by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
Dana Dorrell leads somewhat of a double life. During the week, the 30-year-old corporate attorney lends her services to Craig/IS as the company’s general counsel. The weekend, however, belongs to the Roar of the Jacksonville Jaguars, where Dorrell is poised to start her first season.
“I’m very excited,” said Dorrell. “I’ve been wanting to be a part of the Roar since its inception, but I was either away at school or it just wasn’t the right time for me. Nine years later I finally decided that this was the perfect time. I gave it my best and it paid off.”
And though Dorrell, who’s been dancing since she was six years old, exudes excitement, the Jacksonville native said she definitely had her doubts prior to trying out.
“I just kept thinking, ‘Maybe I’m too old for this’ or ‘Maybe it’s too late,’ ” she said. “Even when I started training before the tryouts I was getting discouraged because I had lost so much flexibility. I was struggling to do the same splits that I used to be able to do very easily. But I just kept at it.”
And according to Dorrell, who received her law degree from Thomas M. Cooley School of Law, there was no shortage of personal cheerleaders in her corner providing encouragement.
“At first, I didn’t want anyone at work to know that I was thinking about trying out,” she said. “It wasn’t that I thought they would disapprove, I just didn’t want to have to come back and say I didn’t make it. I kept it under wraps as long as I could, but when they finally did find out, they were so excited for me and that was wonderful. They kept saying I was a celebrity and whenever a picture of me would be published, they would hang it up around the office before I even knew that it had come out. They have continued to provide me with so much flexibility. I hope they come to the games and support, not only me, but the entire team.”
But the biggest level of support came from Dorrell’s mother.
“My mom was encouraging from the very beginning,” she said. “But after I made it to the final round, it was a whole new ball game. She would call me at work every once in a while and tell me that I needed to get home so I could practice the routines. She was on a mission.”
And then there were the concerns of whether or not she would fit in with the rest of the squad if she made it.
“I was a little worried the girls who had been on the Roar for a few seasons wouldn’t get along with the newer girls,” said Dorrell. “I couldn’t have been more wrong. I was really surprised to see how well everyone embraced each other right away. An outside observer wouldn’t even be able to tell who’s new and who isn’t. I think the Roar really prides themselves on that.”
Now that she’s part of the 32-member team, how does Dorrell balance two jobs that appear to be on opposite ends of the spectrum?
“It works out really well, actually,” she said. “As general counsel, my hours are more set than if I were a litigator and I had to prepare to go to court. I used to work in the State Attorney’s Office in Orlando and it would have been impossible to do both. The Roar really is like a full-time job and you have to be dedicated. I’m lucky to have been able to strike a balance.”
For now, Dorrell has a busy schedule ahead as she continues to learn the over 30 routines to be performed throughout the upcoming season.
“We’re usually practicing on Tuesdays and Thursdays right now for about three hours at a time,” she said. “We’re even going to be taking yoga classes soon to increase our flexibility. It’s demanding but I’m having a great time. We’re going to have a very exciting season ahead of us.”