WHEN Ossie Mclean left his Mandurah home for Melbourne two and a half years ago to pursue his cheerleading dream, he never expected to be gone so long.
The 24-year-old grew up doing gymnastics (his mum is a gymnastics coach) but when he was 18, Mclean visited the gym’s neighbouring cheerleading club and a whole new world opened up.
He cheered for two years before becoming a coach and running his own cheerleading club in Port Kennedy with more than 100 athletes.
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READ NOW“But I felt that my career wasn’t quite over just yet, so I moved to Melbourne to compete at the World Cheerleading Championships,” he said.
“It’s where all the best teams in the world meet up in Florida and compete for the world title.
“I went over there in 2017 with a club called the Outlaws Allstars; our team name was Notorious. We placed fifth in the world, which was a huge achievement.”
Mclean continues to coach and has added music theatre experience to his resume with a role in Bring It On The Musical, currently showing in Melbourne before Perth at His Majesty’s Theatre, August 8 to 18.
He is one of four professional cheerleaders in the production, responsible for the high-energy impact stunts alongside the music theatre cast including Kirby Burgess (Dirty Dancing – the Classic Story on Stage) and newcomer Jasmine Smith.
“My role is to provide the authentic cheerleading,” Mclean said.
“Being able to add genuine cheerleading stunts, skills and tumbling just wraps the package up for everyone with the story.”
Mclean said he loved the beautiful storyline about embracing individuality and accepting people’s differences.
“That was something that really shines strongly in this musical,” he said.
“The stereotyped way the sport and people in cheerleading are usually represented in movies is usually so inaccurate. Cheerleading is all about trust and the journey you go through with your team.
“I think Bring It On The Musical is a great breakthrough for cheerleading in Australia to show the sport in a really positive way.
“I can’t wait to perform for my friends, family and hopefully some of my old students as well when we get to Perth.”
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THE ESSENTIALS
What: Bring It On The Musical
Where: His Majesty’s Theatre
When: August 8 to 18
Tickets: www.ticketek.com.au