CHEERDANCE HANDOUTS

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, on the other hand, is a physical activity where one expresses emotions or gestures while performing bodily
movements usually in time with rhythm.
- Cheerdancing rooted from the word cheerleading – performance of a routine, usually dominated by skills such as
jumps, tumbling skills, lifts and tosses combined with shouting of cheers and yells to lead the crowd to cheer for a
certain team during a game or sport.
- Today, cheerdancing is identified as one of the most spectacular events in one of the biggest collegiate sports events in
the country, the UAAP (University Athletic Association of the Philippines).

History
- The original cheerleaders were men. Cheerleading was connected to the emergence of gridiron football at Ivy League
colleges and universities in the United States in the mid-1800s, and the growth and formalization of cheerleading
paralleled that of football.
- Over the latter half of the 19th century, as attendance at college games grew, large stadiums were constructed, and
spectators were distanced from the playing field. Cheerleaders—or “yell leaders,” as they were then called—led
cheers from the sidelines both to encourage the spectators and to serve as a form of crowd control.
- By the 1920s cheerleading had become a formal extracurricular activity for boys in high schools, colleges, and
communities across the country.
- Women began joining cheer squads during the 1920s and ’30s as collegiate sports proliferated and men and women
began socializing more in public.
- A separate cheerleading tradition also evolved during 1920’s and 30’s within black educational institutions during the
same period, with a similar emphasis on character building and leadership. Overall, however, cheerleading remained
an overwhelmingly white enterprise, and evidence suggests that it became even “whiter” after desegregation, because
the total number of black schools diminished and black students were rarely elected as cheerleaders in the newly
integrated, predominantly white schools.
- It was not until the 1960s and ’70s, well after scholastic athletic programs had diversified, that cheer squads began to
reflect the ethnic and racial composition of schools. That shift was in part the result of protest activity on the part of
black and Latino students.
- The mobilization of college-age men during World War II opened up new opportunities for women in cheerleading
and ultimately led to the “feminization” of cheerleading in the 1960s and ’70s, when the proportion of female
cheerleaders rose to roughly 95 percent. Female involvement changed the nature of cheerleading, spurring greater
emphasis on physical attractiveness and sex appeal. That, in turn, may have led to the trivialization and devaluation of
cheerleading.
- Cheerleading experienced a decline in popularity in the late 1970s and ’80s, brought on by second-wave feminism,
which challenged traditional ideas about gender roles, and by the passage of Title IX, which guaranteed girls and
women equal access to sports in schools that received U.S. federal funds.
- Since the 1990’s, “alternative” forms of cheerleading have emerged alongside the mainstream variants discussed
above.

Terms Used in Cheerdance

 Accuracy drill: A motion sequence performed to music or counting
 Aerial: A movement performed without hands touching the ground
 All stars: Cheerleaders whose primary purpose is to compete
 Back walkover: Arching back and contacting the ground with hands, then bringing the hips overhead and landing on
the performing surface one foot at a time
 Backward roll: A non-aerial tumbling movement that creates the effect of rolling backwards
 Base: The weight-bearing position that supports, lifts, or tosses other performers
 Brace: To stabilize the top person
 Catcher: Person responsible for the safe landing of a top performer
 Dismount: Moving from a stunt or pyramid to a cradle or performing surface
 Dive roll: A forward roll where feet leave the ground before the hands touch the ground
 Flip: An aerial skill involving the top person rotating through an inverted position
 Flyer: The performer at the top of a toss or stunt
 Formation: The arrangement of athletes on a surface during the course of a stunt or routine
 Ground level: Supported by, or at the of, the performing surface
 Pyramid: The grouping of connected stunts, including persons standing at ground level
 Spotter: A person responsible for protecting the safety of the person during a stunt
 Transitions: Movements between formations
 Tumbling: A skill that begins and ends on the performing surface
 Twist: A body’s rotation around its vertical axis

To stay safe, cheerleaders should:

 It is the responsibility of everyone in the class to ensure the safety of one another. They should always practice
awareness, communication, and good judgment.
 Everyone is encouraged to wear the required attire during the class. Practice somewhere that has floors that
absorb impact. Never practice on a basketball court or other hard surface.
 Before practicing any stunt or cheer routine, all students should perform warm up exercises to prepare their bodies
for the rigorous physical tasks ahead. Doing some stretching before the practice can help avoid torn ligaments and
pulled muscles, which are extremely painful and can sideline them if their injuries are serious.
 Be in good shape before starting the lesson.
 Be alert at all times.
 Let the teacher know if you're uncomfortable with a stunt.
 Stop performing if you get hurt or feel pain. It needs to get checked by the teacher, doctor, or nurse before going
back to practicing.
JUMPS
There are 3 parts to a jump:
1. The Approach and Lift

2. The Jump Execution

3. The Landing

NOTE: Land with your feet together. Land toe – heel. Land with your knees bent.
Jump Tips:

 Keep your head up and do not look down: Many people have a tendency to look down during their jumps; as
such they don't get the height they need. If you look up, your momentum will flow UP and help lift your body.
  Bring your feet and legs to you: For example, when you are doing a toe touch, bring your legs up to meet your
hands - do not reach down toward them.
 Land with your feet together.
 Practice them on the ground to get proper position.
 Do lots of Strength and Flexibility Exercises

Straight Jump

Tips:
 Jump up with your legs together; keep your head and chest up with a straight back.
 Your arms can be in a High Touchdown motion or in a "T" motion.
 Land with your feet together.

Tuck Jump

When you do a Tuck Jump you should:

 Bring your knees up to your chest, do not kick your legs behind you. The best way to feel what a proper Tuck
jump is like is to practice on the ground as shown in the photos below.
  Keep your knees together
 Have your arms in a High V Motion
 Keep your head and chest up, do not lean forward
 Keep your back straight
 Land with your feet together.

Spread Eagle

Spread Eagle Jump Tips:

 Your legs are apart with your knees facing FORWARD (compared to the Toe Touch when your knees are facing
up).
 Keep your legs directly beside you.
 Your toes should be pointed toward the ground.
 Your arms are in a High "V" motion.
 Keep your back straight and head up - do not lean forward.
 Land with your feet together.

STUNTS (POSITION)
Stunt Tips
Here are some general tips that you should remember for stunting
regardless which position you have:
1. Never try any stunt you are not ready for.
2. Look around your area and make sure there are not hazards in
your way. For example, if you are outside, make sure there are no
rocks in your area and that you are on a flat surface.
3. Absolutely no laughing or fooling around during stunting.
4. Always have the proper safety equipment like proper sneakers
and mats.
Flyer Tips:
 Be Confident: Confidence shows and lack of it can get you hurt.
 Smile
 Look Up at the crowd - do not look down.
 Always be "tight"
 Sell the stunt with your facial expressions and sharp motions.
 Always use proper climbing techniques.
 NO LAUGHING while in your stunt.
 Use the word "DOWN" if you are falling.
 NEVER try any stunt that you are not ready for.

Step, Lock, tighten: This climbing technique is used for Double Thigh Stands and the like. When you climb follow this
pattern:

 "Step" with your foot on to you base (usually you climb with your right foot first)
 "Lock" means to bring your other foot up and lock both legs. This does not mean to squat on your bases.

 "Tighten" means to finish your stunt.

Base Tips
 Look at your other base to make sure that your timing is perfect.
 Listen for ques
 Listen for your Flyer to say "Down"
 No Laughing
 Never do a stunt that you are not ready for.
Your Job: To lift the Flyer safely.3

Spotter Tips
Your job: You have the MOST IMPORTANT job of all - to make sure the Flyer does not fall or hit the ground.
Tips:
 Always watch you Flyer.
 Most of the time you will call the stunt. Make sure you are loud enough for everyone in your stunt to hear.
 Listen for your Flyer to say "Down"
 No Laughing
 Never spot a stunt that you are not ready for.
 NEVER LET GO until your Flyer is safely on the ground.
Hand Positions:
 Always hold your Flyer TIGHT!
 When holding her waist, hold with 4 fingers in front and the thumb in the back.

HOW TO PERFORM A STUNT?

Pony Sit
This stunt is called the Pony Sit or Pony Mount and it is the first stunt that you should learn.
Tips:
 Make sure your base has their arms locked at all times and head up.
 The Flyer should sit on the lower part of the base's back; if you sit to high, you could hurt your base.
 The Spotter should hold the Flyer at her waist at all times.
 The Spotter should help the Flyer get up
and dismount.
The Double Thigh Stand
The Double Thigh Stand is one of the most important beginner stunts you should know. From this stunt, you can do a
variety of variations to create numerous stunts.

Tips:
 Make sure your Bases have deep lunges for the Flyer to stand on.
 Make sure the Flyer steps in the "pockets" of the Bases, not on their legs.
 The Flyer should start with her right foot first and climb using the "Step, Lock, Tighten" Method.
 Have the base hold the flyer's legs by wrapping their arms around the flyers knees.
 The back spotter should hold the flyer's waist.
 When you are learning the double thigh stand, you should add a front spotter.
 To dismount, have the bases hold the flyer's hands and their armpit.
 The flyer lands in front of the stunt with her feet together.

Hanging Stag

Tips:
 Make sure the Flyer keeps her arms tight in the "T" motion.
 Make sure the Bases keep their arms in a High Touchdown motion.

Swedish Falls
Tips:
 Make sure the Flyer is very tight and has her arms locked.
 The Bases should also have their arms locked directly over them.
 You should always have an additional base under the Flyer's hips.
 The Flyer should always point her toes.
Thigh Stand Variations

Double Thigh Stand L Stand Variation

Hitch Variation

Shoulder Sit
Tip:
 The Base should always hold the thighs of the Flyer until the Back Spot calls for the release.