"Cheer Perfection" star, Alisha Dunlap, co-owner and coach of cheerleading school, Cheer Time Revolution, answered a few more questions from fans. See what she has to say about the world of cheering and coaching in part 2 of our Q&A. Check out Part 1 of our Q&A for even more from Alisha. Catch Cheer Perfection on TLC, Wednesdays 10|9c.
Elise E.: When did you start CTR?
We started Cheer Time in 2000. We were open for five years and I felt I needed a break from it. I sold the gym and two years later I realized I had just given up my dream. I was capable enough to manage a family and do what I loved to do, so we reopened as Cheer Time Revolution in 2007.
Q&A with Alisha Dunlap, Part 2
Mary M.: How do you balance family life and gym life?
Well, for me, it's really quite simple. I am the girl who always has to have something to do! So every morning when I wake up, I make sure I know in my head exactly what needs to be done. First thing I do is get my girls off to school. While they are away at school, I spend time with my baby, Chanlee, and get any computer and paperwork done. I have my work for Cheer Time Revolution and my work for my pageant business, Perfection Studios. Once that's all done, I pick up my two older girls from school; we do homework and then head to the gym. Weekends are the toughest, I'm always trying to make sure I get quality, alone time with my husband and ensure that my girls have their "mommy time", too. Lucky for me everything we’re involved in is done as a family.
From Larissa C.: Would you allow your child to choose a different sport and not do cheerleading?
I do allow my children to do different sports. Cassadee loves to do everything; she plays softball and does pageants, but she has chosen to put her heart and soul into cheer. Cambree tried softball and didn't like it. She didn't want to play after her first season. She also does pageants and loves them, but like Cassadee she has made the choice to put her all into cheer. Chanlee is still really young, but I hear from her everyday, "Can we go to the gym? Can we go to a pageant?" It seems like she is already loving the sport!
Q&A with Alisha Dunlap, Part 2
Ilana F.: How many teams are there at CTR? And what is each of them called?
There are fifteen teams total. We have Tiny Tot Orange, Tiny Tot Black, Tiny Orange, Tiny White, Tiny Black, Mini Orange, Mini Black, Youth Silver, Junior Orange, Junior Black, Junior Silver, Senior Orange, Senior Silver, Senior Open and Senior Grey (which is our parents team).
Taylor D.: Is it hard to coach the Youth Silver team with all the mom drama?
As with any team, it can be hard to coach the team and make all the parents happy. But I have learned over the years, that I have a job to do and that job is to keep the best interest of each individual child in mind, and to teach them to be great cheerleaders. I don't let the moms get to me. I remember that my job as a coach is to be there for the kids.
Q&A with Alisha Dunlap, Part 2
Tylym B.: How old is the youngest girl on your Youth Silver team? Some of them look so tiny! Very talented though.
Thanks for the compliment! Love your name by the way. The youngest kid we have on Youth Silver is 6 years old. We have such a wide range because, as a coach, I think it’s good for them to work together with the older girls as a team. It takes a lot of focus, but it helps them to learn to be leaders. It also helps the gym, in the future, to have that younger kid learn to lead once all the older kids have moved up.
Grace H.: Where did you get your monkey?
Great question! I got Chu Chu (my monkey) from a friend who owns a pet store. He called me up one day and told me that he found a monkey breeder in Michigan. When we first got him he was just a baby, now he is 6 years old!
Talena C.: Did you ever think you would be on a television show?
Funny you asked that! I have always dreamed about being on television, but I've also dreamed about winning the lottery and that hasn't happened -- YET! But I never in a million years thought this would happen.
Check out Part 1 of our Q&A for even more from Alisha. Catch Cheer Perfection on TLC, Wednesdays 10|9c.
