CHEER DANCE

OBJECTIVES:
At the end of this module, you as learner is expected to:
• a. Analyze an example of a cheer dance routine.
• b. Appreciate dance as a fitness goal to maintain HRF.
• c. Build a workout program using cheer dancing.
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.
WHAT IS CHEER DANCE
• 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.
WHAT IS CHEER DANCE
•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.
HISTORY OF CHEER DANCE
• 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.
HISTORY OF CHEER DANCE
• 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:
YELL
• 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)

Feet together, hands down

by the side in
blades
MOTIONS (BASIC HAND-BODY MOVEMENTS)

Feet more than shoulder

width apart, hands
down by the side in
blade
MOTIONS (BASIC HAND-BODY MOVEMENTS)

Hands clasped, at the

chin, elbows in
MOTIONS (BASIC HAND-BODY MOVEMENTS)

Hands in blades, at the

chin, elbows in
MOTIONS (BASIC HAND-BODY MOVEMENTS)

Arms extended up
forming a “V”, relax
the shoulders
MOTIONS (BASIC HAND-BODY MOVEMENTS)

Arms extended down

forming a “V”
MOTIONS (BASIC HAND-BODY MOVEMENTS)

GOALPOST (or
TOUCHDOWN)- Arms
extended straight and
parallel to each other, fist
facing in
MOTIONS (BASIC HAND-BODY MOVEMENTS)

Arms extended
straight down and
parallel to each
other, fist facing in
MOTIONS (BASIC HAND-BODY MOVEMENTS)

3/4 T (or BOW AND

ARROW)- One arm
extended to side with
other arm bent at elbow in
a half “T” motion
MOTIONS (BASIC HAND-BODY MOVEMENTS)

OVERHEAD
CONEArms are straight,
above the head in a clasp
and slightly in front of the
face
MOTIONS (BASIC HAND-BODY MOVEMENTS)

DAGGERS (or
TABLETOP)- Arms
bent at elbow, fists in
front of shoulder
MOTIONS (BASIC HAND-BODY MOVEMENTS)

LOW CONE
Arms extended straight
down, in a clasp and
slightly in front of the
body
MOTIONS (BASIC HAND-BODY MOVEMENTS)

PUNCH
One arm extended
straight up, one arm
on hip, in a fist
MOTIONS (BASIC HAND-BODY MOVEMENTS)

L MOTION
One arm extended to the
side with other arm
extended in a punch
motion, (Left L shown)
MOTIONS (BASIC HAND-BODY MOVEMENTS)

One arm extended in a

high “V” and the other
arm extended in a low
“V” (Right Diagonal
shown
MOTIONS (BASIC HAND-BODY MOVEMENTS)

Both arms extended

straight out to the side
and parallel to the
ground, relax the
shoulders
MOTIONS (BASIC HAND-BODY MOVEMENTS)

Both arms parallel to

the ground and bent
at the elbows, fists
into shoulders
MOTIONS (BASIC HAND-BODY MOVEMENTS)

Lead leg bent with the

knee over the ankle, back
leg straight, feet
perpendicular to each
other.
MOTIONS (BASIC HAND-BODY MOVEMENTS)

Lead leg bent with the

knee over the ankle,
back leg straight, feet
perpendicular to each
other
MOTIONS (JUMPS)

Spread Eagle – simply swing

and jump with arms of doing
high “V” figure and legs apart.
Knees facing forward but not
toward the sky. This jump is
used as progression to learn
more advance jumps.
MOTIONS (JUMPS)

Tuck Jump – Legs in front

while knees tucked to the
chest. Closed fist and arms
spreading forming “T” or
“V” figure.
MOTIONS (JUMPS)

Toe Touch – one of the most common

jumps used in cheerleading. Legs are
straddled, straight and parallel to the
ground forming “V” figure. Knees face
the sky, toes pointed, arms form “T”
position, closed fist and must not touch
the toes despite the name.
MOTIONS (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.
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.
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 techniques
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.
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.