began training even harder, and soon enough, I was swept up in the extensive audition process. Once making the team, I was able to see even more clearly some of the amazing qualities the Eagles organization represents…community, passion, diversity, inclusion…and I am so proud to be a member of this team.
Q. What makes being a male cheerleader a big deal?
A: I think male cheerleaders at the NFL level is fascinating to people, because just two years ago, there weren’t any men on NFL squads. Although the Eagles cheerleaders auditions have always been open to men, no male contestants have auditioned in decades. I’m excited that I now have an opportunity and a platform to inspire more men to audition and pursue their dreams.
Q. Do you travel with the team?
A: As Eagles cheerleaders, there are many travel opportunities. For example, just last season, members of the squad traveled to the United Kingdom for the NFL London Games and traveled to Honduras and Curacao on a Goodwill Military Tour to visit United States service members. The squad’s Pro Bowl representative will be traveling to Orlando, Florida. In 2018, the entire squad traveled to Minnesota to perform in Super Bowl LII! Our squad has also participated in numerous international community service trips. Regularly, we travel for national television show appearances as well as high profile event appearances. We do not travel to regular season away games as they are home games for our opponents. During those road games, we are usually making appearances in the Philadelphia region, supporting the team alongside our passionate fan base.
Q. What was it like trying out for the team? Did you have to learn dances to do it?
A: It was very competitive. Only nine rookies were selected for the squad from hundreds of contestants that auditioned. We had to learn and execute several different dance routines in various genres throughout the audition process. The Eagles have one of the longer audition processes in the NFL, including several elimination rounds with business interviews and fitness evaluations, which culminates with a Final Audition Show at a theater in front of a live audience. It was intense!
Q. How did you feel when you heard that you had made it?
A: My breath was taken away! I ran onto the stage with the biggest smile ever and it stayed on my face for hours. It’s one thing to set a goal, and another to achieve it! After hearing my name announced, I couldn’t stop thinking of all the experiences I would now be embarking on as a new member. I was especially excited that my roommate Rae Holtzman was also named as a member of the squad that evening. I was ecstatic that we would be roommates and teammates!
Q. What is your routine like during the week? Where, when and how long do you practice? It is physically taxing?
A: We rehearse at Lincoln Financial Field a minimum of two nights a week for three-four hours each. We also rehearse on gamedays, four hours prior to kickoff. The quantity and duration of rehearsals is necessary because we are learning new choreography each week and then perfecting the execution so that at each game we are performing as one unit versus 36 individual dancers. The rehearsals are physically demanding but we are athletes and thrive in those settings. The sense of accomplishment on gamedays is very rewarding.
Q. How do your Eagles cheerleading teammates treat you? Do you have separate locker rooms?
A: This team has quickly become my second family, and best friends! We talk every day and are super close! They treat me like anyone else on the team, and I am forever grateful to be amongst some of the most influential, talented, intelligent, and fearless women out there. Everyone, from my 35 teammates to our choreographer Suzy Zucker and director Barbara Zaun, have done everything to make me feel welcome and loved on this team. We all truly support each other, on and off the field. It is an outstanding group of people that I am fortunate enough to get to call my teammates, and I am so excited to have each and every one in my life.
The Eagles built a male cheerleader locker at Lincoln Financial Field when I made the squad, so I have my own digs to get ready, but we also have a combined space so that I am a part of all the camaraderie on gamedays!
Q. How do the Eagle fans treat you?
A: Eagles fans have been so kind and supportive of me. I have had the opportunity to engage with Eagles fans from Philadelphia and from throughout the United States and abroad. Thousands of fans have reached out to me via social media. We are so lucky to have such a passionate fan base. Eagles fans are not only enthusiastic about gamedays, they are also enthusiastic about all Eagles charitable and community initiatives. For example, together, we have raised over six million dollars for Eagles Autism Foundation. It means a great deal to me to be a part of the Eagles community.
Q. How does it feel to be the first Eagles male cheerleader in 30 years?
A: I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to represent male cheerleaders at the NFL level. I hope that by being the first Eagles male cheerleader in 30 years, that I have inspired men to audition next season so there will be more male cheerleaders in 2020 and every year thereafter. Additionally, I look forward to seeing more men audition for other teams throughout the league.