Retired NFL Cheerleader, Collegiate Athlete, and UDA Staff Member ✺ Hannah Miller!

Hannah’s dance journey and how she kept leveling up.

For this week’s edition of MTP we are exclusively featuring…

Hannah Miller

1. Talk us through the life of Hannah - your background, your dance journey, and how you got to where you are today!

I began my dance journey at the ripe age of two. My parents used it as an opportunity to put me in cute outfits and a second form of daycare. Little did they know how much of an impact it would make on my life and theirs. I continued to dance through grade school and high school and added on soccer, softball, and cheerleading. Dancing never left the top of my list. I knew once I started high school I wanted to dance in college and later on professionally.

I trained at Infinity Dance Company where my studio owner, Kim Fay, prepared me for college auditions. I auditioned for Pearl River Community College’s dance team and Mississippi State University’s dance team.

I chose Mississippi State and that’s where my path started on my goal to dance professionally. I got to go to Pro Action out in Las Vegas my senior year on the team and that’s where I really fell in love with the idea of becoming an NFL cheerleader.

I got with my college coach, Taylor Lee, on what teams I was interested in and I started training and going to prep classes. I knew I didn’t want to dance forever, but my plan was to make an NFL team out of college to get me to a bigger city and make connections. Once I was there and comfortable, I would figure out my career.

In March of my senior year is when COVID hit. Obviously, I had to move home, and every NFL cheer team postponed their auditions. I honestly felt like my plans were ruined. Not a couple weeks later did the first team announce their virtual auditions- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I called my college coach and went to work. I was splitting time in Starkville training with her and Biloxi training with my studio owner.

The auditions were completely virtual and latest about a month. I got the call offering me a spot on the team and two weeks later was a resident of Tampa, Florida.

I was a Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleader for two seasons(2020-2022). Going to the Super Bowl my rookie season was an absolute dream and I still cannot believe it happened. I am thankful for the Buccaneers organization and the opportunities it gave me.

I have now started my career in the liquor industry as a Sales Coordinator for Tito’s Handmade Vodka. I absolutely love what I do and the company I work for. I know I have my dance career to thank for getting me here and being able to have this opportunity.

2. What is something you value from your time as a member of the Mississippi State dance team? Did you feel like you had an advantage having that experience going into your NFL cheer audition?

I will always be thankful for the opportunity I had dancing for Mississippi State University. It had it’s ups and downs and a lot of changes in leadership, but that program is the reason I got to dance professionally.

My coach my senior year was dedicated to making anybody a professional dancer that wanted to become one. As long as you put the work in with her, she put the work in with you.

Our program didn’t compete, so we solely focused on gameday and team-improvement. I absolutely think that gave me an advantage when trying out for a professional team.

3. Before your experiences on your college dance team and as a NFL cheerleader, If you could go back and give yourself a piece of advice, what would it be?

If I can give any aspiring college or professional dancer advice, it would be to really look into programs before auditioning including the city you are moving to. Dance takes up your entire life, so make sure what is outside of it is something you enjoy.

Look into history of the program, reach out to coaches, follow the team, get in touch with some of the current dancers and ask about their experience. And if you love everything about it… AUDITION.

I have never met somebody who regretted auditioning for a team they didn’t make. However, I have met many people who regret not doing it. Take the leap.

Huge thanks to Hannah for taking time out of her schedule to share her journey with the MTP fam! I hope this interview inspires you to invest in yourself and make your dreams come true.

Thanks for reading! Until next time. :-)