CHEERDANCE

• Cheerdance


  Rooted in cheerleading, which is the performance of a routine usually dominated by gymnastics skills such as jumps, tumbling skills, lifts, and tosses combined with the shouting of cheers and yells to lead the crowd to cheer for a specific team during a game or sport
• The first known cheer in the US came from a Princeton football game


  1860s
• A student led a crowd in the first organized cheer activity in University of Minnesota

  November 2, 1898
• Basic Elements of Cheerleading/Cheerdancing

  • Arm/Hands Motions
  • Pose Position
  • Jumps
  • Tumbling Skills
  • Stunts/Pyramids
  • Cheer Side
• Beginning stance


  Stand up straight with your shoulders back, keep your head up and face forward. Your legs should be together with your feet facing forward. Your arms can either be straight and against your sides (with your palms in) or you can make a fist with your hands and place them on your hips
• Cheer stance


  Stand up straight with your shoulders back, keep your head up and face forward. Your legs should be just further than shoulder width apart with your feet facing forward.
• "T" Positions


  Both arms extend straight out to the sides parallel to the ground.
• Clasp


  Hands cupped below chin.
• Half "T" Positions


  Both arms extend straight out to the sides parallel to the ground.
• Clap


  Hands are in blades.
• Touchdown


  Both arms extending straight overhead parallel to each other.
• Low touchdown


  The opposite of a touchdown motion.
• High "V"


  Both arms extend up at about a 45-degree angle.
• Low "V"


  Both arms extend down at about a 45-degree angle.
• Liberty


  Requires leg, hip, and core strength as well as hip stability.
• Hitch/Snag


  A prep / elevator which is performed with one elevated leg.
• Star Jump


  Your legs are apart with your knees facing FORWARD.
• Pike


  Both legs are straight out, knees locked. Arms are in a touchdown motion out in front to create a folded position in the air.
• Straddle Jump/Toe Touch


  The cheerleader's legs are straddled and straight and become parallel to the ground.
• Hurdle


  The cheerleader's front leg is almost parallel to the upper body and the back leg is bent to the backside.
• Cartwheel


  Rotate your body sideways in a wheel-like motion.
• Round off


  A gymnastic technique that turns horizontal speed into vertical speed and can be used to turn forward impulse from a run into backwards impulse.
• Base


  Cheerleader who provides the primary support in stunts and lifts.
• Flyer


  Cheerleader who is lifted or tossed in the air during stunts.
• Cheer Side


  Part of the cheerdance routine where yells, arm motions with pompoms, stunts, jumps and pyramids are commonly showcased.