Cheer Dance

Also known as cheerleading, refers to a type of grouped dance that intends to give
a motivation and support to a sporting team, entertainment to audience, or
competition. Most cheer dance group consists of 4-30 dancers, both male and
female, executing different formations and acrobatics. Most cheer dance are
“boosters” who leads the supporting crowd to make the chants, yells and simple but
creative dance movement to motivate their sporting teams. Commonly, a male
designated to the top of the pyramids. Cheer dance performance involves various
movements that are typically precise, breath-taking which will be discussed in this
session.

History

Cheerleading originated in the United States and started by all male participants
in the early 1800’s. it all begun with the organized crowd of male students who yell
chants and cheers they created to support their football, rugby, and basketball teams
in Princeton University (1877). However, it was in the year 1890 that the world’s first
cheerleaders were known.

November 2, 1898 was the official birthdate of organized cheerleading. The same
date that Johnny Campbell directed a crowd to cheer for the university of
Minnesota’s football squad. Female students were encouraged to participate in
cheerleading since majority of the male students participated in cheering teams and
pep squad. During the 1920’s up to the World War II when most of the men were
sent to serve the army, the women begun to dominate this event.

Cheer dance in the Philippines

Cheerleading Philippines (CPF) is the national confederation of cheerleading

organizations and the official governing body of Cheerleading and Cheer dance in the
Philippines. It I affiliated with the International Federation for Cheerleading and the
continental body, the Asian Federation of Cheerleading. Events included are mixed
cheer, all female, partner stunts and cheer dance, all of which are official events of
Cheerleading worldwide. It is under the umbrella of the Gymnastics Association of
the Philippines, a full member of the Federation Internationale Gymnastique (FIG),
the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and recognized by the Philippines Sports
Commission (PSC), the Commission of Higher Education (CHED) and the Department
of Education (DepEd). The CPF is mandated to sponsor and sanction cheerleading
and cheer dance national and international competitions.

Elements of Cheer dance

A cheer dance performance consists of different structured and organized

movements which are being scored when in competitions. The movements must be
proper and efficient on order to earn scores and avoid deductions. Here are the
elements of cheer dance to consider in creating a routine:

 Yells/ Chants – are usually done by the performers with pride and
confidence. This element helps to encourage the supportive spectators to
cheer along and bring the prideful message to the competitors. The basic
technique in yelling and chanting is the use of diaphragm instead of the
throat. It is done also while doing the other elements of cheer dancing.
 Jumps
Basic Types of Jumps
o Spread Eagle – simply swing and jump with arms of doing high “V”
figure and legs apart. Knees facing forward but not toward the sky.
This jump is used as progression to learn more advance jumps.

o Tuck Jump – Legs in front while knees tucked to the chest. Closed
fist and arms spreading forming “T” or “V” figure.

o Toe Touch – one of the most common jumps used in cheerleading.

Legs are straddled, straight and parallel to the ground forming “V”
figure. Knees face the sky, toes pointed, arms form “T” position,
closed fist and must not touch the toes despite the name.
o Pike- Legs are straight, together, and parallel to the ground. Toes
are pointed, arms are straight reaching the front while hands are in
closed fist.

o Hurdler- One leg is straight facing forward (front hurdle) or facing

outward (side hurdle) with arms forming “T” figure. The other leg
is bent, knees facing the ground (front hurdle) or facing forward
(side hurdle)
 Jumping movement breakdown
Starting/Standing position: Feet together and arms by the side of the body.
Preparatory position: Hands are clasped, raised in high “V” position.
Dip: Bending of knees, swinging of the arms across the body and in front of the
knees.
Jump execution: Power must be generated by the leg muscles
Recovery/Landing position: Knees are slightly bent for weight absorption, with
arms to the side of the body.
After Jump: Return to strating/standing position.

 Stunts
Most stunts are done by flyers (usually female) with bases (male lifters)
and spotters. It is essential to know the proper execution of the stunts to secure
the safety of both flyers and lifters.

Bases
These are the athletes (usually male cheer dancers) that hold, lift, and toss
a flyer up to the air during stunts. Bases must be strong an alert at all times. They
make sure that the flyer will land safely and secured. There is no gender
requirement for a base.

Flyers
Flyers are the athletes being held, lifted, and tossed up to perform certain
stunts in height or in the air. Female cheer dancers are usually assigned to be the
flyers. They are usually, but not always, the smallest person in the group. They are
flexible, and balance efficient while being lifted up. Before performing air stunts,
flyers must learn first the proper techniques.

 Tumble
 Including tumbling skills in your cheer dance routine is an excellent way to
add extreme, thrill and excitement. Safety and security must be observe at all
times to avoid injury especially tumble skill involve gravity-defying and intense
ground impact.

Types of tumbling skills

Standing – completing tumble in a stationary position.
Runniing – completing a tumble from a running start.

Cartwheel – A type of tumble in which the body moves sideways imitating a wheel.
Steps
- Start in a lunge
- Allow upper body to fall down and put your hands on the ground.
- Lift the behind leg up to kick
- Kick foot over the head (the kicking foot should land first) Land in lunge.

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Round off – this tumble is similar to cartwheel but the difference is, landing must
be in both feet together.
Steps
- Start in a lunge
- Allow upper body to fall down and put your hands on the ground.
- Lift the behind leg up to kick
- Kick foot over the head,
- Push the ground, and feet intact again together
- Snap down and Land in luge with both feet together
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Forward roll – is one of the most basic elements in gymnastics and one of the
first learnt.
Steps
- Squat down with hands on the ground
- Tuck head in with chin down
- Roll unto upper back
- Rotate unto feet continuing to a standing position
- Continue on through a squat position

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Backward roll - A movement in which one's body is rolled backwards, by

crouching on the ground and lifting one's legs complete over one's head and lifting
the head at the end.
Steps
- From standing position, squat down continuing to a
- Sitting position with hands placed closed to ears and palm facing up
- Roll backward while placing the weight of the body on both feet.
- Continue through a squat position
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 Pyramids
Cheer dance pyramid is a stunt where cheer dancers stack their selves up
above to one another forming a layers. It involves high-level of stuting skills,
coordination, trust among the group and mos importantly, awareness for safety.
Pyramids consists of different techniques in lifts, tosses, poses and dismoount that
creates an impressive visual effects. Counting is also important to a coordinated
pyramids in cheer dance.

 Dance
In today’s cheer dancing, different themes (i.e anime, superheroes,
animals, culture) inspire most of the choreography of cheer dancing. Hip-hop,
contemporary, and festival type of dances can be applicable in creating a cheer
dance routine. Synchronization is one of the most important factors to be
considered to create a precise and entertaining routine.

 Music
Cheer dance are typically accompanied either percussive resembles, pure
music, or sometimes both. Music created for cheer dancing usually has special
sound effects that collaborates with the specific stunts and movements
performed by the cheer dancers.

 Formation
Formations play a vital role in cheer dance since most of the cheer dance
competitions are viewed from the top by the spectators. Formations may vary
depending on the dances and stunts choreographed. It is important to have
creative formations that will create excellent visual effects to enhance the dance
routine. Synchronization must be always observed in making formations in the
cheerdance,
 Bowling Pin Diamond

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Diagonal Staggered

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Basic Hand Movements in Cheer dance (Motions)

 1. BEGINNING STANCE-Feet together, hands down
by the side in blades

2. CHEER STANCE-Feet more than shoulder width

apart, hands down by the side in blade

3. CLASP-Hands clasped, at the chin, elbows

in
4. CLAP-Hands in blades, at the chin, elbows in

5. HIGH V-Arms extended up forming a “V”, relax

the shoulders

6. LOW V-Arms extended down forming a “V”

 7. GOALPOST (or TOUCHDOWN)-Arms
extended straight and parallel to each
other, fist facing in

8. LOW TOUCHDOWN-Arms extended straight

down and parallel to each other, fist facing in

9. 3/4 T (or BOW AND ARROW)-One arm

extended to side with other arm bent at
elbow in a half “T” motion
10. OVERHEAD CONE-Arms are straight,
above the head in a clasp and slightly
in front of the face

11. DAGGERS (or TABLETOP)-Arms bent at

elbow, fists in front of shoulders

12. LOW CONE-Arms extended straight down, in a clasp and

slightly in front of the body
 13. PUNCH-One arm extended straight up,
one arm on hip, in a fist

14. L MOTION-One arm extended to the side

with other arm extended in a punch
motion, (Left L shown)

15. DIAGONAL-One arm extended in a high “V”

and the other arm extended in a low “V” (Right
Diagonal shown)
16. T MOTION-Both arms extended straight out to the side
and parallel to the ground, relax the shoulders

17. HALF T-Both arms parallel to the ground

and bent at the elbows, fists into shoulders

18. SIDE LUNGE-Lead leg bent with the knee

over the ankle, back leg straight, feet
perpendicular to each other
 19. FRONT LUNGE-Lead leg bent with the
knee over the ankle, back leg straight, feet
perpendicular to each other

PRECAUTIONS OF CHEERLEADING

The American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Advisors suggested the

following tips on preventing catastrophic injuries in cheer dancing:

1. Cheerleading/Cheerdance must be designated as a sport to all state.

2. Athletes should have a physical examination and must be assessed by
conditioning trainers before allowing to join cheering squads.

3. Cheering squad must be supervised by qualified coaches who are certified in

proper spotting for stunts, safety and basic prevention of injuries.

4. Athletes especially the base and spotters must have adequate body strength, core
stability and balance.

5. Practicing of the technical skills of the stunts such as pyramids, tossing, and
tumbles must be done in a spring/foam or grass/turf floor to lessen to much
contact.

6. Coaches, athletes and parents must have access emergency plans. Conditioning
coaches and physician must be also present during trainings, if possible.

7. Athletes who have a history in injury must be strictly assessed by physicians first
before letting him/her join the cheering squad.

8. Coaches, parents, and athletes must have a written agreement signed by all
parties indicating the knowledge regarding risks, tendencies, and benefits in
joining to a cheering squad.
Do’s and Don’ts in Cheerleading

- Do eat right kinds of food and try various physical activities.

- Don’t take practice for granted.
- Do sign up for training camps.
- Don’t push yourself too much. If you’re hurt or injured, don’t push yourself
to attend practice.
- Do wear appropriate attire. Use right clothes and right shoes during
cheerleading practice and competition.

REMINDER
“Prevention of Injury is better than Cure”

1. Warm-up should be performed prior to all sessions of strenuous exercise.

It should consist of general activities raising the body temperature to a light
sweat.
2. Stretching
a. Before and after exercise/physical activity
b. Stretch gently and slowly
c. Hold stretches for a minimum of 10 seconds
d. Breathe slow and easy
3. Warm-up (cool down). Consist of a gradual reduction in activity levels for
5-10 minutes, e.g. a slow/easy walk followed by stretching.

NOTE: Do not forget to always keep yourself hydrated during physical

activities.