Personal safety in dance

Getting and keeping dancers free of injury is a key

of helping them enjoy a lifetime of physical activity
and their chosen dance. With the knowledge in
preventing dehydration, overexertion,
hyperthermia and hypothermia dancers can keep
on their toes and in the studio with a healthy body.
• Drinking plenty of water should be done by
dancers before, during and after dancing
• Wearing of proper clothing help the body
warms.
• Proper warm-up exercises should be done to
prevent overexertion.
Safe dance practice is important for dancers to maintain
optimum physical and emotional wellbeing and to prevent
dance related injuries as they occur.
Water
• Is an inorganic, transparent, tasteless, odorless, and nearly
colorless chemical substance. The body uses water in all its
cells, organs, and tissues to help regulate its temperature
and maintain other bodily functions. Our body loses water
through breathing, sweating, digestion and it is important
to rehydrate by drinking fluids and eating foods that
contain water.
Water
• The importance of water and its function to the human
body is essential information for students to learn. Various
bodily conditions related to dehydration, overexertion,
hyperthermia and hypothermia can be diagnosed with
persons deviating normal levels the body needs.
Dehydration
• Dehydration is condition caused by the loss of too much
fluid from the body. It happens when you are losing more
fluids than you are taking in, and your body does not have
enough fluids to work properly.
• It is important for dancers to know that being properly
hydrated helps keep the body from overheating. Helping
the body in promoting heat loss when dancing full out will
improve athletic performance and aid in recovery.
Causes of Dehydration
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Sweating too much
• Urinating too much, which can happen because of certain
medicines and illnesses
• Fever
• Not drinking enough of water
Overexertion
• Overexertion refers to excessive physical and skeleton
muscular that result in discomfort or injuries. Overexertion
in the workplace causes injury when a person works
beyond his or her physical capacity and tolerances of his or
her body’s soft tissues. Factors related to overexertion are
age, physical condition, body flexibility, obesity, strength
and tolerance.
Causes of Overexertion
• Lifting, pulling, pushing and carrying heavy items (usually
more than 50 pounds)
• Repeated or long-term bending or twisting at the waist
• Reaching
• Long term poor posture such as sitting or standing
• Long-time absorbing vibration from machine or transport
Hyperthermia
• This happens when the body’s temperature climbs too
high and threatens the health of the individual.
Symptoms of Hyperthermia
• dizziness
• weakness
• nausea
• thirst
• a headache
Hypothermia
• Hypothermia is a potentially dangerous drop in body
temperature, usually caused by prolonged exposure to
cold temperatures.
Symptoms of Hypothermia
• Shivering
• Slow, shallow breathing
• Confusion and memory loss
• Drowsiness or exhaustion
• Slurred or mumbled speech
• Loss of coordination, fumbling hands, stumbling steps
• A slow, weak pulse
• In severe hypothermia, a person may be unconscious
without obvious signs of breathing or a pulse
Cheer Dance
 What is Cheer Dance?
• Cheerdance is coined from the words:
“cheer”, and “dance.”
• To cheer is to shout out words or phrases
that may help motivate and boost the
morale of a playing team and perform better
during a game.
• Dance is a physical activity where one
expresses emotions or gestures while
performing bodily movements usually in
time and rhythm.
 Therefore…
• Cheer dancing, is rooted from cheerleading.
 How did Cheer Dancing start?
• Cheerleading history is linked closely to the United States’
history of sports, its sporting venues, as well as the historical
development of overall crowd participation at many Athletic
events (history of cheerleading, 2015). However, its origin
can be traced as far back as the late 19th century where in
1860’s students from Great Britain began to cheer and chant
in unison for their favourite athletes at sporting events. This
event eventually reached and influenced America
(timeline of cheerleading, 2012).
 How did Cheer Dancing start?
• In the late 1880’s the first organized recorded yell done in
locomotive style was performed in an American campus and
was first seen and heard during a college
• Football game. However, organized all-male cheerleading
only transpired when Thomas Peebles, one of the graduates
of Princeton University, brought the yell and the football
sports to the University of Minnesota in 1884.
 Arms and Hands Movement for Cheer Dance
• BUCKET
Arms are straight with fists
facing down as is holding
the handle of a bucket in
each hand.
 Arms and Hands Movement for Cheer Dance
• CANDLESTICK
Arms are straight with fists
facing each other as if they
were holding a lit candle in
each hand.
 Arms and Hands Movement for Cheer Dance
• BLADE
Arms are straight in
sideways open palm and fist
facing down and fingers
must stick together.
 Arms and Hands Movement for Cheer Dance
• JAZZ HANDS
Open palm fingers are
spread out.
 Arms and Hands Movement for Cheer Dance
• CLAP
Strike palms together in
front of the chest.
 Arms and Hands Movement for Cheer Dance
• CLASP
Clasp hands together in
front of the chest.
 Arms and Hands Movement for Cheer Dance
• T MOTION
Both arms are extended
sideways parallel to the
ground.
 Arms and Hands Movement for Cheer Dance
• HALF T
Both arms are parallel to the
ground and the both elbows
are bent.
 Arms and Hands Movement for Cheer Dance
• TOUCHDOWN
Arms are stretch out in
upward position; closed fist
facing in.
 Arms and Hands Movement for Cheer Dance
• K MOTION
One arm is raised upward,
while the other arm
positioned downward across
to the opposite side.
 Arms and Hands Movement for Cheer Dance
• CHECKMARK
One arm is raised diagonally
upward, then the other arm
elbow is bent and pointing
downward.
 Arms and Hands Movement for Cheer Dance
• OVERHEAD CLASP
Arms are extended upward;
clasp hands together.
 Arms and Hands Movement for Cheer Dance
• DAGGER
Both arms are bent;
clenched fists facing each
other parallel to shoulders.
 Arms and Hands Movement for Cheer Dance
• BOX
Both arms are bent;
clenched fists facing each
other; Elbows are on
shoulder level.
 Arms and Hands Movement for Cheer Dance
• PUNCH
Raised one arm overhead
with closed fist.
 Arms and Hands Movement for Cheer Dance
• L MOTION
One is raised upward; the
other arm is raised on the
side in shoulder level.
 Arms and Hands Movement for Cheer Dance
• DIAGONAL
One arm is raised diagonally
upward, while the other arm
positioned diagonally
downward.
 Arms and Hands Movement for Cheer Dance
• HIGH V
• Both arms are raised
diagonally upward; forming
“V”.
 Essentials of Cheer dancing Leg/ Feet
Position
• BEGINNING STANCE
Stand Straight with both
feet close together.
 Essentials of Cheer dancing Leg/ Feet
Position
• CHEEER STANCE
Stand straight with feet
apart.
 Essentials of Cheer dancing Leg/ Feet
Position
• SIDE LUNGE
One leg is bent, while the
other leg is extended.
 Essentials of Cheer dancing Leg/ Feet
Position
• SQUAT
Both knees are slightly bent
facing outward.
 Essentials of Cheer dancing Leg/ Feet
Position
• KNEEL
Body is supported by the
knees.
 Essentials of Cheer dancing Leg/ Feet
Position
• KNEEL
Body is supported by the
knees.
 Essential of Cheerdancing – Jumps
• TUCK JUMP
As you jump, bring knees
closer to chest, and keep
knees together.
 Essential of Cheerdancing – Jumps
• SPREAD EAGLE
As you jump, arms, and legs
are extended open wide.
 Essential of Cheerdancing – Jumps
• DOUBLE HOOK
As you jump, both knees are
bent sideways.
 Essential of Cheerdancing – Jumps
• FRONT HURDLER
Bring straight leg up to chest
and between the arms; back
knee points towards the
ground; land with feet
together at the same time.
 Essential of Cheerdancing – Jumps
• SIDE HURDLER
As you jump, one leg is bent;
knee is facing forward, while
the other leg goes straight
up.
 Essential of Cheerdancing – Jumps
• PIKE JUMP
Keep head up; bring legs to
arms; and arms parallel to
the ground.
 Essential of Cheerdancing – Jumps
• TOE TOUCH
Also known as straddle
jump. As you jump, legs are
open and parallel to the
ground.
 Thumblings
• FORWARD ROLL
(a) Squat down with hands
on the ground then, (b) tuck
head in with chin down, (c)
Roll unto upper back and, (d)
rotate onto feet continuing
to a standing position.
 Thumblings
• BACKWARD ROLL
(a) From a standing position,
squat down continuing to a (b)
sitting position with hands place
close to ears and palms facing
up. (c) Roll backward while
placing the weight of the body
on both feet, and (d) continue
through a squat position.
 Thumblings
• CARTWHEEL
With one foot in front, (b) stand on
one foot and lean down until both
hands are on the ground, (c)
transfer weight from one hand to
the other while driving legs above
and over the body, and (d) Place
one leg on the ground and continue
through a standing position.
 Thumblings
• ROUND-OFF
• (a) From a standing position with
one foot in front, (b) transfer weight
to hands while driving legs above
over body. (c) Bring the legs
together in a handstand position,
and (d) Follow by snapping down
the legs and finishing with a quarter
turn ending up facing the opposite
direction and continue through a
standing position.