Meet Faymie Link! Professional Choreographer for Tribe 99, former dancer for The University of Tennessee Dance team and The Denver Broncos Cheerleaders
Learn more about Faymie's dance journey - how the power of believing in & challenging herself paved the way for all that she has accomplished & where she is today!
For this week’s edition of More Than Poms, we are featuring…
Faymie Link
Professional Choreographer for Tribe 99, former dancer for The University of Tennessee Dance team and The Denver Broncos Cheerleaders.
1. Tell all about the life of Faymie! Your background and how you got to where you are today.
Dance has always been part of my life. I have been dancing since I could walk. My older sister Ferrin was already in dance and my mom worked at the studio so the second I was walking I was put in dance classes and I LOVED it. I started dancing in California and then moved to Colorado when I was 5 and continued dancing at a studio. Later when I got to High School I was on the ThunderRidge High School Varsity Pom team for all four years.
I knew I wanted to dance in college and The University of Tennessee was my dream team since I was in middle school. I made the team and danced all four years on UTDT.
While in college I was also on staff for UDA teaching high school and college camps around the country.
After college I didn't want my dance career to end so I auditioned for The Denver Bronco Cheerleaders and was on the team for 2 years. While on the team The Broncos won Super Bowl 50 which was an unbelievable experience!
I then moved to CA with my husband and began doing choreography and working for Tribe 99. I now choreograph for High School, College, and NFL teams around the country.
2. What made you choose the University of Tennessee dance team and how did the team help you evolve as a dancer? What do you think you gained by being a member of a college dance team?
I was in LOVE with the Tennessee dance team. I would watch college nationals every year and be completely captivated by their performances. They were strong, technical, but most importantly they were true performers on the stage. Being on the Tennessee dance team definitely shaped me into who I am today.
I learned how hard you have to work to get what you want and how important it is to believe in yourself and your teammates. Kelley was the best coach and pushed us as dancers but also as people. That team truly builds character, it toughens you up and also breaks down your barriers. I made the absolute best friends on that team and I am so lucky to have those memories.
3. What was your mindset going into becoming an NFL cheerleader? How did you prepare for the audition? What are some of your favorite memories looking back on the opportunity?
I was so excited to make the transition into the NFL because I love football and I also love performing. It took a lot of work to get into the shape I wanted to be in before auditioning. I was running and strength training and eating as clean as possible.
My favorite memory is Super Bowl 50. It was one of the most amazing experiences dancing on that field. We had so many appearances and events throughout the weekend and then being able to attend the after party and the parade back at home was unforgettable. The organization is so good to the Broncos Cheerleaders, we felt so lucky to be included in everything, even the ring ceremony!
4. Do you think college dance team and NFL cheerleading intertwine in any way? Would you encourage other dancers to continue their career by going pro?
I do think they intertwine because when you're on a college team you are not only dancing on the sidelines for football and basketball games, but you are also an ambassador for the University. I do also think it depends on what college dance team you are on. There are so many different types of college dance teams around the country.
Some that don't compete and are run a lot more like an NFL team and others that are highly competitive. Tennessee is a very competitive team so going from being a competitive dancer to an NFL cheerleader is a little bit of an adjustment. I would definitely encourage other dancers to continue their career and go pro. If you love dancing and performing why wouldn't you continue the opportunity to do so. It is such a fun experience!
5. What is it like now being on the other side as Tribe99 professional choreographer? What first inspired you to begin and how has your dance choreography career flourished since?
I absolutely love being a choreographer. I love working with so many different dancers from around the country and helping them grow and follow their dreams. My favorite part is connecting with the kids and helping them get to where they want to be in the future. I started choreographing when I was about 14. It took me a long time to establish what type of choreographer I wanted to be and I definitely had to make some mistakes along the way. I think the key that got me to where I am now in my career was to keep pushing myself creatively but most importantly to not be scared to ask for help.
Once I started getting others opinions and getting more eyes on my choreography the better I started doing. I felt all of this pressure when I started, to get the job done all by myself but I have so many mentors and friends that helped me push away from that train of thought. It takes a village and no one can do it alone. The other thing I learned was to keep going, not every year is going to be successful. It's ok to get knocked down. I learned to use those years to fire me up and come back stronger the next year. I love a good challenge and the competitive drive I have really pushes me to keep working to improve. There will always be someone better than you, use it as motivation.
6. What is your biggest piece of advice to the dancers you work with today? If you could go back and tell yourself one thing you wish you had known when being on a team, what would you tell yourself?
My biggest advice is to believe in yourself. Dancers are so hard on themselves and don't give themselves enough credit. Everyone's journey is different so don't compare your journey to others. Focus on what motivates you and push yourself to step out of your comfort zone. I truly believe God puts everyone where they are meant to be so trust in the process, push yourself, and believe that you can and will do it.
Huge thank you to Faymie for taking the time out of her busy daily life to share with the MTP fam! I hope this interview gives you insight of how important it is to believe in yourself, challenge yourself, and go after what excites you! Faymie is a true inspiration in our dance community and I hope her journey has inspired you as it has me!