need to know
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Gold Rush dancers juggle full-time jobs or school with intense weekend practices, proving dedication is more important than talent
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The team’s culture of mentorship—what they call “gold rush magic”—supports members on and off the field
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These NFL dancers inspire fans and break stereotypes, showing you can chase multiple dreams without compromise
For most people, weekends are about slowing down. For Elayna, they departed at LAX at 5am.
The Los Angeles-based San Francisco Gold Rush dancer spends his workdays like anyone else—working full-time as a legal analyst at Platinum Equity and squeezing in time to exercise, attend Bible study and hang out with friends.
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But by Saturday, her routine had completely changed. She took the earliest flight to Santa Clara, Calif., for the Gold Rush’s only weekly practice. Then there are game days, travel days and late night returns before it all starts again.
“It makes my weekends really short,” she told People. “But it’s so worth it – I’m having the time of my life.”
Elayna, now in her third year with the team, isn’t the only one playing both roles. Gold Rush dancers juggle a demanding career or school schedule while devoting countless hours to practice. Claire, a marketing major and barista who joined the team at 19, drives six hours from Fresno for each practice.
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Claire, a second-year member, told PEOPLE, “I have no regrets about spending my week in school, drinking coffee, and my weekends gold rushing… but people might look at my Google Calendar and think, ‘How do you do all this?'”
Even local dancers face non-stop schedules. Erica, a process engineer, and Kaylie, a researcher studying Alzheimer’s disease, often travel directly from the lab to practice. Kelly calls her workdays “all about experimenting in a quiet and controlled environment—a stark contrast to Gold Rush weekends.”
“The contrast really highlights the discipline required to manage both worlds,” third-year member Kelly added. “It’s very hectic. It takes a lot of time management and organization, but as Claire said, we’re really lucky to be able to manage both.”
Provided by Kelly
49ers Gold Rush’s Kelly works in science lab
All four dancers agree: Balancing professional life and cheerleading is what makes Gold Rush unique. Practicing just on weekends allows them to pursue multiple passions — a flexibility they say is rare in professional dance.
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But the rewards come with trade-offs. Managing a dual career requires missing family gatherings, adapting to solo practices, and overcoming exhaustion.
“For Gold Rush,” Claire explained, “we practiced every inch of free time because we only practiced on Saturdays. We needed to practice to understand all the material.” She continued, “So I definitely watched videos, made sure my dances were clean, and worked out. I love running. I was a runner in high school, so I just ran most of the time.”
In addition to individual exercises, preparation is supported and organized by the team leader. Elena said the team also has a fitness coordinator and a fitness nutrition coordinator who provide fun workouts to maintain endurance and sometimes offer meal plans for those interested.
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Kelly and sophomore member Erica added that members in San Francisco often get together to practice during the week, and sometimes members of the Los Angeles team do the same.
“As you get older and you’re exploring your career, it’s really hard to balance it all,” Elena said. “Then I met Gold Rush…they support professional women and men. It was the only group that made me feel like I could have a full-fledged career and still chase my dream of dancing.”
“It’s busy work and you’re always balancing a lot of overwhelming things,” she added. “Sometimes I just want to be a couch potato and don’t have a lot of energy. But in those quiet moments, I have a great group of people that I dance with every weekend.”
Saturday practices are five to six hours long and cover everything from learning new moves with guest choreographers to cleaning up existing choreography—all designed to prepare dancers for every element of competition day.
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Match days start early, often six hours before kick-off, with extensive rehearsals on the pitch and then performances throughout the stadium. Even gorgeous hair, makeup and game-day grooming are part of the preparation.
“One of the things I try to explain to people is about our practice on Saturday,” Elena said. “Other teams might have two or three hours of training spread out over several days, but we pack it all into one day – usually five to six hours.”
Despite the physical and time management demands, the cheerleaders say they wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. Much of this sense of accomplishment came from the culture and support fostered by the Gold Rush.
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“We have a really fun recurring theme this season, which is that we are all superheroes,” Erica added. “Of course, we’re Clark Kent and live a normal 9-to-5 workday. We put our heads down, get the job done, and then on the weekends, we get to put on our cool cheerleading uniforms and be the face of the organization.”
The team also values mentorship and a sense of family—what the dancers call the “gold rush magic.” Many coaches are alumni who foster a culture of encouragement and excellence, supporting dancers in their careers, even when they face injury, illness, or other challenges.
The mentorship that defined Gold Rush didn’t just stop on the field — it shaped careers off the field, too. For Kelly, it guided her path into Alzheimer’s research.
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“When I joined Gold Rush, I was fresh out of college and had no idea what I wanted to study or where I wanted to work,” she said. “Then I connected with alumni. One of them is a professor of neuroscience, a PhD student, and another is a scientist at the company I currently work for.”
“Their mentorship and all of their experience that I can lean on has been a huge help in getting me to where I am now,” Kelly added. “It’s really special that Gold Rush is not just a place where dancers support each other, but they support me in my completely different career in science. I’m so grateful for them and it’s been incredible to have them as a resource.”
Lindsay Rosenberg/@Lnzyrosephoto
49ers cheerleader Claire at the game
While mentorship shapes individual careers like Kelly’s, the team’s support also extends to how dancers inspire others on and off the field.
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For Clare, that sense of purpose — the opportunity to inspire and encourage others — is what makes wearing the uniform, interacting with fans and being involved in the community so rewarding.
“I think what I’ve learned from my experiences – especially this year – is that I’ve had girls and boys come to me and say, ‘I’m in college. I don’t think I have the resume to be an NFL cheerleader, but that shouldn’t stop you,'” she said.
“When I tried, the only information on my resume was that I was in college, and I remember reading other girls’ resumes as doctors and lawyers and all these amazing things, and I kind of thought, OK, I didn’t make it, I was just in school,” she added. “But I think it’s important not to limit yourself based on your age, especially if you’re really young. There’s a reason the minimum age is 18. They want those girls who are younger.”
Elena agrees on the importance of encouraging others, but she is also acutely aware of the stereotypes surrounding professional cheerleading.
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She admitted that while some shows, including Netflix’s documentary series America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders When it comes to professional cheerleading, they are not reflective of every team.
“For example, when I go to work, I’m dealing with industry leaders and financial analysts who have no idea what an NFL cheerleader or dancer actually does,” she said. “But they’re fascinated. Every time I talk about it, they learn something new. They’re like, ‘Oh, wow, I thought cheerleading only did this one thing every game.’ And then they see me leading a presentation or a meeting, and they’re like, ‘How cool.'”
Provided by Elena
Elena on the court at Levi’s Stadium
She said speaking openly about her and her teammates’ experiences helps challenge preconceived notions.
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“For me, finding a team that fits my life and supports my career is unique and different for everyone,” Elayna added. “But there’s a community for everyone. Ultimately, that’s what’s really special about Gold Rush – it’s not just a dance or a game. It’s mentorship, it’s community, and it’s proof that you can chase multiple dreams without giving up on any of them.”
Read the original article on People
