LET’S MOVE AHEAD
Cheer Dance
Cheer dance It is a recreational activity and competitive sport composed of an
organized routine with required performance elements and skills like in dance
and gymnastics. It also aims to encourage the crowds too cheer in team sports
event. Is coined from the words cheer and dance. To Cheer is to shout out
words or phrases that may well motivate team and perform better during the
Game. Dance, on the other hand, is a physical activity where one expresses
emotions or gestures while performing bodily movement usually in Time with
rhythm.
Cheerleading is an activity in which the participants (called "cheerleaders")
cheer for their team as a form of encouragement. It can range from chanting
slogans to intense physical activity. It can be performed to motivate sports
teams, to entertain the audience, or for competition. Competitive routines
typically range anywhere from one to three minutes, and contain components
of tumbling, dance, jumps, cheers, and stunting.
Cheer dancing is rooted from cheerleading.
Cheerleading as we all know developed in the United States of America. But
did you know that the Philippines has had developed Cheer dancing?
Cheer dancing in the Elementary, High School and College levels has always
been the opening salvo for intramurals in campuses in the Philippines. The
difference between Cheerleading and Cheer dancing is that cheerleading
has its foundation in Gymnastics. And as for Cheer dance, it's foundation
lies in the Choreography where Ballet seems to be its foundation.
Advantages of cheer dancing: strengthen the heart and lungs, reduces risk
of heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, and Type 2 diabetes.
The Three Main Roles of Cheerleading
1. Flyers – these are the cheerleaders who are held and
thrown into the air and are doing the stunts.
2. Spotters – front spot and back spot members are
those who stand behind or in front of the flyers and
support the flyers to prevent them from failing.
They help the bases when lifting the flyers.
3. Bases or mounts – these are the persons in charge
of holding and controlling the throw of the flyers.
Performance Elements of Cheer dancing
A. Motion- Cheer motions will help to strengthen your muscles. A lot of
focus as a Cheerleader is spent on exercising the legs and arms, you
may occasionally be tired from practice. If they are sore, it means they
are doing everything right!
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B. Jumps- these are the feet movements through jumping moves like toe-
touch, hurdler, and pike jumps. The number one rule in the jump section
of a competition cheerleading routine is the more jumps the better!
Gone are the days when you could link two or three jumps together and
know that you have done your best. Judges are now looking for more
than 3 jumps.
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Tuck- This jump is seen sometimes in competitions. Legs are in front and
the knees are tucked into the chest. Hands are to the sides in a "T".
Pike- anyone who has ever been to a gymnastics class is familiar with the
term "pike". This simply means that your feet are pointed straight out parallel
with the ground with the toes pointed. Arms are straight in front, reaching
towards toes. Hands are in a fist.
Toe Touch- probably one of the most common jumps, the toe touch is
fairly easy to perform. Arms are in a "T" position and legs are in a V, with knees
pointing toward the sky or even backward a bit. Your hands will not touch your
toes, despite the name.
C. Tumbling- Tumbling is very tiring! It requires a lot of leg power and
upper body strength. There is tumbling in jumps, the actual tumbling
section, the opening (most of the time), and sometimes when there is
an extra person during stunts or dance. cartwheel and round off are
basic tumbling movements in cheer dance.
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Forward Roll- During a forward roll, be sure to make eye contact with
your belly button area. Yes, your belly button! This will allow your body to
arch your back leading to a more comfortable forward roll, as well as
protection for your neck. The closer your knees are to your chest the better.
Rolling in an open body position will make it almost impossible to stand up.
Cartwheel- Your starting position of a cartwheel should consist of a
deep lunge with straight arms by ears as your body faces forward. During
your cartwheel, your dominant hand should be out straight as if you’re giving
somebody a high five. Your other hand should be turned sideways, fingertips
turned towards the dominant hand. In your lunge, quickly drive up your back
leg in order to gain power. Throughout your cartwheel your legs should be in
a straddle position.
D. Cheer, Chants, and Dance Routine.
Cheerleading chants are typically short, quick and very much to the
point. Whether you need a quick filler in between plays, some fast
encouragement to urge your team on to victory or a cute cheer that will be
easy for your squad to remember, you can find a chant to fit your needs.
When it comes to the dance, judges are looking for transitions, level
changes, energy, all of the things listed above, but they are also looking for
one more thing… fun! The judges want to see your team enjoying every
moment of their time on the mats and with a fast-paced, complex routine
sometimes the dance portion is your best chance to show the judges that you
love to cheer.
