Faith Ward, a 22-year-old dancer born in Wellington and raised just north of Porirua, has made history as the first New Zealander to join the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders, one of the most prestigious cheer squads in the world.
Ward’s journey began at the Wellington School of Dance, where her mother taught classes. As a young child, she would prance around with ribbons during lessons before formally joining and quickly rising through the competitive dance scene. Despite her initial reluctance, she discovered a natural rhythm and began winning awards.
Suzanne Denton, who taught Ward from the age of four, said she always stood out for her talent and determination. “Faith was a delight to teach,” Denton said. “She’s an inspiration to young dancers here in New Zealand. Her achievement shows what kind of person she really is.”
Ward credits her small, close-knit school community near Porirua for shaping her into the person she is today. “It’s very crazy to think that that’s where my life started,” she said. “Knowing all your teachers by name created such a supportive environment.”
Her first experience with cheerleading came at Big Air gym in Tawa, where she joined her school friends in trying out the sport. The strength and discipline of cheerleading added a new dimension to her training as a dancer.
A defining moment came at age eight, when she appeared on the children’s TV show What Now. “That’s when I kind of went, ‘there’s some opportunity in dancing. I could make this a thing,’” she said.
Fast forward to this year, Ward endured what she called the most intense and gruelling weeks of her life at the Dallas Cowboys training camp. Dancers were taught routines one day and expected to perform them the next, with cuts made on the spot if standards weren’t met.
The Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders have performed at NFL games since 1961 and are widely recognised through pop culture and most recently, a Netflix docuseries titled America’s Sweethearts.
“It’s honestly such a privilege to represent New Zealand,” Ward said. “I’m so honoured.”
