Cheer dance

(Background and history)

 Cheer dance is relatively new in the
field of sports and dance as it has only
emerged during the early 1990s as part
of the cheerleading events.
 Cheer Dance – from cheer and dance
Cheer is to shout organized words to motivate a
team during a game.
Dance is a physical activity where one expresses
emotions or gestures while performing bodily
movement.
 The performers are called
cheerleaders and not just
dancers per se. when grouped
together they are called a
squad.
Cheerleading – it is an event that
consists of cheers and organized
routines for sports team motivation.
The routines includes: cheers, jumps,
dance, gymnastics and stunting.
History of Cheerleading
Cheerleading history is linked closely to the
United States history of sports, but its origin
can be traced back as the late 19th century
where in 1860s, students from Great Britain
began to cheer and chant in unison for their
favorite athletes at sporting events.
 1870s – first pep club was established at Princeton University.

1880s – first organized recorded yell done in locomotive style performed in

an American campus during a college football game.

1884–organized all male cheerleading transpired when Thomas Peebles

graduate of Princeton University brought the yell to University of Minnesota
November 2, 1898–through the initiative of Johnny Campbell a student
of University of Minnesota, that cheerleading officially begin.

1890s–Megaphone was used on the day cheerleading began in 1898.

1990s–use of megaphone become popular and the first cheerleading

fraternity was organized “Gamma Sigma”
1920s–women became active in cheerleading and University of Minnesota
cheerleaders began to incorporate gymnastics and tumbling into their cheers.

1930s–Universities and high schools began performing pompon routines

and using pompon papers.

1940s–first cheerleading company was formed by Lawrence R. Herkimer

of Dallas, Texas.
1970s – first nationwide television broadcast of the National Collegiate
Cheerleading Championships initiated by International Cheerleading
Foundation.

1975 – the birth of “cheerleading routine” and UCA used cheerleading

skills with music.

1980s – National Cheerleading competitions for junior and senior high

schools as well as collegiate squads took place across the nation.
1990s – beginning of non-school based cheerleading called “All Star”.

2004 – first World Cheerleading championship or “Cheerleading Worlds”

hosted by the International All Star Federation at Walt Disney World resort
taped by ESPN for the global broadcast.
Elements of Cheer dance
routine
Cheer dance routine require a mixture
of dance and music and some cheer
segment in order to kick off a routine.
The arrangement depends on the
squad’s choreography and the
duration per segment depends on the
criteria of the competition.
 Dance techniques – depending on the
competition requirements, various dance
techniques may be used in a cheer dance
competition. Some competitions give
freedom to choose their dance styles for their
respective routines as long as they adhere to
the safety guidelines.
Example: The World School Cheer dance
Championship requires hip-hop dance
style. In the Philippines UAAP
Cheerdance and NCAA Cheerleading
competitions do not require specific dance
style.
 Elements of Cheer – cheers are
organized words and movements
relating to an athletic event.
Cheer are used during a sport event when
play has been stopped on the field or
court. The purpose is to draw a unified
response from the crowd to highlight their
support for the playing team.
 Basic gymnastics skills – this
includes simple gymnastics skills like
jumps and tumbling.
Basic gymnastics skills serve to add thrill
of the game and the effect of a routine.
These also help cheerleaders to develop a
higher spirit level and enhance crowd
motivation.
a. Jumps – requires stamina, strength and
flexibility. There four elements of
jumps:
1. Approach
2. Lift
3. Execution
b. Tumbling – very dynamic and excellent
way to shake the crowd up quickly.
Tumbling may be executed
simultaneously by several tumblers of the
entire squad.
Basic Formations in
Cheer dance
Bowling Pin – the formation is set up
like a bowling pins. This works great
when highlighting a few members.
Staggered Line – a simple line where
the back line is positioned in the
windows of the front line.
Segments of cheer dance
routine
Music section – this sets the tone and
pace as well as adds to the creativity
of the choreography. Music used in
cheer dance are usually mixed that
several music is cut and linked
together.
Cheer section – this shows support
for the playing team. There is no
particular cheer style required as it
depends on the competitions’
guidelines.