CHEER DANCE

Teacher Isaiah Rosimo Sibayan

What is 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 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.
 Cheer dance performance involves various movements that are
typically precise, breath-taking which will be discussed in this
session.
HISTORY OF CHEER DANCE
 Cheerleading dates to the 1860s, in Great Britain, and entered the US in the
1880s. Although women currently dominate the field, cheerleading was begun
by men.
 Princeton University, in 1884, got the idea that crowd chanting at football games
would boost school spirit so they came up with a catchy cheer. On November 2,
1898, U-Minnesota student Johnny Campbell led an organized cheer at a football
game between Minnesota and Princeton University, so you might say he was the
first actual "cheer leader". In 1903, the University of Minnesota organized the
first cheer fraternity called Gamma Sigma. They likely used a megaphone to
project their voices.
 In the 1920s women became involved in cheerleading. The lady yellers sported
ankle-length skirts and varsity sweaters. Female cheer squads began to include
gymnastics, dance and other showy stunts into routines, and in the 1930s
cheers were aided by the use of paper pom-poms. By the 1940s women were
mainly leading the cheers, and routines took on a voice their own.
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:
1. Yells/ Chants Motions
2. Jumps
3. Stunts
4. Tumble
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.
 Motions
Basic Hand-body Movements
BEGINNING STANCE- CHEER STANCE-
Feet together, hands down by the side in blades Feet more than shoulder width apart, hands
down by the side in blade
 Basic Hand-body Movements

CLASP- CLAP-
Hands clasped, at the chin, elbows in Hands in blades, at the chin, elbows in
 Basic Hand-body Movements

HIGH V- LOW V-
Arms extended up forming a “V”, relax the Arms extended down forming a “V”
shoulders
 Basic Hand-body Movements

GOALPOST (or TOUCHDOWN)- LOW TOUCHDOWN-

Arms extended straight and parallel to each other,Arms extended straight down and parallel to each
fist facing in other, fist facing in
 Basic Hand-body Movements

OVERHEAD CONE-
3/4 T (or BOW AND ARROW)-
Arms are straight, above the head in a clasp and
One arm extended to side with other arm bent at
slightly in front of the face
elbow in a half “T” motion
DAGGERS
 Basic Hand-body Movements

DAGGERS (or TABLETOP)- LOW CONE-

Arms bent at elbow, fists in front of shoulders Arms extended straight down, in a clasp and
slightly in front of the body
 Basic Hand-body Movements

PUNCH- L MOTION-
One arm extended straight up, one arm on hip, in a One arm extended to the side with other arm
fist extended in a punch motion, (Left L shown)
 Basic Hand-body Movements

DIAGONAL- T MOTION-
One arm extended in a high “V” and the other armBoth arms extended straight out to the side and
extended in a low “V” (Right Diagonal shown) parallel to the ground, relax the shoulders
 Basic Hand-body Movements
HALF T- SIDE LUNGE-
Both arms parallel to the ground and bent at the Lead leg bent with the knee over the ankle, back
elbows, fists into shoulders leg straight, feet perpendicular to each other.
Basic Hand-body Movements

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

Spread Eagle – simply swing and jump with arms of Tuck Jump – Legs in front while
doing high “V” figure and legs apart. Knees facing knees tucked to the chest. Closed fist and arms
forward but not toward the sky. This jump is used spreading forming “T” or “V” figure.
as progression to learn more advance jumps.
 Jumps

Toe Touch – one of the most common jumps used Pike- Legs are straight, together, and parallel to
in cheerleading. Legs are straddled, straight and the ground. Toes are pointed, arms are straight
parallel to the ground forming “V” figure. Knees reaching the front while hands are in closed fist.
face the sky, toes pointed, arms form “T” position,
closed fist and must not touch the toes despite the
name.
Jumps

Hurdle- 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)
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.
o 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.
o 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
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.
 Running – completing a tumble from a running start.
o 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.
o 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
BASIC FORMATIONS

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 cheer dance.
Bowling Pin
Diamond
Diagonal Staggered
 LET’S DO THIS!

 Direction: You will perform the different hand-body positions

and jumps of cheer dance. Each position must be repeated twice
in different directions (left and right) to create a pattern leading
into a cheer dance routine. You will be given enough time to
memorize the hand-body positions and jumps. You may create
your own routine and choose your own music.